Category: Student journeys

This blog was written by Ashton Thomas, during his turn as camp manager on the Bushwise Professional Field Guide course.

My name is Ashton, I am from a small town in South Carolina, USA and I’m eighteen years of age. I came to Bushwise because I have always loved animals; and loved learning about, teaching and showing people the natural environment and how cool and delicate it is. 

My journey as a camp manager at Bushwise

Being camp manager was a lot of fun. I got the opportunity to talk and help people I have not really got to know yet, which I really enjoyed. I opened the kitchen around four forty am every morning which was really cool because I got to see everyone prepare their hot box and actually learned a lot. 

This week was definitely a little stressful with the new modules we learned and the new kitchen we got. With the new kitchen definitely came some problems, but the whole group got them figured out very quickly. And was a good learning opportunity for everyone. 

Unforgettable wildlife sightings: From birds to elephants

The drive this week was amazing even though we had a lot of rain. We did a lot of birding which was a blast. We even found six new birds for me. We also had a really cool encounter with a bull elephant. I can’t even explain the feeling I got from being so close to such an incredible animal. 

Throughout the week, we had such cool sightings including lots of birds of prey, dwarf mongooses, antelopes, giraffes, zebras and many other animals. On the very last drive of the week, my group got radioed for a female lion sighting nearby. We ended up finding the lion at a water hole eating a dead waterbuck. It was incredible – you could even smell the dead carcass of the waterbuck. 

Thrilling lion sighting: A close encounter

When we first got a sighting of the lion, we were watching a large group of white backed vultures sitting above the dead waterbuck on a small cliff. As we were watching, this beautiful female lion came up through the grass with the sun lighting the lioness up like a spot light. It was so cool. The lioness quickly scared away all the vultures. 

The sky was absolutely filled with vultures; it looked like something out of a movie. Not long after the insane sighting we tried turning around – only to discover we were stuck! 

Even though it was bad timing, we learned a lot on how to handle stressful situations and what can get more stressful than getting stuck in front of a lion!

Overcoming challenges and embracing responsibility

This week was a lot of fun having that feeling of responsibility really felt good and I enjoyed it a lot. I learned so much from other people and my own mistakes and especially with the new kitchen. 

Overall, I had an amazing time during the morning and afternoon drives, the lectures during the day, and all the study groups we had. This week has been an absolute blast and a true learning experience.

Bushwise is for everyone. Whether you’re from the United States, Australia, South Africa or anywhere in between, there’s a place for you on a Bushwise course. Find your course and start having adventures like Ashton!

#wildlife #AdvancedRifleHandling #bushwise #qualification #safariguide #Exam #training #apprenticefieldguide #safari #sightings #endangeredspecies #Assessments #guiding #fieldguidecourse #studying

This blog was written by Kutlwano Mahube, Bushwise Professional Field Guide student.

5 min read.

How it all began

From early as I can remember, I have been surrounded by trees and animals as far as my legs could carry me. See, my father was an administration manager and my mother a tutor at the education centre. They both worked for the North West Parks Board (NWPB), and we were situated at the Pilanesberg National Reserve. We lived in staff house number 7 right inside the reserve! Besides my siblings and a couple of friends, I spent most of my time with my dog Rex taking him on walks or rather runs as he was having a blast chasing after tree squirrels.

Fast forward. I grew up, went to college to study information and communication technology. I worked as a waiter, barman and an administrator to name a few. During all of this time, I felt like I lacked work outdoors – which, come to think of it, has always been my real passion.

In 2019, an opportunity presented itself where I applied at Mankwe Game Trackers to become a Field Guide through a training initiative with aha, Tourvest and Bushwise. To cut the long story short, and of course after the Covid epidemic, I was finally selected as one of the candidates to come to the province of Limpopo to study for six months. Once I am done with my studies, I will go to  Mankwe Game Trackers to work – which is also in the Pilanesberg National Reserve. Talk about full circle!!!

Being camp manager

I was the second last student to get the opportunity to become camp manager – which is to say our six months course was coming to an end. The week started on 8 May with the final theoretical exam on trails as well as rifle handling. This is a broad subject as it entails how you should conduct yourself on bush walks with guests. The rifle handling section covers all aspects from knowing every single part of a rifle to knowing how to handle encountering a charge from a potentially dangerous animal while with guests.

Later on in the day after brunch, we met up with Collin and Sam Patrick, who are one of the industry leaders with regards to track and sign, and trailing animals. My group and I did trails with Collin for the rest of the week.

