Giant Sable Conservation Efforts
Found only in central Angola, the giant sable is one of the most impressive but also one of the most critically endangered African antelopes. It was unprotected during the civil war that began in 1975 and only ended in 2002. Government and rebel armies alternately occupied the 8,280 sq km Luando Integral Reserve of the Giant Sable and the 630 sq km Cangandala National Park, 50 km from Malange, the provincial capital. Without a giant sable bull, the sable in Cangandala were doomed to extinction, hybrids or no hybrids.
To read his article further and see the slide show of the operation,  go here.

Breaking News - Giraffe kills Impala
Fresh scarlet brain-blood had flowed from the baby impala's nostrils to pool thickly in the footprint of a bull giraffe Read further...

How can we help you!
With holidays, career breaks or future employment opportunities taking a back-seat, many people are looking towards doing something constructive, affordable and above all for themselves. EcoTraining offers a wide variety of courses to suit many individual needs for now and the future!

Why Choose EcoTraining?
•We’ve been training since 1993 - one of the first organisations to conduct formal training.
•We train in great wilderness areas including the Kruger National Park.
•Our students train while living in the middle of the African wilderness, with wild animals potentially right outside their tents as our canvas tented camps are unfenced.
•We have trained Field Guides for top tourism operators such as Wilderness Safaris, Tanzania Wildlife Safaris, KZN Wildlife, Heritage Group and various privately-owned game lodges in southern Africa.
•and more reasons to choose us…

Join the Butterfly Survey at Makuleke
Let us know if you encounter these butterflies at Makuleke in the Kruger National Park. 79 species were recorded during the last survey, a couple of species that were of interest eluded the team. We need your help in documenting the species below.
It would be great if the presence of the following species can be confirmed for the area, as the current records are either very old, doubtful or based on single records only, which could indicate that the specimens recorded were onlymigrants into the area. The species that would be really great to record again are:
Acraea acrita (Fiery Acraea)
Charaxes bohemani (Large Blue Emperor)
Euxanthe wakefieldi (Forest Queen)
Cyrestis camillus (African Map Butterfly)
Dixeia doxo (Black‐veined white)
Andronymus caesar philander (White Dart)
Andronymus neander (Common dart or Nomad Dart) 

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Student feedback
Bongani Mbatha
Field Guide 1

It has been a sucessful and excellent course.  The camp site was amazing and beautiful wildlife.  I would love to pass my feelings to our instructor, Cliffy, that it was indeed happy days. - Bongani Mbatha, Mashatu Camp, 2011

 
Doug Williamson, Selati
Field Guide 1

"The best experience of my life, I got to see things that many people only dream about. Where else can you actually drive a landrover full of tourists on a game drive and lead your own foot safari amongst elephants and lion (with the instructor beside you of course)." - Doug Williamson, Selati; 2002

 
Brad Knight
Field Guide 1

It was a great time, I enjoyed it so much.  I learnt more in a month at Selati than I did in 8 months at College.  This was a great experience that I will never ever forget.  Brad Knight, Selati, August 2010

 
Gwylm Humphreys, Selati
Field Guide 1

It's been an amazing once in a lifetime course, I would suggest it to anybody! Gwylm Humphreys, Selati; 6 September 2006

 
Joeri and Stefan, Karongwe
Field Guide 1

We just want to say thank you again for the wonderful time we had.  A really special experience, one we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.  Joeri and Stefan, Karongwe, October 2010

 
Raymond Schoonraad
Field Guide 1

Excellent.  Cliffy has a lot of experience and we benefitted from it tremendously.  Thank you very much for a great course.  I had a great time and learnt a great deal.  All the best with your endeavours!  Raymond Schoonraad, Mashatu, November 2010

 
Patrick Lempereur & Marianne Bret; Karongwe, September 2007
Field Guide 1

Excellent, we had a great month. And will probably come back for the Level 2 course. - Patrick Lempereur & Marianne Bret; Karongwe, September 2007.

 
Alejandra Garcia; Karongwe
Field Guide 1

Above all expectations. It was really one of the best and most memorable experiences in my life. - Alejandra Garcia; Karongwe, September 2007.

