International
conservation jobs
Conservation careers abroad
Career options for Bushwise graduates are vast and varied. Not everyone chooses to become a field guide. Some of our students join Bushwise to learn more about ecology, wildlife or conservation. Some go home to work in a conservation job. We even have students that finish with Bushwise and pursue higher education, such as a master’s in biology, environmental science or wildlife management.
The options are truly endless. You might find yourself wondering: “what’s the difference between a park ranger and a game ranger?” Or, “what’s the difference between a field guide and a safari guide?” We answer these questions in each of our career pages, and provide a bit of insight into how you can work towards your dream conservation job.
Park ranger jobs and forest ranger jobs
Park ranger and forest ranger jobs are found around the world, so these terms have different meanings depending on where you’re based. The most common application is in the United States of America where park rangers work for the US Park Service, and forest rangers work for the US Forest Service (they may also work for state and local parks). Just like game rangers here in South Africa, park/forest rangers are law enforcement staff that are charged with protecting and preserving designated areas.
Ranger jobs often have strict requirements for qualifications, sometimes including experience with firearms and law enforcement training. Responsibilities can include interacting with visitors, guiding tours, giving presentations, trail and invasive species clearing, and species population management. Rangers also patrol their area to ensure that guests are following regulations.
While being a park ranger or forest ranger in the USA is very different from being a field guide in South Africa, it helps to have a foundational understanding and appreciation for wildlife, ecosystems and hosting guests. In this way, a Bushwise course can be quite helpful in your career if you want to become a ranger. If you’re interested in becoming a park ranger in South Africa, head over to our game ranger jobs page to learn more.
Tour guide jobs
Wherever you’re based in the world, you can usually find a company offering guided tours. Whether it’s walking tours, hiking tours, cycling tours, bus tours or otherwise – just about every town has something worth visiting. Throughout Bushwise courses, you’ll learn how to design and conduct a guided experience. These skills are extremely valuable for tour guide jobs and could put you at the top of the hiring list.
As a tour guide, you’ll show guests something interesting and share your knowledge. You might be walking through downtown London, talking about the history and architecture of the city. Or, you could be on a bicycle in the Italian countryside, showing your guests the local vineyards and olive groves. One of our own Bushwise staff members, Annie, finished her field guide course and went back to the USA where she was a kayak tour guide in Maine’s Acadia National Park for two seasons. Her field guide training was instrumental in teaching her how to effectively communicate with guests, manage stressful situations, and incorporate ecology and nature into her tours.
The common thread that runs between tour guides and field guides is this: you need to have a strong ability to retain information, effective communication skills and a passion for sharing your knowledge with visitors.
Wildlife jobs
This career trajectory, wildlife jobs, is perhaps the closest thing to field guide jobs that you will find abroad. While this term has different applications around the world, it generally means a guide who takes guests into areas where wildlife is found, such as a national park, and leads them on a guided experience.
An example of this can be found in Denali National Park in Alaska, where wildlife guides will take you on hikes through the park to track moose, wolves, and other wildlife. Just as with following dangerous game in South Africa, being a wildlife guide abroad requires a strong understanding of animal behaviour and sound ethical guiding practices. Depending on where you’re based, you may also need wilderness first aid training, CPR, and other local qualifications.
Sometimes wildlife guide jobs are seasonal, depending on where the wildlife is moving. You might find a wildlife guide job on a job website, such as CoolJobs. These positions usually require a foundational understanding and appreciation of wildlife and nature. Companies will typically look for someone who knows how to effectively run a tour and manage a group of guests. These are skills you’ll gain from a Bushwise course, which may make you a top candidate!
Additional jobs abroad
If none of these jobs speak to you, don’t fret! As an international student on a Bushwise course, career options for you are endless. Here’s a list of just some of the options you might pursue:
Wildlife photographer or videographer
Ecologist
Conservation researcher
Safari guide trainer or assessor
Forest service/park ranger
Policy or advocacy officer
Environmental impact assessor
Wildlife biologist
School outreach or volunteer program coordinator
Researcher (field work or lab-based)
Lodge management/front of house
Anti-poaching unit member or K9 dog handler
Wildlife veterinarian/vet assistant
Zookeeper
Freelance field guide
Trails guide
Wildlife educator
Marine guide
Environmental lawyer
Wildlife field technician
Communications officer
Science officer
GIS technician
Social media or digital marketing manager
Reserve warden
Helicopter pilot
Hiking/cycling/kayaking guide
Wildlife trade officer
Reserve security manager
Endangered species monitor
International conservation jobs
There’s a common thread that runs through these roles and field guiding: a foundational interest in nature, an appreciation for conservation and wildlife, and knowledge of the way ecosystems work.
By completing a safari guide course with Bushwise, you’ll be uniquely equipped for these careers. While you might need additional training or education, a Bushwise course will certainly get you on the right path.
Terianne
from the UK, joined Bushwise in 2010. After finishing she went back to the UK and worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Tess
finished with Bushwise in 2011 and went home to Australia to work in bush regeneration in wild habitats.
Sophie
who is from Switzerland, joined Bushwise in 2011. She volunteered at a reserve in Botswana and then worked as conservation manager in Nepal.
Daniel
from the UK ran his own photography company and managed a wildlife concession in Botswana after Bushwise in 2013.
Francesca
is from the UK. After Bushwise, she worked on a research project with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Anna-Marie
graduated from Bushwise in 2013 and went back to Australia to work on wildlife documentaries and at a travel company back home.
Michael
returned to the UK in 2016 to finish his degree in Environmental Management, and went on to manage a lodge in Botswana.
Nathan
joined Bushwise from the UK in 2017, afterwards he went on to conduct elephant research in Malawi.
Ellie
graduated in 2018 and returned to the USA to work in wildlife rescue.