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  • Leadership and teamwork go together

    The images in this article were taken pre-COVID-19.

    BY: Matilde Sant’Ana 

    Camp manager blogs are written by our current students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    After an exciting and relaxing week off, the students at the Mahlahla campus met to get our COVID-19 tests before we could return to campus. After all staff and students tested negative, we were ready to roll! That’s when my job as camp manager began.

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    The first Sunday after an off-week is always filled with laughter. At Mahlahla, we make an effort to sit around the dining area or the boma to share our off-week stories. My family had come all the way from Portugal to visit me, and brought me snacks and treats to share with everyone – a good Portuguese tradition! By 6:00 pm on Sunday, I’d arranged a table with cheese, crackers, ham and chorizo (a type of pork sausage used in Spanish and Mexican cuisine), as well as a chocolate dessert made by my grandma. It was a great way to start semester four – with food and friends! 

    I have managerial experience from my previous job as a volunteer and camp coordinator at a wildlife conservation organisation, and I was confident it would help me take on the camp manager role. 

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    From making sure COVID-19 protocols were followed (like getting everyone’s temperatures taken twice a day), to making sure the students completed their tasks (like doing dishes, emptying bins and maintaining classroom cleanliness), being camp manager can sometimes be overwhelming. But I felt really supported by everyone. 

    On Monday and Tuesday, we went for game drives in the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve. These drives help us learn the routes and practise our guiding skills before our final mock-drive assessment at the end of the semester, and ultimately, our CATHSSETA NQF 2 practical assessments. 

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    Photo by: Ben Klunder

    As the camp manager, I had to ensure the students who had driving slots were aware of their departure times and how to keep the vehicles clean. I also had to prepare the hot boxes – snacks and drinks.

    Andre De Clerk and Mark Frazer, an external assessor and a facilitator, came to campus to conduct our 4×4 theory and practical assessments. 4×4 training at Bushwise is always a fun week! Reverse stall starts, changing tyres in riverbeds and driving a land cruiser are always extremely exciting. 

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    By Friday, the students at the Mahlahla Campus had finished their assessments and were all declared competent – another amazing experience and certificate to add to our already long list of achievements since we started our course! 

    I learned a lot from being responsible for this group – something I’m sure will benefit me in my career. Being the camp manager is as much about leadership as it is about being a team player, and thankfully enough, those skills are something we all work on here at Bushwise.

    Get the chance to learn valuable leadership and teamwork skills like Matilde, by joining a Bushwise course.

  • Rusks, rain and 4×4

    The images in this article were taken pre-COVID-19. 

    BY: Christian Rabie

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    Being given an opportunity to be the camp manager was great, especially with the team I had behind me. 

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    The students at the Balule campus have quickly grown into a close-knit family, so it was a breeze getting everyone to work together. That is, unless I forgot the rusks and Rice Krispies – my word, the amount my fellow students eat is astonishing! Exciting, busy days in the bush really do build up an appetite. Luckily, the wonderful chef, Sibu, was always ready to meet me with a smile and hand me the goods.

    Following a tip from the friendly manager at Greenfire Lodge, who showed us his operating procedures, I moved our cereal and coffee into translucent plastic containers. These kept me aware of what was close to being finished, so I could top them up. It’s clear that a full stomach equals happy students!

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    I was lucky enough to have a great guest stay with us during my week as camp manager. Donovan Prince stayed with us for three days to deliver 4×4 training. Hosting him was amazing and the stories he told were the cherry on the cake.

    During Donovan’s training, we learned how to recover a car. We got blessed with the first rains, and decided to get dirty in the riverbed. It was a lovely break from the heat we had that week.

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    At the end of the week, I realised just how much I’ve grown as a person and how much we’ve all learned over the last few months. I honestly do believe Bushwise prepares you for anything in the industry and I cannot wait for the next challenge.

    Have a bush experience like Christian by joining a program with Bushwise.

  • How environmental research jobs in South Africa pack a punch

    Some images in this article were taken pre-COVID-19. 

    BY: Tasneem Johnson-Dollie

    Environmental research jobs are key to tackling the many challenges facing Earth’s natural spaces. In South Africa, environmental researchers drive some of the most impactful and complex conservation efforts in the world. 

    Here’s more about what environmental jobs in South Africa are all about and why they pack such a punch. 

