Not actually hunting but probably well within the groups area of interest.
I am thinking about becoming a qualified African field/nature guide and I would be grateful for any information or opinions on where to get good training. There are courses in SA that are 6 months training and then 6 months guaranteed employment which seems like a good idea as you get a foot into the industry and see if it is for me but any tips about other courses or countries to go, or to avoid(!) are most welcome.

I have fond memories of a FGASA trained guide rabbiting on about a herd of "bushbuck cows" when they were in fact, nyala ewes. If you want to be succesful, you should start reading up all you can on the geology, history, fauna and flora of the area you would intend working in. Of course, the Southern Skies as well.

That is exactly why I am asking here. There seem to be many course organizers i SA who have courses from 1 week up to the mentioned 6+6 months. If you take a three week course and then pass the exams then you are certified but not qualified. The topics you mention are covered in the course but maybe there is better training to be had in ex. Botswana?

snowhound.
In 2007 I did a 2 week Ecoquest course with EcoTraining out of Makuleke, the northern most private area in Kruger, bordering Zimbabwe. It was one of the finest non-hunting experiences with the course led by Bruce Lawson, a capacity in his field. I won't hesitate to recommend EcoTraining - read more here:

www.ecotraining.co.za

You can pm me for more info if you wish.

Jytte

Thank you Jytte!
I will look into that and might accept your kind offer to PM you later.

You have to be cautious because a good many of these courses offer/promise a lot but deliver far less especially by way of employment.

The SA Govt simply don't want white immigrants and just two of the many things you need to be wary of are the newly amended immigration act and their love of applying the Aliens Act of 1937 to prevent immigrants, especially white immigrants taking jobs that they believe should go to black South Africans.

If you just want to do the course for fun then you might not need to take those things into consideration.

Do take serious note of Shakari's advice.

My memory is really failing fast! A few years ago a guy called Ian Blakewell [?] in real life, and IIRC posted here as "Vlam", was a highly qualified SA Field Guide before he became a PH. Anyone else can correct or add info?

Thank you Shakari, that is very good advice!
Is it the same in other countries or are there some that still welcome immigrants?

McLaren,
Thank you very much!
I will contact him and see if he will offer any advice.

quote:

Originally posted by snowhound:
Thank you Shakari, that is very good advice!
Is it the same in other countries or are there some that still welcome immigrants?

McLaren,
Thank you very much!
I will contact him and see if he will offer any advice.

Many will tell you they'll give you permanent residency but when you look into it more closely, what they'll actually give you is temporary residency that is usually valid for between 2 - 5 years or sometimes less so you need to do a great deal of research before investing any significant amount of money on those conditions and also whether you can get your money out again if you do lose the right to reside.

FWIW, this subject is addressed in my book (link below) and you might find that and the sections on animal behaviour and possibly camp building to be of interest/use to you as a good/useful read before you go on a course.

Nothing is impossible given Enthusiasim. There is a very good course being run at a wildlife collage next to Kruger ...richard.sowry@sanparks.org

Richard is the parks ranger in charge of the section of Kruger next to the school- he can give you the details. or try Theresa Sowry [sawildc@lantic.net]

You can get in anywhere if you really really want to - but I think the realities of living and working anywhere North of the Limpopo is more of a shock to the system than most 1st world folk can manage.

If you are not looking at huntinmg and just want to 'work with wildlife' PM me and I can make some sugestions. Pay- next to nill untill you deliver the clients...actually, you pay until you are pretty usefull....

Snowwolf

Any claim of guaranteed employment is almost certainly going to have several strings attached. Second to that you will have between 5 and 25 people on your course. If they all pass where do they expect to fish out 25 jobs every 8 weeks in an industry that is over saturated with Land Rover Jockey who are not willing to advance themselves through study to be better guides etc.

I know of a Swedish Girl who has done exacly what you are looking for. I will try and track her down and see if I can put her in contact with you.

Also bear in mind that a newly qualified guide can expect to Earn R 3000 per month plus accommodation. Your 6 month course will give you a basic grounding in Field Guiding but will leave you far short of your goal of being taken seriously as a guide and leaves you a long way short of guiding in dangerous game areas, especially if you intend to go in on foot.

