Blog
From an EcoTraining Student to Camp Coordinator
There are so many options to work in the bush after your training with EcoTraining! Discover how Nicole transitioned from student to camp coordinator.
There are so many options to work in the bush after your training with EcoTraining! Discover how Nicole transitioned from student to camp coordinator.
Before starting my field guide course with EcoTraining, I expected to encounter wildlife, experience adventure, and encounter some discomfort. I got all that—but also much more. From deep connections with people to unexpected joys (hello, birds!) and the reality of serious study, here are four things I wish I’d known before heading into the wild.
When people imagine going on safari, they often envision the golden glow of the African sun, vast open plains, and the thrill of seeing lions, elephants, and giraffes in their natural habitat. But many don’t realize that winter is when the bush comes alive. Here’s why winter is the best-kept secret of the safari world.
The elephant bull looks at us. Neither surprised nor scared. But still, he watches every subtle move while we are sitting on the edge of the river bed in the forest, surrounded by ana trees, nyala berries and fever trees. The colours, the sounds and the presence of three gigantic elephants make this feel like a scene from a movie.
A practical course at EcoTraining takes a healthy dose of commitment, thorough studying and quite a bit of elbow grease. But once you’ve invested all that time and effort, that magical moment comes when all the hard work is about to pay off. The final week on a 35-day practical really is something quite special. In this story, Belgian graduate Wim looks back on his ‘final straight’, in a story full of achievement and happy moments that would create ever-lasting friendships. The kind of story, really, that only the bush can tell…
Becoming a certified field guide is often seen as a dream job—immersed in the wild, leading guests through unforgettable encounters with Africa’s iconic wildlife, and spending every day surrounded by nature’s untamed beauty. Yet, many don’t realize that earning a field guide qualification is much more than a passport to life on safari and in the bush; it’s a gateway to many diverse and fulfilling careers.
Sleeping under the stars for a couple of nights, carrying everything you need on your back, immersing yourself with nature without any interruptions: A primitive trail is not only a big adventure but also the perfect opportunity to experience the bush on a deeper level. But what about water, food and basic hygiene? We answer all your questions.
EcoTraining’s Professional Field Guide course trains students to learn about the natural ecosystem and wildlife while getting hands-on experience in the bush to become remarkable Field Guides. EcoTraining provides a one-of-a-kind year-long field guide course that is certified and offers industry-level skills & mastery.
South Africa’s stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity make it a top destination for wildlife encounters. Its iconic Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes—were once considered challenging animals to track; now, they symbolize wildlife conservation and tourism. Let’s explore these magnificent creatures and the best places to see them in the wild.
The days in a Field Guiding Course can be long, filled with so many new things to learn. Andrea discusses the schedule during her course, the 35-day practical with EcoTraining in Pridelands. She describes the daily tasks that students encounter and provides an overview of a typical day.
International Zebra Day, 31 January 2025, raises awareness of these striped mammals. From the widespread plains zebra to the endangered Grevy’s zebra and the vulnerable mountain zebra, learn about the different species and subspecies of zebra and the conservation strategies in place to protect them.
During an EcoTraining Field Guide Course, you learn about everything related to nature, conservation, animals and guides. A big part of the knowledge you acquire is about trees. When it came to trees, many of my fellow students and I did not overflow with joy during my 35-day practical with EcoTraining. However, our perspective soon changed once we studied them closely.
Study wildlife conservation and accredited field guide courses at any of our pioneering African training camps.
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 unique safari destination that offers
visitors an immersive and unforgettable
experience.
Offering a diverse and rewarding
learning environment, teeming with life
and rich in ecological variety.
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.