    What are environmental research jobs in South Africa all about?

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    Photo by: Ben Klunder

    Safari guides, field guides and game rangers are hands-on conservationists whom many consider the stars of the show in the field of conservation. 

    They’re the ones doing the fieldwork needed to conserve wild animal- and plant species in nature reserves. But, they’re not the only key roleplayers.

    Wildlife research jobs in South Africa’s environment have a unique focus on observational work. 

    Gaining an understanding of how wild animals interact with their environment, through observation, is at the core of what wildlife researchers do. 

    This doesn’t mean that wildlife researchers aren’t involved in any action out in the field, though. In fact, on a wildlife research expedition, chasing down herds of animals or spotting a lion lurking nearby are typical parts of the job. 

    Wildlife researchers may work for the wildlife conservation research unit of a private or public reserve. They may also be independent researchers affiliated with a university or conservation organisation. 

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    Photo by: Ben Klunder

    Depending on whom they work for, wildlife researchers can be involved in many different areas of research, from profiling biomes to tagging and monitoring migratory animal species. 

    There are so many environmental-research topics relevant to South Africa, working as a wildlife researcher there means you have numerous options when it comes to pursuing meaningful work. 

    Why are wildlife research jobs important in conservation?

    Wildlife conservation research involves gathering all the essential data that reserves need to plan and execute relevant and meaningful wildlife conservation efforts. Sounds simple, right?

    Well, not quite. Wildlife researchers need to be experts on wildlife and the procedures used to do scientific research in the wild – which isn’t as straightforward as doing research in a controlled setting like a lab.

    Without the expertise that those employed in wildlife research jobs bring to the field, many of the attempts made to conserve wild species would fall flat. 

    Here’s one example of how wildlife conservation research played a vital role in South Africa’s environment. 

    How wildlife research jobs added to cheetah conservation in South Africa

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    If a reserve was looking to introduce more cheetahs to an area where the cheetah population was dwindling, they could just pick the cheetahs they want, relocate them to the reserve, let them loose and wish them well in their new habitat.

    But trial and error has shown that this isn’t the best way to go about it. In many instances where this approach was used, the relocated cheetahs wouldn’t fare well in their new habitat.

    But why was this the case? 

    After taking on the task of observing cheetah populations in South Africa, researchers identified different behaviours amongst cheetahs residing in predator-dense areas when compared to those residing in less predator-dense areas. 

    Cheetahs overall are less aggressive predators, and shy away from confrontation with larger predators like lions and hyenas. 

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    Cheetahs in more predator-dense areas have adapted to their habitats in ways that allow them to secure enough food and territory, even with tons of other predators on the prowl.

    One example of this behaviour is that cheetahs in predator-dense areas opt to hunt in larger groups. Having a large group of cheetahs in the same place at the same time makes other predators think twice about bullying cheetahs into abandoning their prey. 

    And, cheetahs residing in predator-dense areas would pass on these behaviours to their young, ensuring that generations of cheetahs would be able to survive in the region.

    If conservationists hadn’t prioritised wildlife conservation research in this instance, cheetah relocation programs may have continued to fail, and the cheetah population may have been up against an even bigger challenge. 

    And, cheetahs aren’t the only wild animals that have benefitted from wildlife research efforts. 

    What are other environmental research topics in South Africa focused on?

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    With a growing number of species appearing on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN’s) Red List of endangered species, environmental research jobs are more vital than ever. 

    Further reading: A closer look at World Habitat Day and the animals most affected by habitat loss

    The abundance of species and biomes in South Africa led to it being named a megadiverse country by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). 

    But, South Africa is also facing some of the biggest global challenges, such as climate change, habitat destruction and poaching.

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    This has highlighted certain wildlife conservation research topics as priorities in South Africa’s environment. Today’s key environmental research topics in South Africa are concerned with:

    1. establishing local and national needs regarding research, education and monitoring 

    2. safeguarding South Africa’s biomes

    3. encouraging and preserving genetic diversity amongst animal species 

    4. understanding soil erosion and how to manage and reverse this phenomenon 

    5. ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. 

    So, when you study nature conservation in South Africa, you’ll be exposed to some of the most challenging conservation work on the continent. 

    You’ll also be learning from conservationists who’ve contributed to some of the most innovative solutions in the field.

