Who can do this course? Anyone!

Our signature Field Guide Course consists of 28 adventure packed days living in and learning about nature and ecology from our wilderness camps in Kenya.  During your stay with us you will take part in a variety of learning activities whilst driving and walking in some of the most stunning areas of Africa.
Driving and walking will comprise the backbone of your training activities. Whether you’ve chosen a professional career linked to wildlife or nature, have just finished school and are on your gap year, if you’ve possibly taken a career break or are a regular traveller to the bush, this course is for you.
 
The course is structured to maximize the practical experience of our learners in the bush. Each day allows for hours of time spent in the field interpreting the ecology and enjoying a wildlife experience. Activities alternate between walks and driving. Lecture time follows after brunch, which involves topical instruction (lectures) and discussion on the subject of the day. This is followed by time for self study for the learners. Learner participation in the care of the camp, equipment and vehicle will be expected. Learners will be expected to pay attention to the needs of fellow learners and to work in teams at times.

Subjects covered in this course include

• Welcome and Introduction
• The game drive vehicle
• Ecotourism and Guiding
• Spotlighting
• Field guiding as a profession
• Basic 4x4 driving
• Attributes, skills and duties of a field guide
• Planning of game drives and walks
• Bush navigation and orientation
• Radio procedures
• Ecology
• Reptiles
• Geology
• Amphibians
• Soils
• Sensitivity
• Weather
• Anticipating animal behaviour
• Plant communities
• Career opportunities
• Plant identification and uses
• Identification and ecology of invertebrates
• Grasses
• Bush habitat management principles
• Presentation skills
• Creating photographic opportunities for guests
• Animal tracks and tracking
• Communication and facilitation skills
• Bird identification and behaviour
• Dealing with guests
• Animal behaviour
• Sustainable development and the wise use of natural resources
• Approaching dangerous game
• Ecotourism and local communities
• Setting up a bush camp
• Taxonomy
• Sleep out in the bush
• Working in the industry
• Bush skills and survival
• Testing and evaluations
• Dangerous game / Basic rifle handling
• Using binoculars

EcoTraining — Rukinga Tsavo
Tsavo is famous worldwide for the “man eating and mane less” lions and Kenya for the Massai Mara and so it should be, as there are few other places able to offer such wildlife intensity.  Many people who have been to Africa numerous times come to the Kenya for its wildlife. The Tsavo ecosystem is an area of 43,000 km2 and is one of the largest and most important wildlife refuges in Africa. The core of this area is formed by Tsavo East and West National Parks, which together occupy approximately 21,000 km2, and the Mkomazi Game Reserve which occupies about 5,000 km2 in Tanzania. The vast area adjoining the southern arms of Tsavo East and West comprises privately owned plots of land that are mainly utilised for livestock grazing or limited agriculture. The exception to this is Rukinga Sanctuary, an 80,000 acre area of land that is managed by Wildlife Works for the benefit of wildlife. Camp Tsavo is situated in the centre of Rukinga Sanctuary and is where our camp is based. The camp is set out like a traditional African village and surrounded by endless views of the African Bush. This ecosystem is home to a large diversity of flora and fauna, many species of which are classified by IUCN (the World Conservation Union) as vulnerable, threatened or endangered, and boasts a large population of predators, especially lions. Rukinga Sanctuary forms part of a vital wildlife corridor (Tsavo Kasigau Wildlife corridor, TKWD) across the ‘Taru desert’ for a population of almost one thousand elephants and hundreds of buffalo that migrate seasonally between the Parks in search of water, temporarily giving Rukinga one of the largest populations of elephants on private land in Kenya.

EcoTraining – Lewa Conservancy
The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a private reserve in north-east Kenya near Mount Kenya National Park, Samburu and the Aberdares. The number of visitors to Lewa has been greatly restricted, giving you the opportunity to experience Africa at its wildest. Lewa is malaria-free and is situated at 4,500 to 6,500 feet (1,400-2,000 metres) above sea level. The Lewa Downs within the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a 16,000 hectare ranch that has been the home of the Craig family since 1924. They manage the Lewa Safari Camp and Wilderness Trails lodge. In addition, Ngwesi Lodge, as part of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, is a community run tourism project that has won world acclaim. When you visit Lewa Conservancy, you will be far from the crowded safari trails and can enjoy the vastness of this beautiful region in tranquillity.

Cost:  We have chosen not to put our rates here as they vary for each camp. Please contact us for the course rate

Venue:  Rukinga and Lewa Camp

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If this is your dream or passion, allow us to help you fulfil that dream. After all, there is no time like the present. Contact us.