| Costs | £5598 / $11477 (US) / €8062 |
| Group Size | up to 30 |
| Countries Visited | South Africa |
| Dates | 13 Jul 2008 to 12 Jul 2009 11 Jan 2009 to 10 Jan 2010 12 Jul 2009 to 11 Jul 2010 |
"Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is worst of all"
Brian Jackman
Learn how to be a safari guide for 1 year, learn 4x4 skills, discover how to survive in the South African bush, learn the art of tracking wildlife, sleep out in the African bush, learn to shoot, see amazing wildlife, successfully qualify as a professional safari guide, work in a safari lodge and immerse yourself in the ways and wilds of the South African wilderness!
The dramatic landscapes and stunning wildernesses of South Africa will form the backdrop to this truly unique and beautiful safari adventure that takes you closer to nature than you could ever dream. This year spent in the Southern African bush begins with six months of training to cover practical and theoretical programmes, all complying with the standards of the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA).
Renowned trainers will help us gain a fully comprehensive understanding of guiding, tracking, the dangers existing in South Africa’s beautiful wilderness, and the skills required to not only explore the game reserve but actively thrive in it. Each morning we will walk with our instructors into the wilderness and learn to navigate our way around the reserve, discovering the plethora of flora and fauna that reside in the area. During these opening months we will also perfect the art of driving 4x4 vehicles in the terrain they were designed for, which will seem a world away from tarmac roads and roundabouts. Mastering such skills will grant us the freedom to get unforgettably close to animals, by having an increased knowledge which helps us to understand our own place amongst the potentially dangerous but wholly magnificent creatures that reside in the South African wilds. Lectures that cover a range of subjects including geology, meteorology, weaponry, animal biology, anthropology, working in the safari business, and guest service, will compliment our practical learning, increase our theory knowledge, and help us to blossom into fantastic safari guides.
The second half of our year will be spent practicing the safari skills we have learnt with days that begin early and finish late, but will see you enjoying the wonderful life of a professionally trained safari guide. The days may be spent taking clients on safari to see an amazing variety of wildlife which could include lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, cheetahs, over 500 species of birds, and nearly 2,000 species of plants. There may also be lodge maintenance, seeing to the guests requirements, or going for bush walks. The year may test you beyond your known limits, but the sights you will see and memories you will take home will make all the hard graft all the more worth it, providing you with stories to recount for years to come, and the skills of a professional safari guide.
As the great former South African President Nelson Mandela said ‘There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living’ – this adventure is truly the height of excitement, adventure, beauty, and South African safaris. If 1 year is too long, then why not have a look at our 28 day Safari Guide Course.