Our students recently enjoyed a highly educational birding day out in the St Lucia section of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, where they recorded numerous species in a variety of habitats.
Highly diverse, St Lucia offers some of the best sightings of birds in coastal, estuary, grassland and forest habitats, making it ideal for training purposes.
Paul Jossop was a Bhejane Nature Training student some 13 years ago, and was on the first advanced course we ever ran.
Now a renowned birding guide who works all over South Africa and further into Africa, Paul helps us out with training and lectures.
Specialist bird guide Paul Jossop with the group of Bhejane students on a recent birding trip to St Lucia. Photo by Paul Josop
During the birding field trip to St Lucia, Paul showed the students how to use spotting sights to catch the various birds in their different habitats, and they were rewarded with some incredible sightings, including African Finfoot and Green Twinspots.
With the abundance of wildlife in South Africa, our birdlife is often overlooked, including by prospective nature guides.
But a knowledge of birds, their habitats and their behaviour is crucial for guides, as birding tours have, in recent years, become very popular.
Photograph by Ivan Euckermann
There has been a surge of birders since the Covid-related lockdown when people had time on their hands to sit in their gardens – they started noticing and taking an interest in birds, and now they want industry professionals to teach them more.
At Bhejane we have always gone above and beyond, and offered fully-comprehensive nature guiding courses that train guides up to be knowledgeable about our whole ecosystem.
We keep to our mandate of providing only the best training for guides coming through our ranks, by making sure birding is covered in both our long and short courses. Students on the Bhejane Advanced Nature Guiding and Wildlife Conservation Course spend time each year, exploring some of Southern Africa’s most exciting birding hotspots.
The Regional Birding Specialist Course is a specialist short course that can be done on its own or completed as one of the modules on the longer career courses.
The Bhejane Nature Training pride has grown with the new appointment of Phillip Wessels as Principal Trainer and Assessor.
Bhejane Principle Trainer, Phillip Wessels
Adding Skill and Experience to the Bhejane Team
Phillip brings with him a wealth of experience and qualifications. Having taught at, and headed up, numerous prestigious wildlife education institutions. He is particularly looking forward to working with the Bhejane students on our three-year Advanced Nature Guiding and Wildlife Conservation course. Bhejane is the only nature training school that offers this intensive course which ensures a well-rounded education for the student.
Phillip is well aware of the limitations with shorter courses, in getting the students industry-ready. He is keen to impart his knowledge to those students looking to make a life-long career in the guiding industry.
With origins in Zambia, Phillip’s lineage has strong links with wildlife. His almost weekly trips to Kruger National Park as a child served to strengthen his connection with the environment.
Phillip’s career in the wildlife industry was launched through a chance encounter with a field guide. More than 20 years later, he has achieved professional status in the industry through the Field Guide’s Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). He is a registered Professional Field Guide, with Specialised Knowledge & Skills (SKS) accreditation in dangerous game and birding, Professional Tracker qualification and proficiency as a Firearms Trainer.
He is also proficient in Wilderness First Aid, well versed in Hospitality and Big 5 Walking Safaris, and intimately involved in Anti-Poaching Conservation.
As a FGASA Specialist Training Provider, assessor and trails guide mentor qualified to conduct training, Phillip has a burning desire to share this passion and knowledge with learners.
“I am enthusiastic about sharing my vast knowledge with this new generation of nature ambassadors who stand to gain an in-depth understanding of the environment and a passion for guiding,” says Phillip.
About the Bhejane Nature Training Course
The Advanced Nature Guiding and Wildlife Conservation course includes FGASA Apprentice Field Guide, Apprentice Trails Guide, Marine Guiding, Track & Sign and Trailing, Advanced Rifle Handling FGASA Birding and several other specialist courses.
Heading off on a Primitive Trail, sleeping out under the stars.
Bhejane tailor made the course specifically because of the demanding nature of the wildlife guiding industry. The course meets the highest standards possible when it comes to training field guides.
Ideal for school leavers, by the time the student has graduated from the three-year course, they will be 21 years old . This is thee required age to obtain a professional driver’s permit (PDP), which is a necessity for working in the industry.