On Tuesday, we were paid a visit from Alex the content guy and Annie from marketing both from Bushwise. I had an interesting chat with Annie in one of our trails sessions about vultures, which is a subject I am quite passionate about. She promised to connect me with an organisation that is involved in helping out with these endangered birds. A lot has to be advocated about these birds which play a vital role in our ecosystem.

Duties (Delegating)

The camp manager’s main responsibility really is to be a liaison between the trainers and their students. Everything from academic to personal is communicated from the students and trainers with the camp manager acting as the hub.

It has been often said by the trainers that the Bushwise Mahlahla students are a pretty chilled group. I can fully agree with that statement after being camp manager. We all get along with one another as well as the trainers with minimal drama. Being camp manager at the Mahlahla campus was a walk in the park with how well we supported each other. Everything ran like clockwork.

Highlights of this Bushwise course

EVERYTHING!!! I really enjoyed every moment of this course. The highs as well as the lows because you get to learn from your mistakes. The support from all my friends as well as my fellow colleagues was phenomenal. We are truly one big happy family. Overcoming all the obstacles made the stressful challenges worthwhile. 

I learned a lot about myself in the process as well. The game drives were exceptional. Learning about all the botany we were surrounded with as well as the role they play in the ecosystem and most importantly, their medicinal uses makes me think there must be a cure for every virus we encounter. The animals – tjoe! Where do I begin, from the Matabele ants to the heaviest land mammal on land, the African elephant, it has been a real treat to indulge myself in experiencing and learning about all these creatures.  

Start your adventure just like Kutlwano when you join a Bushwise course. One day soon you could begin your wildlife career.

#wildlife #gameranger #bushwise #qualification #safariguide #Exam #training #guidejobs #tracks #apprenticefieldguide #safari #ifga #fieldguiding #Assessments #guiding #fieldguidecourse #studying

This blog was written by Becky Ladd, Bushwise Professional Field Guide student.

For the final week of semester three, Edward and I were the camp managers. This brings us to halfway through our six-month training with Bushwise at the Southern African Wildlife College campus. And what an epic three months it has been so far! I do not think any of us can believe that we’re already at the midway point, but they do say that time flies when you’re having fun.

Mock game drive assessments: A week of pressure and growth

This week was a very intense week for everyone, with a lot of pressure and stress hanging over the students, as this week saw us doing our mock game drive assessments to prepare us for our actual assessments as soon as we get back from our off week. 

We each had a 3-hour game drive to complete, with our trainer sitting quietly in the back row completing an assessment form, as opposed to them usually sitting next to us in the front giving us feedback and extra skills and knowledge throughout the drive. 

Discovering our unique guiding approaches

This time, it was all down to us! All of us felt the difference in delivering our game drive like this, and we all felt the heat of the hot seat. But it was a great opportunity for each student to see where their strong-points are, and which areas need some extra polishing and revising during the week before our official game drive assessment. 

Everyone approaches the drive differently – some make a thorough plan and try to stick to it as much as possible; others choose to wing it and see what is found out there in the bush. Either way, now is when we’re really starting to see each person’s unique and individual guiding approach shine through, and it is awesome to see everyone really settling into feeling comfortable in the role of the guide.

Suspense and excitement: The awaited placement options revealed

It has reached an incredibly exciting time in the course, as we are starting to hear about which placement options have been selected for us. It has been a suspenseful wait, and we now have many interviews to prepare for before we can say for sure where we will all be spending the next six months of our adventure.  Some students can already start preparing for a stay in South Africa, or even some moves to Namibia, Botswana and possibly even South America! 

It is going to be so fulfilling to see the friends that we have made go on to achieve some of their biggest dreams in life. Knowing that we have achieved it together, with the help and support of one another, makes it even more gratifying.

Looking ahead: Advanced rifle handling and trails guiding training

We still have a very exciting two months ahead of us before our time at the Southern African Wildlife College comes to an end. Next semester, once our assessment drives are out of the way and we can officially call ourselves qualified Apprentice Field Guides (!), we begin our advanced rifle handling training. 

Rifle handling will involve more exams to ensure we have a thorough understanding of the laws and safety surrounding handling guns and their usage. It will also involve a lot of incredibly fun (and ever-so-slightly nerve-wracking) practical training sessions as we learn how to use rifles to protect ourselves in the bush – something which is incredibly important for those students wanting to move into trails guiding (which I think is a lot of us after the incredible experience we had with Colin Patrick on tracking and trailing this semester!)

I would like to thank Bushwise for the incredible experiences we have had so far, the overwhelming amount of knowledge and skills the trainers have shared with us, and each and every student I have shared the past three months with – for every student has added something special to make the course as brilliant as it has been. Thanks everyone!

