As someone who cares deeply about the natural environment, I know that guides and rangers work together to conserve and manage wilderness areas worldwide.
“You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.” – Mandy Hale. On that note, this is how my Professional Field Guide Course with EcoTraining started.
Setting foot on the soil of the African Savannah touches my soul in a way I’ve never experienced anywhere else. Still: just “being there” wasn’t going to be enough.
As Training Manager for EcoTraining since 2020, David Havemann trains the trainers. Before this position, he was Head Instructor at EcoTraining’s Selati Camp for six years.
EcoTraining, the leader in Africa’s safari and wildlife training, has made history by becoming the continent’s first guide training school to receive formal accreditation from the Council for Higher Education (CHE) in South Africa.
Are you dreaming of a career as a guide? However, you might have heard rumours about what makes an excellent guide and are still determining if this is for you.
WildEarth TV is the closest you’ll ever get to a full-blown African safari without leaving your lounge. It’s 100 per cent live and riveting. The concept is life-changing and more addictive for nature lovers, who can enjoy real-time safaris twice a day – beamed to them from wild places across South Africa.
Makuleke camp in the Kruger National Park is a special place. Amidst the pristine landscape of the northern Kruger National Park, the EcoTraining camp is tucked away from the crowds and hustle of the southern section and filled with awe-inspiring beauty among the ancient baobab trees, the lala palm trees, and the yellow fever tree forest.
When I think about Africa, I think of a safari. I see people travelling worldwide to view the magnificent wildlife and scenic game reserves only Africa can offer. Some prefer to jump in their vehicles and explore the wilderness independently, while others feel more comfortable with a specialist guide. The upside of taking a guided safari is that you will be entertained and educated for the entire duration of your safari. An interpretive safari creates meaningful and unexpected encounters when you least expect them.
On 13 May 2022, 20 participants from BirdLife KZN Midlands met at 14h00 at the Pafuri Gate north of the Kruger National Park. We loaded our gear into two game vehicles (fortunately, one with a trailer) for the 45-minute drive to the EcoTraining Camp. We were allocated our tents on arrival, as everyone was keen to unpack and get going.
Study wildlife conservation and accredited field guide courses at any of our pioneering African training camps, around Africa.
Located on the banks of the Mara river,
the camp is nestled between communities
and wildlife conservancies.
Explore the untamed wilderness of Kruger
National Park’s Makuleke Concession
with EcoTraining.
Located at the confluence of the Limpopo
and Shashe Rivers, in the eastern
corner of Botswana.
A natural wonderland with free-roaming
elephants located in the Limpopo
Province of South Africa.
A sanctuary for wildlife, providing visitors
an opportunity to witness Africa’s
animals in their natural habitat.
A unique safari destination that offers
visitors an immersive and unforgettable
experience.
Want to become a field or nature guide? Explore our immersive courses and training programmes for professional safari guides and guardians of nature, taught and led by experts in the industry.
EcoTraining offers career and accredited courses, wildlife enthusiast courses, gap year programmes and customised group travel courses.
Join our nature-loving community.