This opens the student to employment immediately after graduating.
“Over the last 10 to 15 years, we have seen the majority of students who have completed this advanced course remain in the industry and advancing to senior positions.
“Our guides who graduate from the advanced course really stick out above the rest,” said Dylan Panos, Bhejane Nature Training co-founder.
One of the many questions we get asked at Bhejane Nature Training, is does being a really FGASA Nature Guide really help with wildlife conservation?
Here are the top 5 ways you can make a difference as a nature guide.
Guides are Dreamweavers
One experience at a time opening a door to new realms, new worlds and new ways of experiencing the natural world.
When we change the way we look at the world, the world starts to change dramatically. Almost everyone that loves nature has seen a David Attenborough documentary. His narration brings so much magic, insight and depth to the film. Can you imagine what that documentary would be like without his narration? Guides bring this magic to their guests when they show them where to look, share little bits of information, at just the right time and leave their guests awe inspired about the wonders of nature.
Just like the creative craft of David Attenborough and his team has inspired so many young people to follow a career devoted to nature, skilled guides turn “average Joe’s” into naturalists ready for their next learning experience every day.
Nature Guides are Trendsetters
How cool is it to have an appreciation for the outdoors – a reconnection with nature – as the trend you are setting! Nature guides work in such amazing places and do so many exciting things. Almost everyone enjoys reading, watching or hearing about the amazing encounters guides have every day. Thanks to Social media platforms like Tiktok, Instagram and Youtube, these experiences become accessible to millions more people and not only the lucky 9 on the back of your game viewer for this morning’s drive. Click through to some of the social media links below to share in some of our recent experiences.
Nature Guides help to shape the future
There is a popular saying in conservation – “if it pays, it stays”. Enlightened guests that had unforgettable life experiences with guides, and a newly inspired online community eager to also come out and experience this refreshing trend to be in close to nature -is how guides ensure day by day to keep the demand for nature based experiences growing ,outcompeting other industries.
Nature Guides are Wildlife Monitors
Eyes in the field and feet on the ground makes for an enormous amount of patterns, and sighting information that makes its way to valuable research efforts on a daily basis. Guides contribute to the development of databases that help researchers learn more about so many wildlife populations and behaviours. Nature Guides help wildlife conservation projects in this way.
Nature Guides are Next-level Educators
Although many guides were probably the “cant sit still, cant focus and always in trouble” schoolkids that hated school, having the opportunity to touch so many lives by just sharing and living their passion – those same “always in trouble” kids from school become inspirational heroes to the next generation of kids.
There are many other ways that Nature Guides help Wildlife Conservation – can you think of any more?
About Bhejane:
Bhejane Nature Training is a FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) Endorsed Training Provider based in northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. We provide professional career training for nature guides, trails guides, marine guides, and conservation entrepreneurs! We also offer nature based, career development gap year programmes and a variety of short courses. Click through to our website to join us in Bhejane Territory.
The day I decided that I would dedicate my life to the conservation of the superbly beautiful ecosystems that still cover a large part of the African continent, I was only a 6-year old boy that had just moved to Africa, without any understanding or knowledge about the complex world I was about to discover.
But this dream accompanied me over the next 13 years, motivated me every single day, shaped my way of doing things and caused me to collect every piece of information available to me, desperately hoping that it would eventually bring me a bit closer to that big goal. When I found Bhejane, I would never have thought that this would mean the ultimate break-through for me in achieving my dream. At the same time, the course gave me more than just a confirmation for what I always wanted to do: It opened a whole new world for me.
It was like looking for a sparrow and finding a twinspot (I have no issues with sparrows!). In fact, I didn’t even know that twinspots existed. Or what the difference between a sparrow and a starling is. This winter, not even a year after I left Bhejane, I returned and passed my regional birding.
This is only one example for how Bhejane changed my life, my way of thinking and my relationship with nature. The unbelievable perfection and creativity of evolution that Bhejane allowed me to discover still makes my heart beat faster every time I think about it, or realize how crazy it is that spiders can detect stress allelochemicals thanks to the lyriform organs on their legs (first example that comes to my mind). You never stop learning! And there is no bigger honor than working for nature and with nature.