There are a lot of Jackals in the industry so be very wary.

If you are serious about becoming an accomplished upper echelon guide then start the right way.
Do your 27 day Level 1 course. If you pass it and enjoy what you are experiencing then sign up with UNISA for their Diploma Nature Conservation.
Do not under any circumstances pay over a lot of money for a guaranteed qualification. Or sign any lengthly 2-4 year contracts to be "trained by the best". The industry does not work like that.
Whether you are trained by FC Selous or Jannie and his Tannie makes no difference. You write the test set forward by FGASA and if you pass it you get to move up to the next level.

Each level has study material, required reading, required practicals and a standard test to pass.

There is only one operation I am willing to currently recommend. Dylan Panos of Bhejane Nature Training. http://www.bhejanenaturetraining.com/
He is an EX DG Ph too who has done some culling in Zim, so you get the benefit of his hunting based experience too.

I hope that helps, get hold of Dylan and he will be able to answer any other questions you may have. Alternately contact Brian Serrao at FGASA. www.fgasa.co.za
Before you decide to sign up for a course please contact me. I may have some history on the option you are about to choose that may cement your ideas or send you running a mile.

Good luck
Ian

Shakari; Book is ordered. It should be a very nice read regardless.

Ganyana; Thank you for your input! I will send you a PM.

Ian; Thank you very much for your post! I will send you a PM also.

I highly recommend Steves book.
Great reading and crammed with the info you really need, not the romantic bullshit that sells paper, but the stuff you need to know to get in and stay in.
I will reply to your PM soon
Thanks
Ian

quote:

Originally posted by Hunting the Box H:
I highly recommend Steves book.
Great reading and crammed with the info you really need, not the romantic bullshit that sells paper, but the stuff you need to know to get in and stay in.
I will reply to your PM soon
Thanks
Ian

Thank you for those kind words Ian.

Coming from you that's high praise indeed!

Steve you are too kind. The fact that I am even allowed to post amongst some of my African hunting heros is enough to keep a smile on my face.
If I can rise to the standards people like yourself and Ganyana have set I will have had a life well spent.

You may not have realized it but you are largely responsible for me staying the course and ending up where I am now.

When you home again you best bring me my rifle, and come kill some pigs with it.

Ian

It looks like I'll be over around September & October or so and you may well find me on your doorstep with MY rifle in hand!

Thanks for the invite.

Steve... you are booked. Just say when.

Bring Andrew Maclaren and maybe add Luan to the Mix, I would like to meet him.

I would have invited Hook but my pigs asked if they could die with some dignity.
Maybe we can arrange a chaperone for him to avoid any issues. I imagine with the way SA politics are going even the pigs will have a union and be demanding fair treatment by then.

Ian

If you have any good blacksmiths in the area, maybe they could make a Hook proof chastity belt!

I'm sure Luan & Andrew would be delighted to join us if they can.

Steve, good idea.
But can you imagine the poor bastard having to do a fitting.

Might be earier to use a shock collar on him, it works for the hounds. When we send him in to dispatch the pig, if we hear squealing before the shot then you give him a few volts. I imagine the shot will come quite soon after that. Lets just hope its a gun shot.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunting the Box H:
Steve, good idea.
But can you imagine the poor bastard having to do a fitting.

Might be earier to use a shock collar on him, it works for the hounds. When we send him in to dispatch the pig, if we hear squealing before the shot then you give him a few volts. I imagine the shot will come quite soon after that. Lets just hope its a gun shot.

WE could have a bit of fun debating about which apendage we should strap the collar........ the problem would be that we might shock Hook and the laws of conductivity would mean the poor bloody pig would also get zapped and that really would be adding insult to injury!

Snowhound

My apologies for hijacking your thread!

Poor pigs

Yes, I appologise, this one has gone, uh...below the belt.

I have received great help and advice from what i understand to be some of the best hunters in Africa.
I am honored to have you screw up this thread!