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    How you can study nature conservation in South Africa’s environment

    Starting out on your journey to becoming one of the best wildlife researchers out there is just one wildlife expedition away.

    Bushwise Field Guides offers the most comprehensive wildlife research course in the field. On our Wildlife Research Expedition, you’ll learn how to gather and analyse data on an array of animal species, including elephants, cheetahs, hyenas, rhinos and lions. 

    Sign up for our Wildlife Research Expedition and boost your potential to land environmental research jobs in South Africa.

  • The inside scoop on being a camp manager

    BY: Anton Fritz

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    I expected my role as camp manager to involve being the link between the students and trainers – relaying announcements, taking everyone’s temperatures as part of Bushwise’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, and ensuring chores were being done. The experience was almost what I expected, but I learnt that while leadership looks glamorous from the outside, it can mean being responsible for everything, while in control of nothing!

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    I also passed on announcements like changes to our schedule, posted information on the classroom board (like the expected weather for the day and the meals planned), welcomed and made coffee for guests, and checked on chores. Making sure that everyone pulled their weight and completed their assigned duties could be a hassle!

    Getting to be the host for a night was the most exciting experience. I decided on a semi-formal dinner, so I dressed up the classroom with tablecloths, candles, potted plants, and decorative skulls (to add a touch of Halloween to things). 

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    This image was taken pre-COVID-19.

    I also asked the other students to dress up, and to sit with students they don’t usually get to spend time with. With soft jazz playing in the background, we all performed mock toasts. 

    It took over two hours to prepare everything, and I had to acquire the decorations all on my own, but the night was a success. Effort goes a long way!

    I’d been finding it a significant challenge to make sure everyone got their chores done during the week – some students were harder to convince than others! So, I decided to address the class at dinner. 

    I told them about the importance of chores being done, and that being asked to do your chores shouldn’t be taken personally. Secondly, I reminded everyone that we all live here together, so every person is responsible for cleaning up after themselves. 

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    There were times when my role felt overwhelming, and the only resolution was to get assistance from the trainers. But being a camp manager contributed to my goals by teaching me that no matter where I end up, I will know how to lead people. 

    Before joining Bushwise, I had never been to South Africa, nor had I even been on the African continent. Now, I’m aiming to pass this course with flying colours and get employed as a field guide. I would be happy to work at a lodge, or in research, but my ultimate goal would be going into anti-poaching work of some kind. 

    Don’t just take it from Anton, find the answers to what it’s like to be a camp manager for yourself!

  • My week as the camp manager

    BY: Daniel Kriedemann

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    As expected, the week was busy! Even more so for me because of the duties that come with being a camp manager. It was a great challenge, though, and I really enjoyed the extra responsibilities – which included hosting a fun evening for everyone on Wednesday night, welcoming guests to the camp, and overseeing the duties of the rest of the students.

    The week was also filled with game drives. We had two three-hour drives each day from Wednesday to Friday, which gave everyone an opportunity to be the guide for their group.

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    Photo by: Ben Klunder

    The students were split into two groups. Both groups had excellent sightings of rhinos and elephants, and the highlight of the week’s sightings were three massive male lions walking through the dry Mohlabetsi riverbed. 

    With a week full of brilliant sightings, the students were ready to appreciate all the “little” wonders that the bush has to offer too. We’ve been learning about birds recently, and were super excited when we witnessed two Wahlberg’s eagles mating in the reserve! 

    These birds are intra-African migrants and have just recently arrived on the reserve for breeding. We also had spectacular close-up sightings of a pair of saddle-billed storks, and the other group was lucky enough to observe one of them feeding on a catfish! 

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    Photo by: Donald Fraser

    Aside from all the sightings, we also did revision on our knowledge of trees and grasses, in preparation for our practical assessment on botany in a few weeks.

    On Wednesday morning, our head trainer, Jack, took four students on a bush walk  – myself, Zilcke, Adam and David – and it was amazing! We encountered a breeding herd of elephants only 20 metres away, as well as a black rhino only 30 metres away! It’s always a treat to see large mammals up close, while taking in the surroundings of the African bushveld on foot.

    That same day, during the evening drive, we spotted the three huge male lions again. It was awesome to be able to follow them on the road for about 45 minutes. We were late for dinner, but it was worth it!