The environment Bhejane is operating in would be more than enough to amaze every lucid-thinking human being. But additionally to that, I got to meet people that think like me. It may sound crazy, but I actually never had considered in the past that there might be other people that share my passion. I probably don’t have to mention that I got to know a large number of special persons that became some of my closest friends and my idols. I had the privilege to meet some people with phenomenal knowledge and skills, to watch them and to learn from them.
It was like coming home. And it will always be like coming home when returning to the places where all this started. Because it’s not going to end soon.
Emergency First Response training for nature guides has always been an important part of all Bhejane course.
While the same basic principles of first response apply, guides have got some extra factors to consinder.
Nature guides need a good knowledge of emergency first response procedures for several reasons:
Remote and unpredictable environments
Nature guides often lead groups in remote areas, far from medical facilities, making immediate medical attention unavailable.
Nature can be unpredictable, with hazards like wildlife encounters, inclement weather, and treacherous terrain.
Even with precautions, accidents can occur, like slips, trips, falls, or equipment failures. Guides are responsible for the safety and well-being of their group members, who have varying levels of outdoor experience and physical ability.
In an emergency, prompt and effective first response can significantly impact the outcome, preventing minor incidents from becoming major ones. In remote areas, evacuating an injured person can be difficult, making on-site first response crucial.
Nature Guides may be held liable if they fail to give adequate first response in an emergency situation.
By knowing emergency first response procedures, nature guides can provide critical care, stabilize situations, and ensure the best possible outcomes for their group members in case of an emergency.
Well done to the Ilanga Group that successfully finsihed their Basic Wilderness First Aid training this week. Students on our advanced courses, also do Intermediate as well as Advanced First Aid, to ensure good foundational competence in case of emergencies.
This past Saturday, the Gobandlovu grounds buzzed with excitement as the Bhejane Cup kicked off its season with a touch rugby showdown that had spectators on the edge of their seats (and maybe a few on the grass).
Teams were comprised of a mix of Bhejane Nature Training first and second year students, interns and staff.
In what was billed as a “fun, non-competitive” tournament (yeah, right), teams battled it out in a series of high-energy matches. The highlight of the day? A gripping final between the Havana-Bananas and the Black Nyalas that had drama, suspense, and more dives than a Netflix thriller.
At halftime, the scoreboard stood deadlocked at 10-10, but as the second half got underway, the Havana-Bananas slipped past the Black Nyalas with three lightning-fast tries, pushing the score to 25-10 faster than you can say “touchdown”.
Just when it seemed like the Havana-Bananas were about to pop the champagne, the Black Nyalas mounted a heroic comeback in the dying minutes. With the game tied and heading into extra time, all eyes were on Toby from the Black Nyalas. In a move more daring than trying to microwave fish in the dorm kitchen, Toby spotted a gap and clinched victory with a jaw-dropping try in the right corner of the field.
Naturally, the crowd erupted (and so did a few dance moves that could qualify as ancient rituals). Kai from the Black Nyalas was rightly crowned Man of the Match, probably because he tackled opponents like they were last week’s laundry.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to see some student feedback on this little camp tournament:) Watch this space for an update on the next event.
Being on foot in wilderness areas, vulnerable to all the elements of nature, including animals big and small, is a very special way to experience our time on earth as humans. Going on a wilderness trail is for many people a deeply satisfying – sometimes life changing – experience, and one that guides need to be very well trained and prepared for to ensure a safe and meaningful experience for everyone. Completing a FGASA Trails Guide Training course with Bhejane Nature Training is the first step on this journey.
Becoming a Trails Guide is not for everyone – it requires a certain skillset and an ability to lead with authority. It is therefore no surprise that it is a quite a long process from trainee to becoming a fully qualified Lead Trails Guide.
A trails guide is a highly skilled professional who leads individuals or small groups on guided walking safaris and nature trails in the wilderness, sharing their expertise and passion for the natural world. The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) has been dedicated to setting industry standards and elevating the quality of Trails Guide training in South Africa for many years. We at Bhejane are proud to be an recognised training delivery partner for FGASA-recognized Trails Guide training, offering quality training programs that meet the highest standards.
