EcoTraining - Guides & Guardians - FGASA Accredited Training Courses

Creating world-class safari guides and passionate guardians of nature

Start your wildlife career.

Live your dream of working in nature and sharing your love of Africa with your guests. Get paid to work in the bush and live your passion.

Become a safari guide

Become a guardian of nature.

If you love nature and wildlife and want to grow your knowledge through amazing practical experiences enrol in one of our wildlife courses.

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Featured Educational Wilderness Courses

FGASA Field Guide Level 1/NQF 2

Every minute of your 55 days on this course will be a learning experience, as you are constantly exposed to the bush. It covers a broad spectrum of subjects, using a mix of formal lectures as well as time out in the field.

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August 12, 2018Stanley & Livingstone Private Game Reserve

FGASA Trails Guide

Explore the wilderness of the majestic Makuleke Concession in the famed Kruger National Park or Mashatu in the Northern Tuli Reserve in Botswana on foot, on a 28-day Trails Guide course (FGASA-accredited), where the majority of your time will be spent conducting bush walks in big game country.

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June 23, 2018Makuleke Concession

Professional Field Guide

If you love the idea of taking safari lodge guests from all over the world out on walking and game drive safaris into Africa’s wild places, finding wildlife for them, and teaching them fascinating facts about the animals and ecosystems, then EcoTraining’s Professional Field Guide course is for you.

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August 2, 2018All Camps

Blog: From The Field

Matthew Bouwkamp, the lovable Backwoods, Bayou Boy from Miami, Florida, has been fascinated by and has felt protective over wildlife ever since he was a kid. “Ever since I was a little kid, I was always the kid bringing the snakes home, “Mom can I keep it?!” Matt finished his studies in Wildlife Rehabilitation. In September 2017, Matt joined EcoTraining’s yearlong Professional Field Guide course along with his friend, James, who suggested the course. Now traversing through the koppies of Mashatu in Botswana, Matt is gaining practical hours of experience and encounters towards acquiring his lead trails qualification by working as a back-up field guide for EcoTraining. “It’s definitely given my life a new inspiration to push on.” says Matt. Like many people, Matt found himself caught up in a well-paying job and felt himself getting further and further away from his life’s passion: conservation. Coming to Africa was a life’s dream for Matt. What we naturally do as children often sets the tone for what we are destined to do as adults. Some know right away and spend their teenage years honing the skills they need for a career in their passion. Some never realise their purpose and suffer a lifetime of mediocracy and discontentment. Worst of all, there are many human beings of this world know what they’re destined to do but create too many excuses around why they can’t. It’s the truly brave ones who find themselves far along a path, only to admit and accept that they’ve pushed aside their passion and are living an inauthentic life. Matt is one of the brave ones; he left his stable career in order to return to his roots, back to his passion. Matt is now free and easy; he is living out his passion. After his year at EcoTraining, he hopes to go into conservation and anti-poaching. Just like when he was a kid, he wants to spend his life saving and protecting animals. Cheers to passion. Cheers to an authentic life. And cheers to the brave ones.

“The Brave Ones” - Matthew Bouwkamp

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June 18, 2018

Matt finished his studies in Wildlife Rehabilitation, but never had the opportunity to do what he loves, until now. It took him six years, working in construction, to realise what he has been missing. Here he is now, living his dream in wild Africa as a Professional Field Guide.

A Father’s heart without dreams for his children is like a bird without wings

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June 17, 2018

We share some lessons from great father figures in the bird kingdom.

If you can remember, towards the end of last year EcoTraining ran an exciting and educational radio programme on Pretoria FM. EcoTraining’s very own instructors Jan Hendrik, Quentin Swanevelder and Jasper Visser were guest speakers on the show called ‘Veldfeite met EcoTraining’ with the show’s host, Pienaar Lochner exploring topics about ecology, bush myths, dangerous game approach and much more. We also ran a bush quiz competition in conjunction with the show and our reigning winner of the 7-day EcoQuest Course turned out to be 13-year-old Willie junior Conradie. His knowledge and participation on the show proved without a doubt that he was a worthy winner. Winner Willie Conradie Jnr has lived with his grandmother and grandfather Mr. Willie Conradie Snr since birth. He attends high school at Hoërskool Hans Strijdom in Mookgopong (Naboomspruit) and stays in the school hostel. Since Willie Jnr was too young to visit the bush unaccompanied, we invited his grandfather to join him. Overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement to bond with his grandson on an adventure in the bush, he accepted. EcoTraining sent Willie Jnr and Snr on a road trip to Makuleke camp with… can you guess?... Our media man, Willie van Eeden! I mean, what are the chances?! The EcoQuest took place from 25th to 31st March and we hear that Willie Jnr stole the hearts and respect of EcoTraining staff. His politeness towards others and eager admiration for the bush encompasses all that we try to achieve here at EcoTraining.

What's better than hanging out with Grandpa in the bush?

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June 17, 2018

This story is a special tribute to grandfathers on Father’s Day. This is a heart-warming story of a grandfather, his grandson and an adventure in the African wilderness!

A wilderness Photographer who became a professional Field Guide

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June 11, 2018

People come to EcoTraining for a variety of reasons. Some want to become safari guides. Some want a gap year of adventure. Some just want to learn. Then you get some who want to be better photographers.

Creating world-class safari guides and passionate guardians of nature

Start your wildlife career.

Become a guardian of nature.

Featured Educational Wilderness Courses

FGASA Field Guide Level 1/NQF 2

Next Starting Date

FGASA Trails Guide

Next Starting Date

Professional Field Guide

Next Starting Date

Blog: From The Field

“The Brave Ones” - Matthew Bouwkamp

A Father’s heart without dreams for his children is like a bird without wings

What's better than hanging out with Grandpa in the bush?

A wilderness Photographer who became a professional Field Guide

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