Responsible Resource Management

Responsible Resource Management means that in order to conserve Africa’s natural resources, we need to use those resources in a morally responsible way, directed by good science, and to work for positive action to improve the soil, water and biodiversity.

As wildlife-based tourism is one of the main forms of resource use in the local area, the department offers several FGASA and CATHSSETA-accredited courses which provide entry and more advanced levels of training to aspiring and established Field and Trails guides.

With over 40 years of bush and lodge experience, our guide trainers are well equipped to provide a student experience is professional, safe, and fun.  We have a dedicated classroom with lots of practical training aids, state of the art technology, a variety of training vehicles, comfortable accommodation and access to a whole campus of wildlife and environment specialists.

Our training area is 4600 hectares of wilderness in the Greater Kruger National Park. It is made up of large blocks of undisturbed bush and only a few roads, making it the perfect training ground for walking trails, tracking experiences and getting up close and personal with nature.

To kick-start your guiding career, we provide the 55-day FGASA Apprentice Field Guide (NQF2) and the Apprentice Trails Guide Course (a further 28 training days).  We also offer the CATHSSETA Dangerous Game Site Guide at NQF2 and NQF4, which includes the “View Potentially Dangerous Animals” (VPDA) course, either included in the course or as a workplace-based RPL course.

We have recently built an on-line version of the FGASA Apprentice course and will soon be offering all of our other courses in part online/part on-campus combinations, so that you can save money and work at your own pace, but still learn the skills by getting immersed in our practical learning-by-doing approach.

Training modules

• The training modules include everything from weather and climate, geology and conservation management, through to bird identification, animal behaviour, and tracks and signs. 
• Emphasis is placed on soft guiding skills and game drive techniques which are essential to creating a personal interpretive guided experience to guests from all over the world. 
• First aid training and the 4×4 driving experience come standard and rifle and shooting skills are covered thoroughly in the Trails and VPDA courses.
• Students will gain the necessary skills, knowledge and techniques vital for the safari and tourism industry.