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    After dinner, I decided to host a quiz night. The questions were on birds, mammals and reptiles. My group edged out the other group, beating them 8-7 in the end! It was a really fun evening.

    My experience as the camp manager was a welcome challenge. It was one of the best weeks I’ve had so far –  especially the braai that we had on Friday, to celebrate Heritage Day in South Africa. It was another successful week and I look forward to what the next few have to offer.

    Big mammal sightings, game drives and quiz nights – now that’s what we call a safari experience with a twist! Join a course now.

  • The first signs of summer in Limpopo

    Photo by: Callum Evans

    The images in this article were taken pre-COVID-19.

    BY: Matthew Nash

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    The past week has been a very eventful and interesting one for all the students. Half of us  completed our Track and Sign training at Colin Patrick Training, and the other half did their Advanced Rifle Handling (ARH) training at a nearby farm. 

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    Colin Patrick shared his wisdom with us on an awesome adventure of tracking different species throughout the Greater Makalali Game Reserve. We found and learned about many different tracks that most of us had never seen before. 

    With the seasons changing,  summer made its first appearance with a thunderstorm on Saturday. Summer in Limpopo is wet, hot and humid; while winter is dry. 

    It was beyond awesome and refreshing to have the rain back in full force again. The rain brings a “clean slate” for the camp and our environment changes drastically.  Trees start to produce flowers and fruit, which means more birds and insects make their way back to their nests. 

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    Photo by: Callum Evans

    And, with more oncoming thunderstorms, our rivers, dams and watering holes will begin to fill and bring a new atmosphere back into the bush. During this time, you’re likely to spot larger gatherings of animals coming to watering holes to drink during the heat of the day. 

    The calls of the birds create a constant ambience wherever you go, and provide an awesome chance for all of us to learn and expand our passions and knowledge. 

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    Now that we’re nearing the end of our third semester, we’re starting with our 4×4 training, which is exhilarating. We are embarking on journeys to new and exciting places we have not yet seen, which allows us to experience a whole new set of environments and challenges. 

    The work is not over yet and there are so many more interesting things we are yet to see and learn.  I can’t wait for the final stretch of this journey; and then it’s time for us to start our careers! 

    See how the journey ends for yourself. Join us in the safari.

  • The last bits and pieces of semester two

    By: Ben Klunder

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    Out on safari, we’re always talking about the adaptability of flora and fauna. And humans are no different. We Bushwise students start the semester fresh, after a quiet, lovely off-week, but as soon as that last week before the semester break comes around, we unintentionally wind down. Being camp manager around this time challenged me to adapt. 

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    Photo by: Ben Klunder

    Camp manager 101: Get up early

    It’s an honour being camp manager and leading a team. Usually, in the last week of the semester I snooze my alarm several times and scrape into my lecture at 07:29 am. But as camp manager, I had more responsibilities, like taking temperatures and making sure all my “guests” had their breakfasts: snacks, rusks, cereal, sugar, soy milk, milk… This is good practise for what will happen in the lodges one day. With those chores done at 07:29 am, I got into lectures!

    The weekly agenda

    The last week of the semester was a good one. On Monday, we had lectures on amphibians, arthropods and fish, followed up by a morning trip to Tzaneen. On Wednesday, we went on two drives and saw a lion around 200 meters from camp, which was amazing.

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    Photo by: Ben Klunder

    Almost off-week

    On the Wednesday before our semester break, it was my turn to host the fun event and I enjoyed myself. We split up into two groups and did a quiz based on surprising facts about each other in the student group – I won’t go into the details! 

    Snake orientation

    On Thursday, we had reptile orientation. By the end of the lecture, with a brilliant demonstration of snake behaviour, we learned that snakes don’t bite on purpose, out of aggression, or for fun. A snake won’t attack unless provoked. 

    Ready to learn how to adapt, and tackle new challenges like Ben did? Join a Bushwise Field Guides course.

  • It’s not just about the Big Five

    BY: Nico Brits

    This blog was written by Nico, one of our trainers. Here, Nico shares his experiences with guests, and why it’s important that field guides point out finer details in the bush.

    It can feel like a lot of pressure, having to deliver on all of your guest’s expectations as a field guide. More often than not, when guests are asked what they would like to see, they’ll say “the Big Five”. This can be a big ask, since they aren’t all located at one spot in the reserve!

