Do you find yourself pausing to watch a bird on your commute, googling animal tracks on your lunch break, or lying awake wondering what life would feel like without a screen in your hand? If any of this sounds like you – the bush might be calling. Here are 7 signs it’s time to answer.
1. You start identifying birds wherever you are
But your local birds are not enough anymore – you crave more! And no worries, bird life in Southern Africa is as abundant as it can get. You can even go on a full-on birding trip if that is what your heart is aching for.
2. You feel the need to be outdoors all the time (no matter the weather)
You want to live in a tent in unfenced camps, study, eat and hang with your friends in the middle of nature, and end the day around a fire under the African sky? Not a problem, in the bush you get the full on 24/7 outdoor experience.
3. You look at every track in your local park
And yes, it‘s mainly dogs and pigeons. In the bush, tracking gets a bit more exciting: From lions and rhinos to aardvarks and honeybadgers – you can spend many weeks learning about new tracks and how to trail them. Actually, there is an entire EcoTraining course dedicated to tracks and signs.
4. Craving a challenge beyond your comfort zone
Walk with elephants, share your bathroom with a spider, get sweaty and dirty while having the best time of your life? If this sounds appealing to you, you are ready for the bush. Because yes, spending time in the wild can be physically and mentally challenging – but you will most definitely grow as a person, become more resilient and learn what life is actually all about.
5. You are craving a unique experience
Let’s face it: we all like the thrill of doing something new, something that not too many people have done before and that you haven’t seen millions of TikToks about. Going to the bush for several weeks, becoming one with nature, experiencing a whole ecosystem from its very core, and making a bunch of strangers friends is an adventure you will remember for the rest of your life.
6. You need a digital detox
No notifications, no scrolling, no random small talk over WhatsApp. If you have been craving a real break from the digital noise, time in the bush offers exactly that. Even though some of the wildest places usually have wifi these days, you will find that it loses its importance really quickly, and you might just leave it uncharged in your tent for days.
7. You feel the urge to reconnect with nature
Many of us live and work in cities and have forgotten what a connection to nature actually feels like. What it’s like to get up and go to bed with the rhythm of the sun. Fall asleep to the wind brushing the trees and wake up to the morning birds. In the wild, this comes back to us quickly, this feeling of being a piece of the bigger picture, of not just being in nature but part of it.
Immerse yourself in the African wilderness, expand your knowledge, and embark on a transformative learning experience with EcoTraining.
Sign up for our 55-day Field Guide Course today!
For more information on our 55-day Field Guide Course, contact [email protected] or call +27 (0)13 7522532
What to expect from the 55-day Field Guide course?
We join Instructor Michael Anderson, who gives us insight into the 55-day Field Guide course, including its structure, a breakdown of its modules, what you will learn, and the insights you might gain. This course is ideal if you want to get a feel for guiding and the industry, as a career break or as part of your gap year, or to step out of your comfort zone and enjoy the rhythm of nature. Though the course is a qualification, you will learn about animal behaviour, tracking, geology, basic bush skills, guiding ethics, hospitality, 4×4 driving and more.
