Location
  • South Africa
    • Hoedspruit
Term
Academic Year, Summer
Subject Areas
Animal Science Astronomy Biology Botany Conservation and Preservation Earth Sciences Ecology Environmental Studies Hospitality Life Sciences Natural Sciences Tourism Wildlife Sciences +3

Program Details

Program Type
Direct Enrollment
Degree Level
High School Diploma
Housing
Dormitory
Language
English

Pricing

Starting Price
0
Price Details
FGASA Apprentice Field Guide NQF2 certificate
FGASA exam and registration fees
Basic Wilderness First Aid
SASSETA Firearm Proficiency
Cybertracker Track and Sign and Trailing qualification
Bushwise Professional Field Guide certificate
Additional training including bird specialist, hospitality, photography, 4x4, reserve management, and more
Shared accommodation in fenced camp near Big 5 reserve
Training conducted by experienced long-term staff
Online masterclasses led by industry experts
Two sets of uniforms
T-shirt, fleece jacket, cap and beanie
All meals (except during off weeks)
Support services
Additional activities including trips to Kruger National Park and more
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Classes Meals Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

See price details for everything included.

What's Not Included
Airfare Domestic Airfare SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa
What's Not Included (Extra)

We do assist with providing the necessary letter for your study visa.

Feb 06, 2024
Nov 08, 2023
2 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The Bushwise Professional Field Guide course is the most comprehensive and immersive safari guide course available. Train with the industry’s award-winning instructors and wildlife experts, under the International Field Guide Association (IFGA) and Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) curriculum.

You'll spend six or 12 months living and training in South Africa's Big Five country, learning theory and going on game drives and bush walks. Each day will bring something new and wonderful – from watching a lion on the hunt, to spotting rare birds, to tracking elephants – and so much more.

To aid in your wildlife career development, this course offers a range of placement options that provide experience in more wide-ranging areas in the conservation, research, and field guiding industries. Subjects covered include ecology, botany, and taxonomy, as well as bushcraft and survival skills like track and sign, advanced rifle handling and 4x4 driving.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Train in a Big 5 game reserve close to South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park and live with like-minded people in a fenced camp in the wilderness.
  • Observe animal behavior and interactions in the wild and learn how to host a guided experience.
  • Train under passionate professionals, industry experts and award-winning trainers.
  • Jump-start your conservation career through a 6-month work placement at a reserve, lodge or conservation organization.
  • Earn valuable certificates from FGASA, Bushwise, SASSETA, CATHSSETA and more.

Program Reviews

4.90 Rating
based on 29 reviews
  • 5 rating 89.66%
  • 4 rating 10.34%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.65
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.8
  • Housing 4.55
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 9 - 16 of 29 reviews
Default avatar
daisy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

field guide 52 week course

the bushwise field guide course is extremely well put together and lead by a team of expert trainers, who are knowledgable and always willing to help. there was such a diverse group of students on my course and we have all made friends for life. i learnt more than i could possibly ever imagine and every day was full of fun activities, from theory lectures, to bird drives, to tracks and signs, to practical observation tests, to walks in the bush. i would recommend bushwise to anyone who wants to start a nature career in africa

38 people found this review helpful.
Response from Bushwise Field Guides

Hi there,

Thanks so much for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you found the quality of our trainers so great and our course diverse. I'm also happy to hear you feel you learnt so much while still having fun. All the best with your field-guiding career!

Amanda Stone
Head of Alumni Services (Global)

Default avatar
Venkat Subramaniam
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Bushwise Field Guides

Am thankful for landing in Bushwise. The quality of their trainers, their program structure and ensuring that every student is taken care of and their personal attention to each of the students is just wonderful. What is being taught in the class is being demonstrated out in the field. The number of game drives each students gets to do is simply awesome. The way the course is structured helps with an overall coverage and helps the students to be excellent field guides in any lodge they may work at.

Pros
  • Knowledge of the trainers
  • Course structure
  • Hands on experience
37 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Millie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I can’t recommend Bushwise more!

I enjoyed every second of my time at Bushwise. The course was fantastic, the trainers were so knowledgable and I have learnt so much during my time there. The campus is beautiful and you get to spend every day in the bush! All the staff are amazing and they worked so hard to make my time there the best it could possibly be. Any issues that came up throughout the course were dealt with immediately and the support offered was amazing. The friends I have made at Bushwise will last a lifetime. I really couldn’t recommend Bushwise more.

