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Field Guide

Read the latest posts from EcoTraining and immerse yourself in our natural world. Explore the wild, learn about conservation, discover our camps, join us in spotting wildlife and so much more.
Conservation

Inside the Pride

Step inside the secret world of Africa’s most iconic predator. EcoTraining’s new online course, Inside the Pride, led by renowned lion biologist Dr Paul Funston, explores the fascinating social lives of lions and the urgent conservation challenges they face. From pride dynamics and territorial behaviour to poaching pressures and ecosystem health, this immersive course equips wildlife enthusiasts, guides and conservation professionals with the knowledge needed to better understand – and help protect – Africa’s lions.

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Blog

Muddy boots and masterclasses are the new mark of luxury travel

Luxury travel is no longer defined by five-star lodges and lavish amenities alone. Today’s travellers are seeking something far more meaningful: connection, knowledge, and transformative experiences. Across Africa, immersive journeys like walking safaris and EcoQuests are redefining what luxury means — replacing passive sightseeing with hands-on learning, expert guidance, and time spent deeply engaging with nature. From tracking wildlife on foot to understanding ecosystems, conservation, and bush skills, travellers are discovering that the greatest indulgence is not excess, but the opportunity to slow down, learn more, and leave changed by the experience.

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Blog

Kori Bustard Conservation: On a Collision Course with Powerlines

With its powerful build and impressive wingspan, the kori bustard is an unforgettable sight—especially in flight. Yet, despite its strength, this iconic bird faces a silent and growing danger across Africa’s open landscapes. Powerlines, nearly invisible in the air, have become a major threat, with collisions contributing to a steady decline in their population. As energy infrastructure continues to expand, researchers are racing to better understand these birds and find innovative ways to protect them—before this remarkable species disappears from our skies.

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Blog

The Power of Immersive Wilderness Training

Discover how immersive wilderness training builds confidence, leadership and real-world skills. By learning in the bush, students develop both practical field expertise and the life skills needed to succeed in conservation and beyond.

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EcoTraining students using binoculars during a FGASA field guide course in the African bush
Blog

How Birdwatching Can Boost Your Brain

Discover how birdwatching in Africa can sharpen your mind and enhance your well-being. This blog explores new research on the brain-boosting benefits of birding, highlights the unique learning opportunities in Africa’s top birding regions, and shares how immersive courses can help beginners and enthusiasts alike develop their skills. Unlock the secrets of nature and nurture your brain—one bird at a time.

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Blog

The Decline of the Saddle-billed Stork

The saddle-billed stork is an iconic waterbird, known for its large stature, black-and-white plumage, and red bill. Unfortunately, they are being poached for food, cultural practices, and the pet trade. Additionally, their habitats are threatened by development, pollution, and climate change.

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Blog

Lessons that Transcend the Floodplain

In January 2026, unprecedented rainfall swept through Kruger National Park, turning familiar landscapes into a powerful reminder of nature’s force. As floods tested infrastructure and livelihoods, they also revealed something deeper: the value of preparation, ecological literacy, and collective action. From early warning signs in the bush to communities stepping up in moments of challenge, the floods offered lessons that extend far beyond the floodplain — about resilience, leadership, and learning to listen to the land.

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Blog

The Confident Path to Conservation

As the class of 2025 steps into a world of choices, not everyone feels drawn to conventional career paths. Conservation and guiding offer an alternative rooted in purpose, presence, and connection to the natural world. At EcoTraining, students learn that success in the bush isn’t about personality type, but about integrity, awareness, and solid fieldcraft. Through accredited, hands-on training, confidence is nurtured, allowing individuals to discover where they truly fit within the ecosystem—and how they can make a meaningful contribution to conservation in a rapidly changing world.

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Blog

The Magic of Makuleke

Some places you visit. Others stay with you. Makuleke is one of those rare landscapes that doesn’t just impress—it settles into your heart. A place where extraordinary biodiversity, forests, floodplains, and deep cultural history come together to create something you feel more than you can explain. From walking its wild terrain on foot to breathing in the rain-soaked scent of the earth, Makuleke is not just a destination; it’s an experience that calls you back, again and again.

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Blog

Important Update: Changes Coming to Guiding Qualifications

Why You Should Upgrade to NQF4?
The guiding industry in South Africa is entering a new chapter. The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) has started the process of moving all CATHSSETA Skills Programmes to the new QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) framework.

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Find a camp

Study wildlife conservation and accredited field guide courses at any of our pioneering African training camps.

Enter your wildlife career. Explore our camps.

Masai Mara
Wild Bandas

Located on the banks of the Mara river,
the camp is nestled between communities
and wildlife conservancies.

Kruger National Park
Makuleke

Explore the untamed wilderness of Kruger
National Park’s Makuleke Concession
with EcoTraining.

Mashatu Land of
the Giants

Located at the confluence of the Limpopo
and Shashe Rivers, in the eastern
corner of Botswana.

Greater Kruger Balule
Pridelands

A natural wonderland with free-roaming
elephants located in the Limpopo
Province of South Africa.

Karongwe Game Reserve

A unique safari destination that offers
visitors an immersive and unforgettable
experience.

Greater Kruger
Timbavati

Offering a diverse and rewarding
learning environment, teeming with life
and rich in ecological variety.

Start your wildlife career

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.