Embark on an unforgettable wildlife training adventure with Bushwise. Enrol now to gain invaluable skills, immerse yourself in nature, and unlock a world of incredible opportunities.

#wildlife #AdvancedRifleHandling #bushwise #fieldguide #qualification #safariguide #trailsguide #Exam #training #animals #bestlodges #apprenticefieldguide #safari #ifga #sightings #fieldguiding #tracking #Assessments #gamedrive #guiding #elephant #fieldguidecourse #studying #fieldguides

This blog was written by Aedan Kuhl, Bushwise Professional Field Guide student.

4 min read

As much as I hate using clichés, coming to Bushwise has truly been a life-changing experience. When I originally found it through doing research, I was very unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I had a great passion for animals and wildlife. I thought this course may give me some idea and perspective of what my next step should be. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Born and raised in South Africa

Although I was born and raised here, I never had many opportunities to really experience the bush in the way I wanted to. I had visited the Kruger National Park a total of five times throughout my life, each time with my family. So a lot of those times my parents had to focus more on keeping myself and my three brothers from squabbling in the back of the car, and as a result, we didn’t get to really immerse ourselves in the beauty of where we were. 

While I had seen elephants, giraffes and zebras before, it was only after coming to Bushwise that I was lucky enough to have close encounters with wild cheetahs, lions, hippos and even the endangered wild dogs.

Incredible wildlife sightings

At the beginning of this semester, I was on a drive with some of my peers and we had a breathtaking encounter with an elephant bull, who walked right up alongside our vehicle, and he was close enough that you could smell him. Even now I get goosebumps just thinking about it. The amazing sightings and situations I’ve been in, from trailing a herd of elephants on foot, to watching the rutting season of the impalas as they chase one another and clash their horns in a fight for dominance, to seeing a mother cheetah and her cubs bounding through the bush and playing together in the long grass. I really feel like I can’t put into words how extraordinary this whole experience has been.

Coming here, I had little to no background in being around wildlife, aside from volunteering at the Johannesburg Wildlife Hospital where I was fortunate enough to work up close and personally with beautiful pangolins. Being there really opened my eyes up to the terrible atrocities committed against our wonderful wildlife, and I knew then that I wanted to play my part in helping to conserve and prevent these tragedies from happening.

Learning from knowledgeable trainers

Oftentimes I walk around our campus on the Southern African Wildlife College and I have to stop and take a moment to truly appreciate where I am, and how incredibly lucky and privileged I am to really be here. When I say this has been a life changing experience, I do genuinely mean it. 

From coming as a person who really didn’t know much about the bush and the wildlife that inhabit it, it’s been an amazing adventure learning and being trained by our incredibly knowledgeable instructors, one of who previously placed in Safari Guide of the Year, and another who is currently in the top 5 to win the current Field Guide of the Year. To say I am lucky, would be an honest understatement.

Proud of my fellow students becoming qualified guides

Just last week, I was camp manager with one of the women I room with. At the time, we were doing our assessment drives in order to become qualified apprentice field guides. To watch my peers and colleagues one by one earn their qualification was such a rewarding experience, and I cannot describe the immense sense of pride I felt celebrating their achievements. Although to say it wasn’t an incredibly nerve-wracking week, would be a lie! At the end of it all though, the relief and excitement we all felt far outweighed the anxiety and nerves that rippled through our group as the week progressed.

Some days I still can’t believe I’m here. I still can’t believe I am now a qualified Field Guide and a qualified Tracker. I’m currently working towards being qualified in Advanced Rifle Handling, which in itself has been an astounding experience. Having never touched a rifle before coming here, I’m unable to really explain the shock, adrenaline, fear and, most importantly, the exhilaration running through my body when I shot a .375 rifle for the first time.

Being here is often like being in a waking dream, and I have to pinch myself to prove that it’s actually real. If it is a dream, I hope I never wake up.

Want to live your wild dreams like Aedan? Apply today to join a Bushwise Professional Field Guide course – your dream is closer than you think!

#wildlife #bushwise #fieldguide #qualification #Exam #training #animals #apprenticefieldguide #safari #IFGA #sightings #fieldguiding #tracking #endangeredspecies #Assessments #gamedrive #guiding #fieldguidecourse #studying #fieldguides

This blog about advanced rifle handling was written by Charlotte Nicolson, Bushwise Professional Field Guide student.

After a demanding third semester filled with the nerves of our final practical drive, I thought it would all be downhill from here. That thought instantly disappeared with the first sound of a rifle. 

