28-day Trails Guide Course
This FGASA-endorsed course is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of how animals live in their natural habitats.
Exciting opportunity
Do you have a passion for wildlife and would like to become a professional trail guide?
EcoTraining offers an exciting opportunity to learn about wildlife on some of Africa’s most beautiful wilderness trails. Our trail guide courses are designed to equip aspiring trail guides with the skills they need to lead walks and provide guests with an unforgettable experience.
Students participating in the Trails Guide training are working towards attaining their FGASA Apprentice Trails Guide status and have already completed their FGASA Nature Site Guide (NQF2) qualification. You also don’t have to be a field guide wanting to attain the trail guide certificate to do this course. You can simply want to be a part of the conservation movement and reconnect with nature in an exceptional and unique way.
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What to expect from the 28-day Trails Guide Course
Sleep under the stars
Our course will take you through a comprehensive curriculum covering topics such as navigation, tracking and approaching dangerous game on foot. You will learn about animal behaviour, bird identification and rifle handling for dangerous game. Experience the thrill of navigational hikes and a sleepout under the stars, all while being mentored by highly trained Trails Mentors
Develop essential skills
As you progress through the course, you will develop essential skills in situational awareness, making real-time decisions, and keeping guests safe. Whether you are pursuing a career as a guide or seeking personal enrichment, you will gain invaluable environmental knowledge and appreciation. Our goal is to provide you with engaging and exciting experiences in the wilderness, all while ensuring your safety and confidence as a Trails Guide.
Where the course takes place
The 28-day Trails Guide Course is takes place at one of our EcoTraining Camps in Southern Africa.
The benefits of taking the 28-day Trails Guide Course
Every day on this course is a privilege as you learn, see, smell and feel nature on foot.
The course focuses on teaching you how to reconnect with the wilderness by enabling you to participate in nature instead of just observing it. You will have the opportunity to connect with nature individually and personally, allowing these wild spaces to speak for themselves.
If you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of life and reset by going back to basics, then the Trails Guide Course is perfect for you. The lessons you will learn from this experience will help you be more in tune with other areas of your life. Your environmental knowledge, situational awareness and appreciation for nature will soar during this course, leaving you with an enriching and transformative experience.
Certification & accreditation
EcoTraining is an FGASA-endorsed training provider accredited by CATHSSETA. We will assist you by registering with FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) and CATHSSETA.
What you can expect to graduate with
- FGASA Apprentice Trails Guide Status
- EcoTraining Apprentice Trails Guide Certificate.
Entry level requirements
- Complete FGASA Field Guide (Nature Site Guide NQF2) certificate.
- PFTC Unit Standards (117705, 119651, 123519).
- FGASA ARH Certificate (or be prepared to attain during this course) - except for courses scheduled in Botswana).
- Have paid all your FGASA fees (current membership fees, exam and moderation fee).
What to pack
We’ve put together a useful packing list for you so you know what you need to bring on this course. Everything you’ll need to be comfortable and make the most of your time in the African bush.
Course dates
11 July – 07 August 2025 (Pridelands)
07 September – 04 October 2025 (Makuleke)
FAQ about the 28-day Trails Guide Course
The Apprentice Trails Guide Status is the first step toward obtaining the Lead Trails Guide qualification. You will spend your days walking in the wilderness with EcoTraining’s’ expert Trails Guide Mentors, logging vital hours and encounters with potentially dangerous animals.
The EcoTraining Trails Guide course is endorsed by FGASA and covers all the aspects you will need to receive an FGASA Apprentice Trails Guide status.
Have more questions? Check out our general FAQ page or get in touch for more information.
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