What does a Trails Guide need to know?
Trails guides are knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna, animal behaviour, and ecological processes, allowing them to provide educational and interpretive insights during the trails. Before starting the process of trails guide training it is therefore essential that you are first qualified as an NQF 2 Nature Guide, to ensure the fundamental knowledge is already there for you to build further upon during your trails guide development.
Apart from interpretation, Trails guides are responsible for the safety of their guests and are trained in tracking and trailing, use of a manually operated rifle, navigation, and first aid.
Trails Guiding in dangerous Game areas can be regarded as a specialist guiding field – although doing the basic training for Trails Guiding, even if you don’t intend on becoming a Trails Guide, is a good way for nature guides to improve their knowledge and situational awareness.
During a Trails Guide Course you will learn the following:
a) Basic Firearm Training (as per legal requirements). In South Africa, nature guides carrying rifles are required do obtain SAPS Firearm Competency. In order to get this you need to complete a PFTC accredited course that certifies you with “Knowledge of the Firearms Control Act”, “Use of a Manually Operated Rifle for Personal use” and “Use of a Manually Operated Rifle for Business Purposes”. PFTC is the acronym for the Professional Firearm Trainers Council.
Some Trails Guide courses will require that you complete this training prior to arriving for your FGASA training. At Bhejane we are fully accredited through our sister company – Zulu Ranger Safaris – to provide all required PFTC firearm training while you are on course. Students are trained on the required manually operated rifle unit standards as required for trails, and have the option at extra cost – to also complete training for other firearm categories such as handgun, shotgun or self-loading rifle.
b) Advanced Rifle Handling – this is a FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) qualification that was developed specifically for guides working with rifles in areas with potentially dangerous game. The qualification consists of a thorough practical assessment carried out with a large calibre rifle (usually .375 H&H) as well as a theory knowledge exam.
c) Knowledge of Animal Behaviour – especially those regarded as potentially dangerous game.
d) Track and sign interpretation – which includes the skills associated with both Tracking and Trailing wild animals in order to locate them or interpret their behaviour.
e) FGASA Examination and practical FGASA Apprentice Trails Mentorship Evaluation
Once the candidate is successful, he or she will be accepted by FGASA into the Trails Mentorship programme as an Apprentice Trails Guide. The process of gaining experience, with a recognised FGASA Trails Mentor now starts. At Bhejane we are fortunate to have one of FGASA’s top Trails Guide’s Mentors, Dylan Panos, on hand to conduct these evaluations on course and where time and conditions allow, provide for students to start logging hours towards their 2nd rifle experience requirements
Frequently asked questions.
Why do Trails Guides carry rifles?
Trails guides sometimes carry rifles for the purpose of safety and protection. In certain wilderness areas, especially those with potentially dangerous wildlife, carrying a rifle can act as a deterrent or a means of defence against any potential threats.
While encounters with dangerous wildlife are rare, it is important for trails guides to be prepared and capable of protecting themselves and their guests in the event of an emergency. The rifles carried by trails guides are typically used as a last resort and are only used in self-defence situations where there is an immediate threat to life. It is crucial for trails guides to undergo proper training and obtain the necessary permits and certifications to carry firearms responsibly and safely while on the trail.
How long does it take to become a fully qualified FGASA Trails Guide?
Becoming a fully qualified FGASA Trails Guide can vary based on individual circumstances and the training program followed. It is important to note that acquiring a substantial amount of practical experience is a significant aspect of becoming a fully qualified Trails Guide. The requirements for practical experience can vary but typically involve a certain number of hours spent guiding on foot or completing trails-specific tasks, which may take additional time to accumulate.
Overall, the entire process of becoming a fully qualified Trails Guide can take anywhere from six months to a year or more, depending on the training program, personal dedication, and availability of practical experience opportunities.
I am cut out to be a future Trails Guide?
Do our fun quiz by following the link below to find out:)
Bhejane Nature Training is proud to able to offer fully accredited PFTC Firearm Training, as well as being a recognized FGASA delivery partner for Trails Guide Training, led by our in-house firearms instructor and trails guide mentor. This makes for a well rounded and comprehensive course, allowing our students to get knowledge, experience, and assessment for all components of Trails Guide Training. Contact us on info@bhejanenaturetraining.com to request the full info pack on our career and trails guide courses.