From Theory to Practice: Learning the Basics of Rifle Handling

This week was Advanced Rifle Handling training or ARH. Before the course started, whenever someone from home asked about my course, I would slip into the conversation that I was going to be doing advanced rifle training . Needless to say, when the week finally arrived, I was super excited! We studied for our theory test during our off week. On our second day back at campus, we headed off to Tzaneen to get our basic rifle handling certificate – which allows us to then begin our advanced rifle handling on campus. 

It’s April now in Limpopo which means the temperature is dropping, and this year is particularly cold. On our drives to Tzaneen, I wore three jerseys, a beanie, a scarf and I even climbed into my bright blue sleeping bag and zipped it all the way up so that it covered my head. Each day we stopped off at Mugg & Bean where some of us got coffee or hot chocolate – by far my favourite part of the morning. Just when my fingers can’t bend anymore and I think they have frozen, a hot chocolate in one hand and a bit of a biscuit in the other seems to solve my problems. 

After the theory tests, we started with the .22, which is similar to a pellet gun. Even so, when I picked it up for the first time, my hands were shaking. We shot ten bullets with the .22 and then moved to the .223. This time there was a bit of a bang, but it felt good to take the first baby steps.

A Different Kind of Range: Bushwise ARH Training

On Thursday, we started with our proper Bushwise ARH training. The Bushwise range works a bit differently to the indoor range at Tzaneen, and looks a bit different too. 

As camp manager I had to make sure we had everything we needed to set up. This was done by filling the Cruiser with targets, boxes, gazebos, poles and lots of other things – I didn’t know how they would all fit in until they did. We drove the cruiser to the top of the campus where we set up. I also had to make sure there were hot boxes prepared each day with tea and coffee. 

We started off with dry handlining the rifles to practice loading and unloading, getting our stance right and working towards doing it all with some speed without having any actual live ammunition inside. By Friday, we were ready for some real action. 

The first time we loaded the .375 with live ammunition we had to shoot five shots onto a paper target, standing 12m away. We each had one of the trainers standing behind us in case the recoil knocked us off our feet and to make sure we were handling the rifle safely at all times. 

We started each day at 7:30am and ended the day around 5:00pm with a lunch break from 11–12:30. Each day was extremely tiring and yet extremely exciting. The adrenaline that runs through everyone when it was their turn to pick up the rifle and use it was very evident. At one point, I could hear my heart beating in my ear protection muffs and could feel my heart beating in my head. By the end of the week, we were all ready for a day off. 

My Camp Manager Week: Balancing Responsibilities and Learning

I loved my camp manager week, despite having to tell people to do their duties or clean up after themselves. It was a week full of being grateful that I chose this path, a week of laughing and a few tears but overall, I learned a lot and would do it over again if I could. 

Would you like to learn advanced rifle handling like Charlotte? Join the next Bushwise Professional Field Guide course and you will!

#wildlife #AdvancedRifleHandling #bushwise #qualification #Exam #training #apprenticefieldguide #fieldguiding #Assessments #fieldguidecourse #studying #fieldguides

This blog was written by Molly Swan, Bushwise Professional Field Guide student. 

Autumn morning in the bushveld

Venturing out on a beautiful autumn morning about to discover what is behind the thickets of the savanna bushveld. The clouds have moved off and the wind is softly blowing the slowly browning grass. Zebra, impala and blue wildebeest graze in the distance. 

There is word a herd of elephants are foraging in the nearby drainage line, an area where trees and grasses are full of nutrients. Two of us follow behind our guide/trainer – who is brimming with knowledge, rifle in hand. 

Tracking elephants in the savanna

We head south completely undetected, silent, walking in a single file line. The wind is blowing in a westerly direction, so we enter on the east side of the drainage line to disguise our human scent. Nearing the drainage line, we see butterflies, blue waxbills, fork-tailed drongos and the last signs of summer’s wildflowers. We trample over anise seed and release its awakening aroma. 

As we push through branches of sickle bush, flaky bark thorn and magic guarri trees, a male impala’s face appears around a false thorn. He watches us cautiously. He is very curious about why we are there. Other males gather behind him frozen in their place but not too frightened to run off. This small bachelor herd may be unlucky this upcoming breeding season seeing that they have not already claimed a herd of females of their own. 

Walking in the wild

Continuing a few meters further, we stop to listen for the sounds of the magnificent elephant herd. We hear sounds of feeding, branches breaking and the deep vibrational rumble of the matriarch leading the herd to their next destination. We are close – and we’re only twenty minutes into our walk. 

Moving at a slower speed, we walk in each other’s footsteps until we spot them. A young herd of about fifteen. Using their strong trunks, they are feeding on grasses tearing them out of the sodium filled soils to balance out their diet. Their trunks are very versatile and flexible. The 60,000 muscles in their trunk make picking up any object as easy as picking up a marble with two fingers. 