 
Clive Makuleke 2009
Field Guide 1

Thanks for expertly sharing a slice of bush lore with a cross-section og humanity. Great blend of knowledge, professionalism and conservation ethics.  All played out in one of the last wilderness areas of South Africa….Clive Thompson, Makuleke, 2009

 
Patrick Kaufmann, Karongwe
Field Guide 1

Thank you for the 28 days in that great environment.  It felt good to be that close to nature.  The sleep out was an unpayable experience.  Patrick Kaufmann, Karongwe, November 2010   

 
Marjan van der Bijl; Karongwe
Field Guide 1

I had a wonderful time here. Lovely surrounding, fantastic instructors, good accommodation. It feels a great deal like home now to me. Four weeks flew by and I wish I could stay for another 4 weeks! - Marjan van der Bijl; Karongwe, 17 September 2007

 
Diana Wild, Karongwe
Field Guide 1

4 weeks is too short!  I have learnt so much, thank you for opening my senses!  I am really satisfied, I loved it and I will recommend EcoTraining.  You have made my life richer.  I know and understand so much more now about this beautiful place.  I will be back!  Diana Wild, Karongwe, January 2011

 
Michaela and Jason Johnstone; Selati
Field Guide 1

I wanted to write and let you know just how wonderful the course is at Selati. Jason and I had a really amazing month and believe that the course is extremely valuable for our future in the industry. We had no idea when applying for the course just how intensive it is, but the knowledge that we gained was not only interesting but will be applicable in our everyday life at Chiawa. The instructors were fantastic, Mark especially amazed me everyday with his enthusiasm and knowledge of the bush. It takes special people to do the same thing over and over but with such passion. We really cannot thank them enough. I now look at the bush with a new perspective!!! I hope that you pass on this positive feed back to Mark and Lance because I think it is important for them to know that their work is valued and appreciated by Jason and I. We made some wonderful friends, who I know we will keep in touch with, and we had an amazing month. Thank you for helping to organise the course for us at such short notice. It was really wonderful to receive such prompt and friendly advise. Warm Regards Michaela and Jason Johnstone; Selati; February 2008

 
Jaap van Dijk; Selati
Field Guide 1

A profound experience that taught me to see nature instead of only looking at it. I now have a better understanding of all interacting parts that form an ecosystem and how they are connected. An exciting new world has opened up! Jaap van Dijk; Selati; 19 Feb 2008

 
Peter Twycross; Selati
Field Guide 1

Dear Mark. …this is something that I have wanted to do for some time and my expectations were surpassed! You guys really do a great job. Thank you personally for your input and the way you communicated your passion about the bush in so many ways. I appreciated not only your knowledge, but your obvious skill as a trainer and your rapport with all of us – quite an achievement. I have been greatly enriched and am determined to continue to learn more and therefore enjoy the varied aspects of nature. I am fortunate enough to be out in the wild regularly with my work and have already found what I learnt has stimulated me to learn wherever I am. - Peter Twycross; Selati; June 2008

 
Brent Williams
Trails Guide
I had the most amazing time in Botswana. Compliments and thanks to the camp,staff and trainers!! Brent Williams (Trails Guide July 2011, Mashatu)
 
Alex Jordan
Trails Guide

Thank you so much for the amazing course and overall time here.  A definite highlight in my life….. Alex Jordan, Trails Guide, Sep 2009

 
Tanja Kramer
Trails Guide

Thank you for the awesome experience which you gave us up at eco-training. It was by far the best month ever! Makuleke really grows on you and im sure we are all missing it there very much, I know that I would definitely give anything to go back! Hope the course which followed us has just as much fun. - Tanja Kramer; June 2007

 
Kate Mason
Trails Guide

10/10 – Would love to go back and do it all over again! It was an awesome experience I’ll never forget! Thank you for allowing me (and other game rangers) the opportunity to experience the bush like that and for the most awesome experience ever! I truly lovely every moment at Makuleke! - Kate Mason; 20 August 2007.