The world is changing and so are our ideas of how to prepare for a career. University training has become irrelevant and outdated in many fields, especially one as dynamic as Wildlife Tourism. If you are interested in nature guiding this is great news.
The World is Your Classroom
Many young people are passionate and ready to take on the world. But who wants to spend years in a classroom before you are allowed to do the work? Nature guiding gives you the opportunity to have a hands-on learning experience.
“Like many young adults that loves an outdoor lifestyle, I was overwhelmed when thinking of how to find a professional job that allows me to be out in nature every day, without having to spend years sitting in a university classrooms or being prepared to volunteer or work for free!”
How about the green hills of Zululand for a different perspective on life!
“I have always known that I belong outdoors but finding a good -career – one that allows me to help care for wildlife, snorkel along coral reefs, drive through the African bush in an open Landrover or walk in the tracks of Africa’s Big Game seemed like an impossible dream! One reserved just for a lucky few!”
This is the story most of Bhejane’s students tell. Until they attend one of our lifechanging career courses to become a Professional Nature Guide.
Nature Guiding is a Career with Purpose
Despite tourism being one of the fastest growing industries in Southern Africa, most people are unaware of the many exciting career opportunities this industry offers.
Nature guiding is an excellent career choice for outdoor loving young adults who are eager to play their part as the next guardians of our natural wildlife heritage.
People who choose a nature guiding career cannot see themselves in an office job, feeling it would be meaningless to their life. This career choice is for people who are determined to find a bigger purpose in life through their career.
Click here to have a glimpse of what being Trails Guide is all about
or a Marine Guide
Is Nature Guiding a real career option?
Even when learning of all the opportunities, many people still feel uncertain and have many questions like
Is nature guiding a proper career?
Will I earn enough money to have a decent life?
I am not the most confident person – will I be able to do this?
Courses can be expensive, will the return on my investment be worthwhile?
How Pierre’s Life Changed
Pierre arrived at Bhejane Nature Training frustrated with life. He struggling through school and was unsure about his future options. He did not fit the usual mould of those set to work in traditional careers.
English was not his first language. This knocked his confidence and made him doubt his ability to finish a comprehensive education programme. What he DID know, was his love for living with purpose. He loves exploring nature and sharing his experience with others gave him joy and new found energy.
Pierre started a course at Bhejane and found himself surrounded with like-minded individuals. His confidence started growing, he learned to talk to people naturally and… he found his niche. Not just any niche. He found his passion in one of the more difficult fields namely trees. This niche instantly created respect from fellow students.
Today Pierre is a senior guide at a prestigious and award-winning game lodge – and the good news is that Pierre is not the exception. Rather his story is similar to about 90% of students who attend a full-time career course at Bhejane Nature Training.
Why Bhejane Nature Training?
Our courses are different.
You do not work towards one degree or one diploma – you get qualified across a wide range of fields. You will be certified with a range of skills and have knowledge certificates, licenses and permits all required in this dynamic industry!
Your ability to pass a test will NOT be the deciding factor for your success. Many neurodivergent students, suffering from Dyslexia, Aspergers, and a range of learning differences reach phenomenal success on our programmes.
Success comes from your passion, commitment and learning with like-minded people.
Change your life, change our world, and join us to become a part of the Zululand Conservation Legacy.
Find purpose, confidence and adventure with a Career as a Professional Nature Guide.
Following the announcement of the 3-year partnership between Somkhanda Community Game Reserve and Bhejane Nature Training in June 2020, WILDLANDS, a programme of the WILDTRUST is excited to announce the first successful group of youth who have qualified as certified, FGASA (Field Guides Association of South Africa) Nature Guides.
Thembokuhle Majozi, Nomvelo Namandla, Lindiwe Nkosi, Bhejane Nature Training Assessor Dylan Panos and instructor Emilio van Dyk.