The savanna provides for the herd

The savanna offers plenty of vegetation for the family herd to feed on. They stay close together feeding and only moving as fast as the little ones can keep up. In segments they move east towards our direction. The wind stays in our favour as we sneak through the thickets staying ahead of their next move. We use termite mounds to get a better aerial view of our surroundings, a technique often used by other mammals. 

Not only do we need to be aware of the herd’s location, but we also need to keep in mind that at any moment we could stumble across a pride of lions or a solitary bull elephant. Although we remain close, we completely lose sight of them behind the thick bush, but we hear them and can smell their musk. 

Occasional sounds of trumpeting come through bringing smiles across our faces. Could it be a mother putting her calf in its place, a disagreement between two adults or a playful jubilee? We will never fully get in the minds of these intelligent creatures. 

A herd that grazes together

The herd continues to move, staying close together. They will continue to graze most of the day and even through the night only able to digest about 40% of what they eat. We continue to watch their behaviour and predict their next move. They are headed across one of the dirt roads, a chance to get a perfect view. 

As they move across into the sun, we can see the deep wrinkles in their thick skin mimicking the bark of an old tree. The family herd stays close together moving quickly through the open. The matriarch has the important task of keeping the herd safe, especially since the females have had some new births during the last rainy season. Some are at the age where they are beginning to graze and learning how to use their trunks and tusks but still receiving milk from their mothers. 

The copious amounts of rainfall during the summer months will also be an advantage making it easier for the matriarch to find a water source to quench their thirst after many hours of feeding. The young calves will have short distances to travel for water this winter. 

We are not alone

This family is strong and healthy. We predict they are headed towards a nearby watering hole. As we make our way across broken branches, golden orb spider webs and burrowing holes, we discover fresh elephant and buffalo tracks. We are not alone. The sandy soils allow nature to tell its story from hours before which lets us know what came before us. It is possible we may be found or stumble across an unforgiving hippo, so we stay alert and walk every step with intention. 

The watering hole is full and will become a retreat for many animals this winter. Its high edges make it a welcomed spot for many southern foam nest tree frogs and weaver nests. The hippo has moved off to another area. We get to the highest elevation and watch as the herd is coming our way as predicted. 

Just as we start to feel confident that they are coming to have a drink and possibly get the chance to witness the little ones play in the water, they stop to continue grazing, vanishing back into the drainage line into the lush foliage. The young calves have an advantage this time of year since the trees are full of leaves which shelter them from any curious predators. The shade will also keep them cool while they feed, which could be why the matriarch is making the choice to stay away from the open. 

Other animals join the show

Flying above us is a stunning grey heron circling around looking for its prey. Terrapins soak up the morning sun along the ancient rock walls. The sounds of water thick-knee, blacksmith lapwing and lilac breasted rollers fill the air. We wait for their next move like a game of chess in the shade of a magic guarri tree. 

We receive word that two more elephants are moving into the area from the opposite direction. How will the herd respond to their arrival and how should we position ourselves to witness such an event? As we wait, six white back vultures circle in the blue sky above us. They are waiting for something exciting, anxious to inhale their next meal – but nothing is around so they quickly fly off. 

The herd of elephants reappear and make their way towards us. We hesitate being aware we need to keep distance between us but also that there is not much cover around us. We must make a quick decision; do we stay hidden or make ourselves known while showing them we are not a threat. 

Grateful for this experience

Staying low, we decide to back away slowly with purpose. They have spotted us as we predicted but do not see us as a threat since we are creating distance. What a beautiful moment to be on foot with these magnificent, intelligent creatures. A humbling moment very few get to experience. 

As they move off into the distance, we make our way back to camp. My heart is full, and the bush seems even more beautiful. As we approach camp, we are followed by a harem of zebras with two young ones. What an absolute privilege this morning has been. My soul has been bathed in the lush thickets and my heart is full of the elephants’ spirit. 

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#wildlife #bushwise #qualification #trailsguide #Exam #training #animals #tracks #safari #ifga #sightings #fieldguiding #tracking #endangeredspecies #trackandsign #Assessments #guiding #elephant #fieldguidecourse #studying

This blog was written by Oscar Wehen, Bushwise Professional Field Guide student. Each week, students take turns as camp manager to experience what it’s like to run a lodge or a team. Writing a blog is part of that process.

5 min read

This week on campus has been one of the most exciting weeks so far. Although we had more stress than ever due to the test we had on Saturday, it was still a lot of fun. 