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    This image was taken pre-COVID-19. 

    As guides, we do everything in our power to deliver on guests’ expectations. We can get so focused on finding the Big Five that we drive past a lot of the smaller things that make it possible for these sought-after animals to survive. 

    We are very quick to race out of the lodge in the mornings, on our first game drives for the day, to see if we can tick all the boxes for a perfect guided experience as quickly as possible. And yes, for guests that visit Africa for the first time, seeing the Big Five on a morning drive is great, but the experience is so much more incredible when guides take the time to show guests how everything is connected.

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    Photo by: Ben Klunder

    Creating an unforgettable experience is what we should be trying to achieve. Watching two vervet monkeys playing in a tree can be more memorable than two lions sleeping in the shade. 

    That’s why, a good tip for any guide when leading a tour, is to spend some time driving around, pointing out details that might be easy for your guests to overlook. 

    For example, mention elephant-feeding signs, or trees that have been pushed over by elephants. Then, when you eventually see the incredible giants during your tour, they could be feeding on the same species of tree that you pointed out. This goes a long way to enhance your guests’ experience.

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    Photo by: Ben Klunder

    As guides and guests alike, we can get lost in the hype of the Big Five and miss other amazing interactions taking place around us. 

    But when you slow things down, you start to appreciate the finer details. Something as small as termites fixing their mound, after it was broken up by an aardvark, can create a memorable moment. 

    Ready to become a field guide? Head to the Bushwise website to see what our courses have to offer.

  • How the world celebrates World Rhino Day

    BY: Tasneem Johnson-Dollie

    World Rhino Day comes around on 22 September every year, and while it’s all about rhino conservation, there seem to be many different ways of celebrating it.

    This day, to honour the rhino, was established in 2010. Since then, people across the world have come up with interesting ways to put rhinos in the public eye and boost rhino conservation efforts. 

    Let’s take a look at why there’s a World Rhino Day and how people across the world are celebrating this horn-bedecked herbivore. 

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    Why was World Rhino Day established?

    There are five different types of rhino and all of them are recognised on World Rhino Day. The following facts about rhinos are the reason why World Rhino Day was created.

    Facts about rhinos

    The rhino species found across the world today, and their conservation statuses according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are:

    1. black rhino – critically endangered

    2. greater one-horned rhino – vulnerable

    3. Javan rhino – critically endangered

    4. Sumatran rhino – critically endangered

    5. white rhino – near threatened.

    So why are all rhino species at risk of becoming endangered?

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    Well, there are many factors that affect the well-being of rhinos, but poaching and habitat loss are some of the biggest challenges to rhino conservation. 

    Rhinos are especially vulnerable to poaching because their horns are considered an important ingredient in some traditional medicines. For this reason, rhinos stand a better chance at survival if they’re placed in protected reserves. 

    Other interesting facts about rhinos show that these creatures were previously found all over Africa, Asia and Europe. Today, rhino species are only found in Africa and Asia. 

    Because of this species loss, rhino conservation has been an important focus in countries like South Africa for decades.

    By 2010, the decline in rhino numbers had sparked even more action by rhino conservationists. Part of this action was an announcement by the South African branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature: the organisation was launching World Rhino Day on 22 September that year.

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    How World Rhino Day promotes rhino conservation

    Like many other annual conservation awareness days, World Rhino Day is an important event for growing support for conservation efforts. 

    Because facts about rhinos paint a meaningful picture that can add to everyone’s understanding of the challenges facing these creatures, spreading this information is key on World Rhino Day. 

    World Rhino Day adds to conservation efforts in meaningful ways by:

    1. building on the awareness communities have about the conservation status of rhinos and the challenges facing them

    2. filling people in on what’s being done in the way of rhino conservation and how these efforts are making an impact

    3. getting everyone clued up on what they can do to add to rhino conservation efforts

    4. spreading the names and contact details of organisations that contribute towards the well-being of rhinos

    5. keeping us all up to date on the most important rhino facts.

    And, because having an online presence means competing with top achievers in the conservation industry, rhino conservation organisations have pulled out all the stops so that they can stand out online and offline.

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    Here are some examples of how rhino conservation is promoted worldwide.

