
The wildlife economy of South Africa works partly through wildlife-based tourism in the national parks and private reserves. This requires skilled and knowledgeable guides to provide an enjoyable, educational yet safe experience.
This is a 55 training day skills programme which comprises the following activities/learning modules which will need to be completed:
1. Guiding in the natural environment and creating a guiding experience
2. Geology
3. Weather and climate
4. Astronomy
5. Ecology
6. Biomes
7. Taxonomy
8. Plants – Trees, shrubs, forbs & grasses
9. Arthropods
10. Fish
11. Amphibians
12. Reptiles
13. Birds
14. Mammals
15. Animal behaviour
16. Conservation & habitat management
17. Historical human habitation
Entry level people who have expressed an interest in nature guiding.
The FGASA courses are tailored towards employment and a career path in the commercial wildlife and ecotourism sector.
The learner will be required to have:
Above all an interest in and passion for the guiding profession.
NSC (Matric) with a minimum of a Grade 4 in English, Maths literacy and Geography or Life Sciences
OR FLC Certificate in Communication and Maths literacy and Matric Geography or Life Sciences
Valid drivers licence
The qualification has been developed to improve professionalism across the nature guiding industry and focuses on the skills needed by a guide operating in a natural or conservation area.
A learner who has achieved these unit standards will be able to implement operational knowledge and skills in interpreting the natural world for guests within a conserved area. The learner will also be able to lead and mentor other pre-qualification learners and make valuable contributions to nature- based tourism operations.
The Occupational Qualifications certificates and skills development programmes are designed to be occupationally relevant and are composed of various credits which can be used towards a nationally recognised qualification.