From student to camp coordinator
It was February 2022 when Nicolene went to the African bush for the first time in her life, accompanied by her family. When they left, she cried. There was a particular feeling that stuck with her, a longing, perhaps even a knowing. An inner voice that told her, ‘This is your place.’ This is where you belong.
So, what do you do when you are a 23-year-old young woman from the outskirts of Johannesburg? You do your research and get to it!
When Nicolene eventually booked her one-year course to be a Professional Field Guide, she had no idea yet where this journey would take her.
Well, first it took her to Pridelands and Selati for her Field Guide training, followed by trails in Botswana. When it was time to choose a placement, she decided to be a backup with EcoTraining, which gave her the chance to get to know all the camps, the staff, and the infrastructure even better.
A year of learning
When reviewing this year, Nicolene looks back at the many memories and friendships she made along the way. And – perhaps most importantly – she learned a great deal about herself and her abilities.
“Let’s take trails, for example. Beforehand, this part of the course stressed me quite a bit, knowing we would walk all day, every day. I wasn’t sure if I was fit enough for it. Especially the primitive trail made me anxious.
As an introvert, it can be intense to be with a bunch of people in the middle of nature for days with nowhere else to go.”
But in the end, this was one of her favourite experiences, and now she takes every opportunity to go out for walks and sleep in the bush under the stars.
What's next?
What happened after graduation? Nicolene was still unsure about what to do with her new skill set. Since she did a field guide course, she figured, “Ok, that’s what I’ll be doing, this is what I came for” – but at the same time, she wasn’t too convinced that she wanted to guide tourists in the bush. My dream is to work in conservation one day, maybe in rhino protection. I didn’t know where to start, how to get my foot in the door.”
When a friend told her about the open position as a camp coordinator for EcoTraining, she realised that there wasn’t just “one way”. However, her education as a Professional Field Guide opened up numerous opportunities for her to start a career in the bush. She applied, yet was not convinced she had what it takes to run a camp. But she sure did! And when you see her these days running around camp with a big smile on her face, making everyone feel so welcome, you know that she is the perfect fit for this job.
What does a camp coordinator do?
“It is our job to look after everyone in camp”, Nicolene explains. “From instructors, chefs, cleaning staff, back-ups and of course students, I need to make sure everyone is fine and knows what their duties are so that things can run smoothly.” She also ensures that there is always enough food, all dietary requests are met, that the tent allocation works out, that all safety measures in camp are taken care of, that broken things get fixed, and basically that everyone is having a great time in the bush.
So, yes, it’s a lot of work to run a camp – but it’s also gratifying. Nicolene’s favourite thing about working here?
“Being in the bush. I cannot imagine being anywhere else right now. When I fall asleep to the sounds of hyenas and lions in the distance, I know: This is my place.”