As South Africa gears up to celebrate Youth month, it is encouraging to witness positive stories which put youth empowerment, upskilling and employment at the forefront. South Africa has some of the highest youth unemployment rates globally with an estimated 58% of youth currently unemployed. This can be attributed to several factors including low education rates, lack of experience and a variety of socio-economic factors.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented challenges, Bhejane Nature Training took on local community youth from the surrounding communities of Pongola, KwaLubisi and Dlakusa who were part of the Youth Employment Services (YES) 2020 group into an intensive training course which included Track and Sign Interpretation, Wilderness First Aid, Weather and Climate, Geology, Astronomy, Ecology, Plant and Animal Studies as well as Guiding Skills.
The YES programme was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March 2018 which was a collaboration between Nedbank and YES. The aim of the programme is to reduce youth unemployment levels across South Africa by providing one-year quality work-placements aimed at affording practical and meaningful work experiences for unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 29.
“The process of getting the guides trained took just over a year due to the unfortunate interruption of COVID-19, however, we were very impressed with the commitment and the perseverance of the newly qualified guides. Even after being out of action for quite some time due to lockdown delays, it was clear that they developed a genuine interest in this field of study. This qualification means a lot to them and promises to open real employment opportunities for them in the conservation and Field Guide training sphere,” comments Christa Panos, Bhejane Nature Training College Principal.
Lindiwe Nkosi, Nomvelo Ngamandla and Thembokhule Majozi on assessment with guests Keith and Michelle Dudgeon at Somkhanda Community Game Reserve.
The newly qualified guides, Nomvelo Ngamandla (aged 27), Celimpilo Gumede (aged 24), Thuli Nxumalo (aged 23), Lindiwe Nkosi (aged 27) and Thembokhule Majozi (aged 22) were awarded with their certificates at a low-key graduation event at Somkhanda Community Game Reserve this week. They received their NQF level 2 Apprentice Field Guide qualification and Wilderness First Aid certification.
Thembokuhle Majozi comments, “I would like to thank each and everyone who has had a hand in making this qualification possible. Thanks to Bhejane Nature Training, Somkhanda Game Reserve and WILDLANDS.”
Thembokuhle Majozi elated at receiving his certificates at Somkhanda Community Game Reserve.
Dr Roelie Kloppers, WILDTRUST CEO added, “We are incredibly proud of these newly qualified guides as they shine a beacon of hope for the future of wildlife conservation and the empowerment of youth as the future custodians of community led conservation. We are watching their development with a very keen interest and wish them all the best for the future.”
Bhejane Nature Training aims to provide students with a training and education environment that promotes internal growth and development beyond the youths’ career goals which is directly aligned with the WILDTRUST’s vision of a thriving and resilient world. This is also linking in with the YES4YOUTH objectives of giving youth meaningful work experience which adequately prepares them for the real working world. The WILDTRUST team is grateful to Nedbank for making this possible.
Bhejane Nature Training and Somkhanda wish these youth well in their conservation careers ahead.
(L) Bhejane Nature Training Instructor Lauren Humphreys, Nomvelo Ngamandla (centre) and Emilio van Dyk (Bhejane Nature Training Instructor)
Being a FGASA Nature Guide is a dream job, envied by many. And for good reason. While it is certainly hard work, the rewards are numerous. Nature Guiding as a professional career has evolved steadily over the last two decades. Today it is a much sought-after career option all over Southern Africa.
Is Nature Guiding your future?
Why Become a Fgasa Nature Guide
Fgasa is the most widely recognised standard setting and certification body for nature guides. It is enjoys recognition in Southern Africa and many other parts of the world.
Fgasa Nature Guide qualifications provides the perfect platform to launch your nature guiding career.
As the first of a new generation of industry orientated learning programmes, you will love you much fun learning is on this course. The programme combines the intimately related fields of Professional Nature Guiding, Conservation/Wildlife Management, Monitoring and Research, and Tourism and Hospitality.
This enables the student to get a quality academic qualification whilst at the same time living and training in the bush. The 3 year programme is a good alternative to short informal bush courses with little value, or a lengthy academic programme that still leaves you unemployable.
At Bhejane our focus is broader than simply training guides for prestigious and upmarket lodge environments.