Monday: Game Drives and Birding Sessions

On Monday, Group B was on game drive in Manyeleti Game Reserve because we were limited to only the main road in our game reserve. The other two groups went on a little birding and botany session with the vehicles on our concession, and I was in one of them.

The groups not going to Manyeleti were very jealous – even if Group B didn’t find any amazing sightings. There has been a lot of rain in the last three weeks – which has meant a lot of us were struggling with drying our laundry. But luckily during our birding and botany session, Matt and I were able to move a tree off of the road which got us our laundry being tumble dried as a reward.

From Monday morning on to the rest of the week, every afternoon was set aside for revision, especially for those who needed a high percentage for the second Bushwise exam on Saturday. The trainers made this revision session mandatory for me – which I was a bit annoyed about at first, but after the first revision session I was very relieved and found it easy to listen and learn.

Mamba… I mean… baby brown house snake

The next day was very similar to Monday but it began with some excitement. One of my neighbours was screaming out of his tent “there’s a baby black mamba in our tent!” With me laying in bed at 4:30am having the responsibility as camp manager to call our trainers for any serious emergencies, I was running to their tent to tell them not to get close and calm down. 

The best and most funny moment of this situation was when all of us realised 20 seconds later that the little black mamba was actually a baby brown house snake which is probably one of the most harmless snakes in South Africa.

A Rare Serval Sighting in Manyeleti Game Reserve

Wednesday was one of the best days for me as our group was going to Manyeleti Game Reserveand Ashton – one of the other neighbours and one of my best friends in the camp – was our guide on that drive. Although the weather wasn’t promising that morning, I was still very optimistic that we would see something very interesting. 

Ashton started the game drive by finding us all some lion tracks which was even more promising but eventually we had to drive away from the way they were going. I was a bit confused why we would change the direction from where the lions were going to, to where the lions came from but Ashton told us that he spoke to the other guides in that area and they all said that the lions are invisible in that one block so it made sense.

Other than the lion tracks, we didn’t see much activity in the bush. After one and a half hours we had our coffee break. Everyone was ready for some coffee, and we all enjoyed the morning sounds of the bush. After the coffee break, we were all talking about our bird lists and how many birds we have seen from the start of the course and no one was really looking out to spot animals.

Then something caught my eyesight next to the road and I was immediately shouting “Stop! Stop!” Fred, our trainer on that game drive, was driving and he was going pretty fast so he stopped approximately 30 metres later. Remembering that moment I was thinking about what could be what caught my eyesight and I realised that I saw a serval standing there and so I said to Fred to go back fast because I saw a serval.

The rarest sighting of my life

No one in that car believed me, but when we went back, there it stood in the same place that I spotted it facing us and in complete “freeze mode”. Everyone was shaking and we were out of words. We enjoyed that sighting for at least five minutes with the serval walking next to our car, not skittish at all. 

That is probably the rarest sighting I have ever seen, especially because it was there for such a long time. When I was six years old, it was my first time in South Africa and all I ever wanted to see was big and small cats of Africa’s wilderness so this was a dream come true.

Coming back from that game drive our whole car was filled with adrenaline and when we told the other students what we had experienced, we realised how jealous they were but we couldn’t stop talking about that moment. Eventually, we had to get back to study and calm ourselves down to stay focused while studying. It took me three days to calm down after that sighting. It took the longest time for me probably because I was the one who spotted it and I felt like I was seeing a ghost.

Then the rest of the week the only thing we did was study, eat and sleep. Looking back on this week I’d like to repeat that amount of excitement, learning effort and luck every other week of my life. 

Maybe it’s possible for every week to be this exciting! Truthfully, anything could be possible on a Bushwise course.

#wildlife #AdvancedRifleHandling #bushwise #qualification #Exam #animals #safari #ifga #sightings #endangeredspecies #guiding #fieldguidecourse #studying

This blog was written by UK student Alex Denney, on our Bushwise Professional Field Guide course. Each week, Bushwise students take turns as camp manager to experience what it’s like to run a lodge or a team. Writing a blog is part of that process.

4 min read

My Bushwise journey starts all the way back in 2011 

I’m from the UK and back then I was just about to sit my A-Levels and decide what degree I wanted to do at university. I had been torn between the idea of an Astrophysics or a Zoology degree as I am fascinated by both these subjects. However, when I realised Astrophysics wasn’t just looking through a telescope but in fact it was pretty much pure math, I decided on Zoology, and to investigate my passions within that topic such as wildlife, conservation, and the natural world. 

