Overview

As a Trails Guide student you spend four unforgettable weeks in the African wilderness, enjoying an incomparable nature training, learning how vital safety is in the bush and exploring your natural environment with all of your senses on daily excursions.

Details

This course combines a mindful approach to experiencing nature with unique personal development. As a Trails Guide student you will go on your first excursion of the day as the sun goes up. This hands-on units are followed by theoretical lessons teaching you everything you need to know about local plant and animal life, before you head out into the bush for a second time until it is dark.

Throughout the course, you and your international group will roam the African wilderness and acquire the skills that are necessary to be able to navigate and orient yourself in the bush. You will learn how to track animals, how to keep an appropriate distance to them, how to read their behaviour and how to ensure the safety of the entire group. Knowing about local plant life and how to make use of it, for example for medical purposes, is another part of surviving in the wild.

At the end of the course, you get the chance to obtain an official FGASA certificate.

You will spend the course in South African Makuleke, Selati, Pridelands, Pongola or Karongwe and/or in Mashatu/Botswana: Makuleke, Selati, Pridelands, Pongola and Karongwe are stunning wilderness areas in South Africa. Camp Mashatu is located in the so-called “Land of the Giants”. This captivating area boasts majestic rock formations as well as a stunning variety of vegetation and wildlife.

Accommodation

Together with another course member you will stay in a wooden cabin with access to washing facilities (Mashatu, Selati, Pridelands, Pongola, Karongwe), or in a tent with shared washing facilities (Mashatu). Both camps have common rooms for lessons, shared meals and cozy get-togethers. The camps’ tap water is safe to drink, and you can also purchase bottled water or other alcohol-free drinks on site. Tea and coffee are available all day long. Fruit juice is served at mealtimes. You will be provided with three to four meals per day.

All camps get their electricity from generators. There is little to zero mobile phone reception. A laundry service is available in the camps for a small fee. Tourists are not permitted to access the unfenced camps.

Testimonial

“It was an amazing experience. Everything about this trip was positive!” (Matthias, 31 years)

Dates, Services, Cost

Follow the link below to learn about upcoming start dates.

Services

  • Placement in the course
  • Assistance with travel arrangements
  • Assistance with selecting travel insurance
  • Assistance with booking flights
  • Pre-departure information pack
  • Risk coverage certificate
  • Accommodation during the course
  • All meals during the course
  • Drinking water
  • Transport between campsites
  • Game walks
  • Game drives
  • Classroom hours
  • Certificate
  • English speaking support by long-term experienced staff
  • 24/7 support throughout the course

Fees

28 days: starting from 4.100 €

The price listed above is calculated on the basis of a 17 Rand exchange rate (1 EUR = 17 ZAR).

The price stated in euros are approximate values. Due to sharp fluctuations in the exchange rate of the rand, all prices will be calculated at the time of enquiry.

Find out more or reserve your place