Wildlife Tourism products are diverse and exciting! It follows naturally that your options for guiding are equally diverse and exciting. Bhejane prepare you as a nature guide so you get to know yourself better and find the correct niche in the industry that suits your unique personal and professional profile.
Do our fun quiz to find out what type of guide you could be.
FGASA Trails Guide Candidates
The Bhejane Playground
Bhejane’s commitment to purposeful career training will ensure that you can now do all of this in one place, gain valuable practical experience and qualify for an industry placement at the same time.
In addition to the benefits stated above, this is the only programme of its kind that prepares the student to work in both terrestrial and marine protected areas. Learn more about our exciting camps and courses here.
Open Water Diving on the FGASA Marine Guide Course
Base in Northern Zululand and bordering the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park the college could hardly be in a better place. Widely recognised as an area of unrivalled biodiversity, this offers the opportunity to live, study and work in one of the most diverse natural environments in Southern Africa.
The programme is suitable for anyone that is interested in working in Wildlife Tourism and Conservation, either as a Professional Nature Guide, Wildlife Monitor, Research Assistant, Conservation Volunteer Coordinator, Marine Guide or Conservation Entrepreneur. The course caters specifically for students that want more than an entry level guiding qualification, and is looking for a more practical training approach than what is available through traditional academic qualifications. Download our Career Fact Sheets here.
Bhejane Nature Training is a fully endorsed FGASA Training Provider. (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa)
Join us today, to become a part of the Zululand Conservation Legacy . . .
This is a bit of a throwback to 2010, when husband and wife team Michelle and Riaan Garforth Venter , and sidekick Nicola completed their FGASA Field guide training course with us at Bhejane Nature Training. We really enjoyed having them on the course -it was a blast start to finish! Very entertaining bunch.
This is what Michelle had to say about her experience.
It’s 5:30 in the morning and there’s a knock on my door. The sun is just starting to warm the Acacia tops here in Zululand. It’s time for another 5km walk and I still can’t believe that I am six months pregnant and my feet barely fit into my boots. The motivation of knowing that I’m almost a FGASA level one qualified ‘Dangerous Game Field’ guide is what propels me from my bed and into the shower. It’s what I’ve been working towards for almost two years.
When I started the tv show Wild Ltd 1 in 2004, I never knew the profound impact it would have on my life and before long we were knee deep in production for Bush Radar, our children’s series. The culmination of these two series has meant that I spend almost two weeks a month in the bush.
Wild Ltd has grown from strength to strength, with our viewership now sitting at a staggering 1.4 million people per week. That is more than a million people each week listening to our conservation message, and this is what sparked the original idea that I needed to become qualified. As a media figure, I need to speak from a place of knowledge, ensuring the information I’m presenting is factually correct. We have a lot of researchers and journalists watching the show and it would be a tragedy if we were to give out the incorrect information, facts and figures. I joined FGASA, as it is the regulating authority for nature guides in this country and the course makes practical experience mandatory, which for me was the deciding factor. We started with Mark Lowes who accompanied us on shoots and sat down for lectures after we had filmed and did practical walks whenever possible. Unfortunately our shoot schedule was just too hectic to continue in this manner.
My producer, Nicola, found an advertisement for Bhejane Nature Training in Zululand. This suited me perfectly as I was pregnant and this is a low malaria area. Riaan, my husband, myself and Nicola took time off work to complete the course. Dylan Panos is the head ranger and along with his team went out of their way to ensure my comfort. We would start out with a morning walk with him and ended up never walking more than 3 km’s, because we were asking so many questions. After breakfast we would have lectures and study time and boy – did we study – we were so nervous about the test. Dylan and his wife Christa also had module specific lecturers join us for certain parts of the course. Herpetologists, geologists and ornithologists added to our fast growing knowledge of the South African bush.
Needless to say, the day before and the morning of the exam were very stressful but we passed it with flying colours. I’m already seeing the benefits of the course in our everyday work.
We are now working on the new season of Bush Radar and are already implementing our new knowledge into the tv series. It has been paramount for us to not only learn from the course and the incredible people who have shared their knowledge and talent with us but through these amazing people who fight the good fight of conservation, we are now able to send out an even stronger message to tv audiences.
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