    1) Making an impact with music

    When you think about World Rhino Day, what emotions stir up inside you? 

    Maybe you feel angry that rhinos are facing such big challenges? Or, you could feel sad that so many rhinos have been poached?

    Don’t carve those feelings in stone just yet, because World Rhino Day has a way for you to support the cause you care about, through music!

    You can find the World Rhino Day playlist on Spotify and sing along to tons of rhino-related tunes. By downloading these tracks, you’ll be adding to World Rhino Day’s online presence. This way, rhino conservation awareness can reach even more people online.

    Ever heard of the song, “Let’s Party” by Rhinoceros? How about “Rhino skin” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers? Well, you’ll get to know these and tons more tracks while supporting rhino conservation by downloading the playlist.

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    Photo by: Donald Fraser

    2) Keeping social media abuzz

    And, speaking of an online presence, World Rhino Day has some tech-forward features that keep it ahead of the game.

    Just search for World Rhino Day online and you’ll see worldrhinoday.org popping up at the top of your screen. 

    This website is an excellent source of information about World Rhino Day and advice on how to get involved. 

    More than this, the site also offers downloadable videos that individuals and organisations can share on their social media platforms. 

    These videos provide anyone who is passionate about rhino conservation with resources that offer accurate and informative information. 

    And some of these clips even capture the work being done by conservationists in the field and volunteers who are adding to rhino conservation where they live. 

    These videos can give so many people a glimpse into what rhino conservation involves and even inspire a future conservationist or two. 

    You can follow World Rhino Day preparations and celebrations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter throughout the year. 

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    3) Old-fashioned footwork

    And, to make sure that the festivities spill out onto the streets and catch the eye of every passerby, rhino conservation organisations also make use of traditional techniques to raise awareness.

    T-shirts, posters, flyers, mugs: you name it and you can bet that rhino conservationists have dolled it up with a World Rhino Day emblem and used it to add to rhino conservation awareness.

    These old-school tactics make it possible for facts about rhinos and rhino conservation awareness to reach individuals who operate off the grid.

    What’s the best way to celebrate World Rhino Day?

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    This image was taken pre-COVID-19. 

    Of all the activities taking place on World Rhino Day, what would be the best one for you to get behind?

    You can add to rhino conservation in more meaningful ways when you learn more about these creatures and how to safeguard them.

    Out on the African savannah, you can join a Bushwise Field Guides course and learn about rhino conservation while researching these animals in their natural habitat. 

    In this way, you’ll be adding to efforts aimed at better understanding rhinos while also contributing to the conservation of African rhinos. 

    And, while you’re at it, you can also get involved in any of the World Rhino Day celebrations taking place where you are! 

    Find out more about Bushwise Field Guides Wildlife Research Expedition and see how you can get involved in meaningful efforts this World Rhino Day.

  • Team building and lesson learning: My week as a camp manager

    Some images in this article were taken pre-COVID-19.

    BY: Patrick Loam

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    I got to be the camp manager after a month of being at the Bushwise campus. It’s been an exciting adventure with lots of ups and downs, but most of all, it’s been a massive learning experience. 

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    As a camp manager, some of my duties involved taking everyone’s temperatures as per Bushwise’s COVID-19 protocols, and ensuring that all teams completed their tasks, including completing general maintenance of the campus. 

    My duties also coincided with the semester ending. The atmosphere on campus was of pure excitement! We’d all put in so much hard work over the past few weeks, and we were ready for a break. 

    On the last day of the semester, we took part in the “Bushwise challenge”, which involves a series of games and team building exercises. We woke with anticipation as we were unsure what the day would bring. The group leaders were given instructions by our Head Trainer, Vaughn. 

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    We had an hour for each team to get ready before our presentation to the trainers. We needed to create team names, a team banner, team chants, and even paint our faces. After that, we played a ton of different games. 

    As teammates, we bonded, learned, and had loads of fun and laughter. 

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    That afternoon, we received our feedback, which is an important part of our development and progress on the course. Then we got to have a braai (barbeque) and a dance party by the bonfire.

    I really enjoyed being a camp manager, I learned a lot from my responsibilities and acquired leadership and management skills that I will use in my future career as a Field Guide.

    Interested in joining a Bushwise Field Guides course like Patrick? Get in touch with us.