 
Ami Flowers
Trails Guide

I was rewarded with a grand adventure that changed my life. I don’t want to leave this place. I like hearing the lions growling at night, the umbrella thorn pods raining down like snow flakes as the wind blows. I don’t want to go home.” Read Ami's full article about her time on course at Makuleke here - Ami Flowers (University of Georgia) Makuleke; July 2007

 
Rhodes Bezuidenhout; 25 June 2007
Trails Guide

This has been an unbelievable experience for me, proving to myself that I can do something that I have always wanted to do. This opportunity that EcoTraining has offered me has really been a life changing experience for me. Rhodes Bezuidenhout; 25 June 2007

 
Adrienne Dorison
Trails Guide

Dear Bruce and Dee, I refrain from calling Florida home because it doesn't really feel that way to me anymore. I am here, but my heart and home is still in Africa. You both made Eco Training such a wonderful home to me and I cannot thank you enough. Thank you again for the most magical and inspiring experience of my life. - Adrienne Dorison

 
Wade Bosch
Trails Guide

I will never forget my stay! I will really miss this wonderful corner of the world and hope to come back someday soon. – Wade Bosch; 25 June 2007

 
Karin-Anne Abercrombie
Trails Guide

The course is really good. I would recommend it to anyone! Not easy, but fun. I’ll be back! Thanks so much for everything. Really loved it out here. You are lucky to be in a special place like this. Thanks a million! Karin-Anne Abercrombie; 25 June 2007

 
Mel EcoQuest Feb 2010
EcoQuest

Thank you for providing us with the experience of a lifetime! Your dedication to the wildlife of Kruger & this concession is inspirational.  We enjoyed our stay so much… Mel, EcoQuest, 2010

 
Angela Wallace
EcoQuest

Good morning, Kath! Eric and I did completely enjoy the course and learned far more than I would ever have realized. …It is a true life experience. The lessons learned are MANY! The small things like what birds can alert you to or the imoprtance of a beetle. I also truly appreciate the "leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but photos". This is a lesson that all humans need to be reminded of regularly! Other than that, it was all very well layed out for us! We truly loved all the staff!!!!! - Angela Wallace; November 2008

 
Tommaso
EcoQuest

I hope the video will be useful to make know this magnificient place and your excellent organization - Tommaso, February 2008

 
Jo Holland
EcoQuest

Hello All. I just can't say enough how much I enjoyed meeting you, getting to know you and spending time together in the bush. Every day was a new and wonderful experience and adventure. In just two short weeks we experienced just about everything possible. Extreme heat, cold, sunshine and overcast. Starlit nights and rain. From no water and ditch digging to a pool party and don't forget the extra protein at dinner. My list of animals, birds, insects and plants is hughe and impressive. I managed to take some notes during some very interesting lessons after breakfast. I have learned so much about the bush and life in the bush I just can't say enough. This has been for me a most unbelievable experience of a lifetime and I just couldn't think of anyone else that I would want to have shared it with than all of you. – Jo Holland, December 2007

 
Pete Asheson
Wildlife Photography

…a truly magnificent experience. Accommodation and meals - better than I expected. It was such a privilege to spend time with Lex. Nothing seemed too much trouble. He shares his incredible knowledge of wildlife, the bush and photography in a manner which left me quite humbled. I really liked his style. The level of the course suited me well. The value was excellent – in fact I felt it was too good in favour of the client. I would be keen to attend other such courses or safaris with Lex which may facilitate photographic opportunities. I will certainly be happy to recommend this to others. - Pete Asheson ; May 2007

 
Doug Acheson
Wildlife Photography

The experience was invaluable in that one was given hands on experience. Being able to park next to a kill, leopard or herd of buffalo for however long it took for all to be satisfied was a special treat. This gave all a good opportunity to interact with each other and discuss various options with Lex when taking their shots. Lex was encouraging and helpful and put me at ease immediately. The length of trip was ideal although I could have stayed for a month!!!. Everyday was another unique experience. On our last day we enquired whether we could walk a bit. This was no problem for Lex who put us into tracking white rhino for several kilometres through the bush. You would not receive this privilege when doing a conventional classroom type photographic course. I would eagerly recommend the trip (as I have already done) to all and sundry. The trip was worth every cent!!!.  From being a total novice to having a good understanding of photography in only 4 days is proof of the trips success for me. Doug Acheson; May 2007

 
Graham Whitley
General

I attended the course held at Karongwe in early August which was taken by Ryan Clark. I just wanted to thank EcoTraining (and especially Ryan) for an amazing and informative course. Ryan was a brilliant guide and we learn a lot from him during the short course we had. Ryan was able to answer all of our questions and focus the course and lessons on the elements we were most interested in, namely tracking and bush knowledge (which was very much appreciated). Graham Whitley - Bush Skills August 2011

 
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