During my degree search I investigated the type of careers it could lead to and during one extensive google search I happened to click on the Bushwise website. I was immediately intrigued; I had visited South Africa the year before as part of a volunteer trip to work on a Brown Hyena conservation project and had fallen in love with the landscapes and wildlife. I always knew I was going to go back one day, and now here was a webpage telling me about a company that could train me to work in the bush of South Africa, I was hooked. 

At this point I was already set on going to university so I decided I would join Bushwise afterwards, so I bookmarked the Bushwise homepage and went about the rest of my day. Little did I know that there it would sit at the top of my bookmark bar for almost ten years! 

Destined to always be a daydream?

I never forgot about it however, it was always there whenever I turned my computer on, and always in the back of my mind. So much so that barely a few months into dating the person who would become my life partner, I told her about it and how amazing it would be. She was unsure at first, after all she had done a degree in law not some wildlife or zoology course like me, but after many years together travelling the world and doing odd jobs here and there, we decided that Bushwise was where we wanted to be. 

Fast forward to late 2020 and we had finally got enough funds together to go. We had an exciting video call with Kim, the Bushwise recruiter, where she explained all the finer details to us and what to expect when we arrived and pretty much straight after that we booked on and paid our deposits. We decided to Join Bushwise in 2023 to give us more time to save up some extra money to live on, but this was it, it was real, we were finally going to live and work in the African bush! 

Finally it’s my reality

Here in the present as I write this, we are going through our third week at Bushwise. We have been spoilt with sightings and the natural beauty of the Kruger area is just mind blowing. When the sun sets it goes down behind the Drakensberg mountains which leads to some fantastic sunsets. Life on the campus is great fun, we are the largest group Bushwise has had, 30 students! So, there is always plenty of stuff going on.

The role of camp manager isn’t too strenuous, the only hard part is having to get up extra early to unlock the kitchen and turn the kettle on so there is hot water for everyone’s coffee. With 30 sleepy students waking up at 5am it would be an absolute disaster if there was no coffee!

At the moment a lot of our time is spent revising and going over our notes from the lectures and modules in the textbooks, this isn’t a holiday after all but a full-on course to get us qualified and into a career, and on Saturday we have our first Bushwise exam. However, we do still have plenty of downtime to relax and enjoy this experience. 

Not your typical office!

To be honest though you can hardly call it working when we are going on game drives twice a day where we get to spend time with three young male lions including an incredibly rare white lion, watch a pair of cheetahs stalking a herd of impala, see an elephant taking a mud bath, and have a pack of 17 wild dogs run around our vehicles. This definitely beats sitting in an office and staring at a computer screen with a mountain of paperwork. 

So far, I’m enjoying every minute of my time here at Bushwise and I’m sure I will enjoy every minute to come. I still can’t quite believe I am actually finally here after so long, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. 

No matter where you’re from or what your background is, you can do a Bushwise course. Learn about the different wildlife jobs you could follow.

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This blog was written by Dominique Minnaar, Bushwise Professional Field Guide student. Each week, Bushwise students take turns as camp manager to experience what it’s like to run a lodge or a team. Writing a blog is part of that process.

4 min read

For those of you who are curious about what it’s like to have the duty of being the person who keeps things orderly, then this is the blog for you. On campus, each student is given the opportunity to feel a sense of leadership by owning the title of camp manager for one whole week. However, every leader is responsible for not only their own actions, but the actions of others around them too. 

Personally, I felt that being camp manager is quite a busy role. There is so much to consider and you have to pay attention to smaller details that no one else usually would. Fortunately, I shared my duty as camp manager with another student. When managing campus, you yourself must take initiative and plan how to solve problems that come up. Of course, I am still a student, therefore if there’s anything I don’t have the ability or authority to control, then it’s my duty to report those issues to my trainers. 

My duties as Camp Manager 

1. Communicating with my trainers and sharing their instructions with my fellow camp mates. I had to ensure that everyone on campus was aware of what the schedule for the day entailed. 

2. Monitoring cleanliness and duties. I had to keep an eye out on my campmates to make sure that they were all doing their part in helping out around campus. I too had to do my part in keeping camp spotless. Together, everyone would work in teams sweeping the class, emptying bins or washing dishes. 

3. Checking that all the lights were switched off every night – I did this very quickly because I didn’t want to accidentally encounter our hyena friends in the black abyss of the night!)

4. Checking that soaps in bathrooms were restocked. 

5. Reporting broken or malfunctioning things to Phillip, our trusty handy-man.

6. Supporting my campmates. My way of showing support was by asking them how they felt each day, getting back to them on any sort of injuries they had and by offering my help with what they needed.

7. Handling the radio! It was super cool to carry it around. I felt like I was in a spy or military movie every time I said ‘’copy that’’. Sometimes I got a bit playful and flipped through the channels to do a count down and imitate the noise of an explosion! However, I knew that it was strictly used on game drives, or otherwise in emergencies. (It’s good to have fun but as guides, we must remember to balance it with professionalism and recognise the appropriateness.) 

A busy week at Bushwise

This week was jam-packed! We went on multiple drives and covered amphibians, arthropods and fish. I can definitely say that my time management skills were put to the test. Being camp manager taught me a bunch of stuff. It showed me how to be assertive and improved my communication skills. 

I learnt that one should not be afraid when making decisions, but should rather be prepared for the outcomes of those decisions. You need to plan and be attentive to every detail, as those are the things that actually have the biggest impact. Leadership skills and teamwork played a massive part in camp management, which helped me out of my shell and be more open-minded to other people’s ideas. 

Because I had to pay more attention to my surroundings, the simple and fun interactions of people around me became much clearer. One memory from this week that sticks out is when my trainer and two of my friends had a race. I heard shouting and laughing as their loud stomps came hurrying down the road all the way to class…I loved that. 

This experience gave me new confidence

I’m naturally a reserved person, so this course has shown me that it is good to share yourself and thoughts with others. I saw this especially during my role as camp manager. 

All that I have been exposed to has given me the confidence that I will need to become highly knowledgeable and skilled. The reason why I came to Bushwise is because it holds a wide variety of interests of mine that I have had since childhood. I am thrilled to know that I am learning tons of new and wonderful things about what I love – and as an added bonus I am learning about who I am as an individual. I can’t wait to use what I have learnt for whatever adventures lie ahead!

Enjoy reading about Bushwise student experiences? Find more on our blog page.

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This blog was written by Ben Franklyn Mertens, a German student doing the Bushwise Professional Field Guide course. Each week, Bushwise students take turns as camp manager to experience what it’s like to run a lodge or a team. Writing a blog is part of that process.

3 min read

My name is Ben Franklyn Mertens and I’m 30 years old. Compared to the rest of the students on the campus, I am probably one of the oldest. Since I finished high school, my big question has been “what do I want to do with my life?” 

I tried out a lot of ideas, including being a fashion designer, running a couple of start up gastro shops, a photographer and even going into real estate. All of this didn’t really fulfil me. But due to chance and opportunity, I was able to come back to Africa again and again. And through that I developed a love for the African bush and nature.

My love for the African bush

I chose Bushwise to rekindle and nurture that love. It combines all the things I like best: photography, meeting people from around the world, wildlife and nature. I’m a boy from a big city in Germany. But at heart, I’m a bushbaby that has found his place in the bush where my heart belongs. 

Being camp manager this week certainly has had its ups and downs. Due to rainy weather conditions, we were limited in our ability to drive on the concession roads and sometimes we could not go out at all. So we finished the remaining modules — including birds, mammals, ethology and reptiles —in one day (which seems like a lot, and believe me it was!!). But it had the advantage of allowing us to study the modules in greater depth before the upcoming big Bushwise exam. I saw this as my opportunity to motivate the other students and lift their spirits with fun games and study sessions – which we call bird parties. 

Game drives in Manyeleti

We were spoiled to the max being able to do some of our drives on the neighbouring concession at Manyeleti, in order to utilise our driving/guiding skills. Seeing the faces of the people in my group driving out in a completely unknown area was my highlight of the week. The pure joy and excitement compared to the rest of the week when we were unable to explore was a delight. 

At Manyeleti, we were really lucky to have a sighting of an elephant bull. I was in the passenger seat, and it was good to trust someone else being the guide in this situation. We drove closer, but still respected his space. Once he started noticing us, he acknowledged us, and his curiosity got the better of him. We noted that his presence was calm and relaxed. Even for such a large gentle giant, his footsteps were cautious and silent in the vastness of the bush. It seemed as if this small mountain moved slowly towards us. Eventually he moved past us, giving us and himself some space while always keeping an eye on us. The calm and quiet of this sighting was so special and a blessing to all present. It is moments like these that will stay etched in our memories.

This is where I belong

Even after being here for only two months, being around the instructors and fellow students has reinforced my feelings that this is the right future for me. I want to be a knowledgeable and accomplished guide. I want to be able to amuse and enrich my client’s visits with knowledge about the bush. Show them the small things in our environment that a normal visitor does not notice. 

My aim – our aim – is to educate clients and guests as best as we can in the short time they are with us and hopefully with luck, help them feel the same way that we do about the bush.

Learn how you too can become a field guide with a purpose, by joining a Bushwise course. Apply today!

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