It will be wild and magical – and uncomfortable at times. Those were pretty much all of my expectations before I did my field guide course with EcoTraining. And I was right about that. But there are a few other things I wish I’d known before making my way into the wilderness of Southern Africa.
It's not just about wildlife, but about the people.
Yes, the wildlife encounters you experience out here will change your perspective, the way you think about this ecosystem and maybe even the way you think about life. But there is something, perhaps even more fundamental, waiting for you —a connection that is hard to put into words. A connection with the people you spends your time with, and share your adventures with. The people you encounter during your courses become your family, with all the good, the bad and the ugly. With all the chaos, silly fights, and all the love and trust that family brings. And if you open yourself up to it, they’ll stay with you for a long time (which is essential after going back home, because nobody besides them will ever understand your experience).
Birds are cool
Sometimes even cooler than lions. Yes, I said it! And I stand by it. Because lions do nothing but sleep during the day, sure, there might be a lazy attempt to hunt or some mating if you are lucky, but most of the time you’ll find them lying under a tree, barely moving an ear. Birds, however, can be your source of entertainment all day long.
From preening to dust bathing to nest building or showcasing some extraordinary mating behaviour, the variety in species and behaviour is just so fun!
And even if you don’t become a birder (but believe me, at some point you will), you’ll realise: It’s not just about the big game out here.
You got to study. Like, for real
Think it’s all game drives? Wait until you’re identifying grass species at 6 am, or spend an hour examining rocks. Or sit in the classroom trying to identify frog calls. You walk out of the field guide course with a certificate – one that means something. You are here to obtain a new qualification, and that means you have to work for it. If you have been out of school or university for a while (like me), you have to get back into the rhythm of studying and sitting down with a book, trying to memorise all this new information. It’s HARD sometimes. There’s pressure and frustration, but in the end, it’s all worth it. Not just because you pass the exams, but because you look at your surroundings from an entirely new perspective, gaining at least a little understanding of how all of this is connected. And things start to make sense—even the grasses.
The bush changes you
It sounds a bit clichéd, but everyone who has experienced an intense time in nature, within a particular ecosystem, will probably agree: a part of you stays there. And a part of you will always feel like coming home when you get back. You are becoming a new version of yourself out in the wild. I wish I had known this beforehand, as I would have arrived earlier. You know that feeling when you’re missing something in life but can’t quite put it into words? For me, that was the bush. A puzzle piece that just suddenly made total sense.
There is something here for everyone. You work in a busy corporate job in “real” life? Then the bush may teach you about resilient leadership. You just finished high school and have no idea what’s next? The bush offers answers about finding the right path – or creating a new one that fits you perfectly. Are you seeking a transformation that preserves your core values? Then take this as a sign to plan the trip, book the course, trust your inner compass and follow the lead into the wild.
A FGASA and CATHSSETA-qualified guiding course.
Immerse yourself in the African wilderness, expand your knowledge, and embark on a transformative learning experience with EcoTraining.
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Off to a Great Start in a Rewarding Career
In this video, we meet Hayden Cole, who did his Professional Field Guide course and loved being in the bush. His year with EcoTraining has been a great stepping stone in his life. He accomplished what he had wanted to do since childhood, and it also allowed him to start a career where he was happy with what he was doing. The highlight for Hayden being on the course was undoubtedly the ‘amazing’ people he met, from the EcoTraining Instructors to his fellow students. He believes you can learn something from everyone by being passionate about learning and teaching. Being out in the bush, he feels more connected to himself and enjoys its peacefulness.