Pros
  • Living in the Bush
  • Gain so much knowledge
  • See some amazing sightings!
51 people found this review helpful.
Response from Bushwise Field Guides

Hi there,

Thank you for this review! I am thrilled to hear you found the course fantastic and the staff supportive. All the best with your career in conservation!

Amanda Stone
Head of Alumni Services (Global)

Default avatar
Luke
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life in the bush

Throughout my last 6 months at bushwise I have not had any dull moments. Everyday is unique and I always found myself learning something new everyday from going on game drives nearly everyday to track and sign, advanced rifle handling, sleepouts and first aid.I thoroughly enjoyed myself and made a lot of friendships that will last a lifetime. The training from bushwise is priceless. The trainers go out of their way in order to help you and make sure that you are happy and comfortable at bushwise. Th

Pros
  • Being in the bush all day
  • Endless learning opportunities
56 people found this review helpful.
Response from Bushwise Field Guides

Hi there,

Thanks so much for taking a moment to leave us a review! I'm thrilled to hear you found your Bushwise training so exciting and made some great friends in the process. All the best with your career in conservation!

Amanda
Head of Alumni

Default avatar
Brody
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Exceptional experience with Bushwise

The past 6 months studying through Bushwise to become a Field Guide has been the greatest experience of my life, the staff have become family to me and the ability to wake up and witness a natural environment everyday isn't too bad either.I personally use to be very quiet and intraverted which made me believe I wouldn't have what it takes, but the trainers made a massive effort to boost my confidence and I will be forever grateful to them all. I would highly recommend Bushwise to anyone looking to become a Field Guide!

Pros
  • In the Bush!
  • Super friendly people
  • Qualification in the coolest career
Cons
  • Nothing really
60 people found this review helpful.
Response from Bushwise Field Guides

Hi there,

Thank you so much for taking a moment to leave us such a great review! I'm thrilled to hear you enjoyed this course and that it helped you to grow both professionally and personally. All the best with your career in conservation!

Amanda
Head of Alumni Services

Default avatar
Adam
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience!

The past 6 months with Bushwise have been nothing short of amazing. Of course it has been filled with highs, lows, & things that could be done differently but overall, the experiences I have had living in the bushveld of Africa will forever be life changing. From observing elephant behavior on the porch of our tents to learning from the best trainers in the industry, the knowledge gained from the Bushwise course exceeded every expectation I had. Living & training on a reserve in Greater Kruger provided an opportunity that not many will get to experience in this life and provided lessons that simply can't be taught from reading a textbook. One can't say enough about the trainers we had in creating this environment and the patience & efforts they exerted to ensure everyone succeeded during this course.

As an international student, there are many frustrations of trying to get the opportunity to crack into the conservation industry in South Africa but the staff at Bushwise offer patience, insight & support to help give you the best opportunity possible.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
It’s a heavy workload but if you come to learn, you’ll be rewarded greatly.
59 people found this review helpful.
Response from Bushwise Field Guides

Hi there,

Thank you so much for this fantastic review! I am thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience on your Bushwise program and that it exceeded your expectations! I'm also happy to hear you felt the staff were able to provide you with the insight and support needed to launch your career in a field. All the best for the future!

Amanda
Head of Alumni Services

Default avatar
Donald
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Bushwise Field Guides

Being quite an analytical person, I had gone into a lot of investigation when I was looking for a training provider. This I had to do to ensure that I get the right level of training and make the big shift in my career path.
Little did I know that I would leave the training program with one of the best experiences of my life and fully prepared for the guiding career ahead of me.
The Bushwise community is very close to my heart and I would be proud to carry the Bushwise flag going forward.
We started as strangers and left as family, thank you Bushwise!!!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Hours spent tracking animals on foot was one of the best experiences.
59 people found this review helpful.
Response from Bushwise Field Guides

Hi there,

Thank you so much for this wonderful review. I am so happy to hear your Bushwise program was one of the best experiences if your life! I wish you many happy years working in the field.

Amanda
Head of Alumni Services

Default avatar
Andrew
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Bushwise

Bushwise has probably been one of the best experiences of my life.Growing up I always loved the bush and now the fact I’m living her has been unforgettable. From sleep outs to great food to magical encounters and endless days of fun it’s definitely a must if you love the bush or want to become a field guide there is no better option than bushwise from the years of experience all the trainers have combined with constant learning you are bound to become the best of the best and the multiple courses add to you cv so yes bushwise is a must.

What was your funniest moment?
Probably when I fell in a dam full of mud and got dirty when we went frogging
62 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers