Category: Student journeys

This blog was written by Bushwise student Brandon Leong. 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.

3 min read

It was Monday, February 20. The week before was long and hard, with rain pouring from every direction. I spent the weekend preparing myself for what was to come. The day finally came when I had to saddle up and say yippee ki-yay! I found my predecessors and applied all the lessons I learnt from them as I took over the role of camp manager. As I received the radio, I felt the responsibility rush over me like a sudden gust of wind on an open plain.

There’s a new sheriff in town

So, there I stood, radio in hand. Looking at those around me before declaring: “There’s a new sheriff in town!” The camp knew that everything would be alright under my watch, and all was calm. Everything was running smoothly until a critical moment came. News of some outlaw by the name “Cyclone Freddy”, whirling its way towards us via the Indian Ocean, came to my attention and I knew that I had my work cut out for me. My fellow students and camp dwellers were the top priority and so I tried my very best to keep the morale high. We managed to reach the end of the theory part of this Bushwise rodeo, which was a milestone worthy of celebration. 

We continued drives early in the mornings and afternoons on our metal steeds – the Mahindra and Land Cruiser – venturing out into the bush to find ourselves some critters and majestic beasts. We took it in turns to hone our guiding skills and intuition in the field.

My turn came and I had to give my “guests” something to remember. I had spent nights hitting the books, gaining knowledge of the environment that I hoped would serve me well. Seeing the smiles on their faces after the drive was a reward in and of itself. The pride I felt watching each one of us grow not just as guides but as people warmed my heart.

The threat of Cyclone Freddy still lingered in the air but help came in as we received a delivery of sandbags that I allocated to each of the rooms. The camp had to band together now more than ever to fill the bags in preparation for what might still come. The feeling of comradery amongst this group of field guides was inspiring. 

The adventure of a lifetime

Since starting my journey of becoming a field guide, I’ve unknowingly stumbled into the adventure of a lifetime! What I thought would be a course about mammals, birds, plants and bugs, quickly became an experience that revealed hidden strengths about myself. Parts of my personality have begun to blossom and grow. My confidence has reached new heights. 

Becoming camp manager is usually a rather stressful situation as you are the one the camp depends on for everything. However, diamonds form under pressure and while comfort zones are comfortable places with familiar feelings, nothing new ever grows there. Stepping up into a leadership role was always something I’ve wanted to do and being given the opportunity to do that and find out what I am really made of has been life changing. 

My only hope is that all of those that come after me look back and use my experiences to inform their duties. And I hope they grow as much as I did in this wild and exciting environment we have come to call home.

Grab life by the horns like Brandon, when you join a Bushwise course. Have the experience of a lifetime while gaining new skills and having incredible experiences. Apply today!

#bushwise #qualification #safariguide #trailsguide #training #safari #ifga #fieldguiding #gamedrive #guiding #fieldguidecourse

This blog about was written by Ziphozonke Zwane, 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.

3 min read

This week was so gloomy and the rain worked against us, causing numerous drives to be postponed. Due to the fact we had grown accustomed to the game driving routine, we students were not thrilled about this. Taking drives on the main road helped us with both the break in routine and to become birders. We were ecstatic with how many birds we could see in such a brief drive. We learnt several new bird sounds through this activity, which heightened our sense of hearing. We were encouraged to identify the birds we typically see in the region at this time of year. 

The activity generated contentious issues around the classification of birds. It forced us to start examining the characteristics that distinguished one bird from another, such as the bearded and Bennett’s woodpeckers. We all grew more confident with our bird identification as a result of this.

The beauty and discovery in birding

When I first moved here, I never imagined that I would end up loving birding as much as I now do. I used to think that all birds looked alike. I never paid a lot of attention to them. I never understood why people liked birds. Now I know why. Who knew that Kwa-Zulu Natal, where I’m from, is one of every birder’s dream destinations? Especially Durban which is home to a sizable bird population.

Botany has been a difficult subject to study because – like birds – grass and trees can occasionally resemble one another, particularly when looking at the Vachellia tree species. When we examine our landscape here in the Greater Kruger National Park, it is amazing to observe how various trees flourish in specific soils and how trees compete for sunlight in order to survive in the ecosystem. 

The fact that the savanna biome can produce such a wide range of tree and grass species is equally astounding. People need to spend more time in nature to observe how it can heal itself using pioneer grass and tree species. I’m delighted to report that by the end of the week’s lectures, we were able to start distinguishing the many tree species.

I’ve learnt so much, so quickly

I’m learning a lot from this course, including how to notice detail and use more of my senses. Did you know that you need to encourage your audience to use more of their senses in order to engage them? 

Being here has opened my eyes to how little I know about the bush back home. My relationship with nature as a whole has improved since I arrived. Who would have thought that the tiniest insects like the dung beetle could be so crucial to maintaining the ecosystem? It’s true what they say—dynamite really does come in small packages.

The road here wasn’t always an easy one

The road here was not an easy one because sometimes I miss home and become home sick. But here on campus we are like this small family here with one similar goal – so every day is getting easier. I can’t believe how I’m starting to engage with the other students now, even if it’s not one of my strongest suits. Although it would be a stretch to claim I’m now at ease, it is remarkable! The group activities have helped me emerge from my shell. Even my mother was astonished since she had never imagined me in a situation where I would need to engage with others.

Overall, we had a difficult but successful week. I faced a dilemma involving virtual guiding, which forced me to think differently for a change. It was intriguing to observe how many different aspects of an animal might be discussed with only a single, straightforward image. I’m undoubtedly looking forward to the upcoming weeks. Salutations to the upcoming field guides.

Learn more about nature, and yourself – become a strong leader and an accomplished field guide with Bushwise. Apply today!

#Birding #bushwise #safariguide #birds #apprenticefieldguide #safari #ifga #fieldguiding #tracking #trackandsign #guiding

This creative blog was written by Elzette Bam, Bushwise Professional Field Guide student. As part of their training, students write a researched blog based on a topic of their choice. 

On a day that wasn’t particularly hot or cold, where peace is usually found in the balance, a certain hippo wasn’t having a peaceful time. That is because he was being bothered by a small curious human.

Everyday the small human would pester the hippo with questions regarding his species. He tried to ignore this tiny annoyance but underestimated its persistence. So to get rid of this human, he decided to indulge in its tedious questions. 

“Mr Hippopotamus, what does your name mean?” asked Phenyo.

The ignorance of humanity surprises me more and more everyday, thought the hippo.

“Listen well human, for I will only indulge in your foolishness once. My name is Greek and it means ‘river horse’. The direct English translation is ‘horse’ (hippo) of the ‘river’ (potamus)”, explained Mr Hippopotamus.

“Wow! Mr Hippopotamus. You’re as big as a horse! Does that mean you’re the largest animal?” exclaimed Phenyo. 

“No tiny human that status belongs to my grey brethren – the elephant and the wide rhino”, Mr Hippopotamus reflected.

“Wide rhino? Isn’t it called white rhino?” asked a confused Phenyo. 

“Yes, they are now mistakenly known as white rhino because the British humans didn’t know how to listen. The story goes that the white rhino got its name from the Dutch name, wijd renoster – which means ‘wide rhinoceros’ and refers to the wide upper lip. But because the British humans heard ‘white’ the wrong name stuck”, explained Mr Hippopotamus.

“Oh no! Poor rhinos. Do you eat the same thing white rhinos and elephants do?” asked Phenyo curiously. 

“I do, tiny human. We are known as grazers which means we enjoy eating grasses . But during drought if I have no other option, I eat elephant dung if I have to”, said Mr Hippopotamus. 

“Elephant dung!” exclaimed Phenyo in disgust. “Doesn’t it taste nasty?” 

“It is not about whether the dung tastes good or not. The digestive systems of elephants are not very effective so there is still lots of nutritional value in their dung which I can then use if there isn’t a lot of food”, explained Mr Hippopotamus. 

“Oh I see,” said Phenyo. “I wish I could be a good swimmer like you Mr Hippopotamus. I would travel the world!” he announced.

 “Well tiny human, I don’t really swim. I actually walk on the bottom of rivers and lakes. I can stay submerged for up to five minutes”, said Mr Hippopotamus. 

“I once heard something interesting about you, Mr Hippopotamus! Do you really sweat blood? Do you exercise so hard that you sweat blood?” asked Phenyo. 

“No, little human. I have no sweat glands. My skin is very sensitive to sunburn, and if I stay out in the sun too long, my skin can crack and bleed – which may attract the attention of predators. So I have special glands that secrete an oily substance that can help protect me from the sun. This oil is colourless at first, but changes to reddish-orange when it gets exposed to the sun”, explained Mr Hippopotamus.

“I see”, said Phenyo. “Mr Hippopotamus, are you tired? Why are you yawning like that?” asked Phenyo worried. 

“I am not yawning because I am tired. I am yawning to warn and intimidate my potential enemies”, said Mr Hippopotamus menacingly. 

 “Oh”, gulped Phenyo. “But why are you yawning towards me?” asked Phenyo, who was suddenly very frightened. 

“I am growing tired of your presence, human. I think I have quenched your burning curiosity enough. If you do not wish to perish today, I advise you to retire to your village”, threatened Mr Hippopotamus.  

“Alright, alright, just one more question and then I will leave”, Phenyo said quickly. “Why are you not part of the Big 5?” 

“Ahh now that is the most interesting question you’ve asked. While danger is considered part of the Big 5 and my kind do harm more people than any of the Big 5, we aren’t on the list because apparently we’re not as difficult to hunt”, explained Mr Hippopotamus.

Satisfied, the small human returned to his village where he could once again chat with the Bushwise students. A certain hippo finds peace in the quiet of its natural environment once more.

Storytelling is an essential part of becoming a world-class field guide. Learn how to tell stories like Elzette on a Bushwise course!

#wildlife #bushwise #fieldguide #qualification #safariguide #Exam #training #animals #safari #ifga #sightings #fieldguiding #tracking #endangeredspecies #guiding #fieldguidecourse #studying #fieldguides

This blog was written by Darian de Bruin, 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

Arriving back at Bushwise on Sunday with my car full of students who I picked up from O.R Tambo. We were all excited to be back and couldn’t wait to see our newly made friends again. 

We started off Monday morning with lectures about amphibians, fish and arthropods. After Monday, we carried on with the week schedule as normal with drives. Tuesday afternoon was my turn to drive and give a guided experience to my fellow students. I was feeling so many emotions – the nerves were getting to me, but I was also really excited to start the drive. 

Practicing my grass identification skills

During my drive, Mr Pines gave me a challenge to ID 10 different grasses. Unfortunately, I only reached nine, but he was still very impressed because we only looked for grasses in one spot. I was lucky enough to experience one of the Big 5 – a pride of lions. Unfortunately, the sighting was very short because there were already three vehicles at the sighting, but I really enjoyed stopping and talking about the lions for the brief time we were with them.

Wednesday morning we were all ready for the drive. About 15 minutes after arriving at Makalali, a cold rain hit us – but the rain didn’t stop us and we carried on with our drive. We stopped for a coffee break when it stopped raining. This would have been a good idea, but once Brandon had finished setting up, the clouds decided it was time for us to get soaked. 

Having coffee in the rain was a pleasant experience because in a way you have bottomless coffee with the rain filling your cup up the whole time. The rain didn’t stop, so we ended up not going on a drive in the afternoon. Instead, we spent the afternoon with Mr Pines doing revision of the work we had covered on Monday. 

Photography lessons and wet game drives

Thursday morning at 5 o’clock I woke up and looked at the weather to see if we were going to go for a drive, but yet again it was raining. We ended up having our photography class in the morning. After brunch, we had a study day and photography competition. We are yet to know who won. I really enjoyed the photography course and learning more about my camera. On Friday, it was raining again and we ended up doing a lecture on mammals.

My week as camp manager has taught me a lot about responsibilities around camp – from communication to doing simple little tasks. I believe that being a camp manager has made me more confident and prepared me to be able to take on the task as head guide one day. I am very grateful for the opportunity as it has opened my eyes to the responsibilities I will one day need to fulfil. 

From business to field guiding

Becoming a field guide has only been a dream of mine for about two years. Before that, I was studying business principles and relations, but I was not enjoying it and looking to change my path. I came across field guiding when my dad’s best friend suggested field guiding as I spent all my spare time in the bush. 

I immediately fell in love with the idea and my dream was born. Last year, I did a part-time nature conservation course. Then I discovered Bushwise and could not wait to join. I’m currently on the course and I’m absolutely loving it and learning so much more than I could imagine. I cannot wait to start guiding and informing guests about the importance of the bush.

Take a lesson from Darian’s book: if you aren’t enjoying your career, considering trying something totally new! Learn all about the Bushwise courses that can take you there.

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

This blog was written by Lucas Vasquez, a Bushwise student who came to South Africa from his home country of Peru. Lucas shares his experience as a camp manager and some of the amazing sightings he had.

My name is Lucas Vasquez, and I have been camp manager with my mate Ashton Tomas at the Southern African Wildlife College campus for the past week. I came to Bushwise after several years of visiting Africa and developing a deep love of its wild areas and a passion to conserve them. 

I come from Peru, and have always been in contact with nature since I have a memory, whether it was at my house in the mountains or going to lodges in the Amazon Rainforest. I came to Bushwise searching to achieve my dream of studying field guiding and wildlife conservation in order to gain more knowledge about nature and pursue my career.

The Importance of Field Guiding and Wildlife Conservation

So far I’ve been learning so much and furthering my knowledge about nature and learning so many more things – like astronomy and geology and even taxonomy. The opportunity to drive and guide our classmates and instructors on morning and afternoon drives has opened up a much broader perspective about the bush. 

It makes you realise that you won’t always see predators or some sort of action, which makes you appreciate the smaller presence of life such as insects, amphibians and birds. This offers a much larger perspective of what nature is composed of and what it means to be a field guide and conserve every living thing in a protected area. 

A Day in the Life of a Camp Manager

On my first day as camp manager it was difficult to wake up before everyone, and make sure everything was ready before people started preparing for their drives. I set my alarm for 4:15am, took a refreshing shower to wake up and got ready to start the day. The sun had not even come out and the air was still cold as it had rained through most of the night. Ashton and I opened the kitchen, made hot water and started preparing ourselves for the morning drive while people made coffee and prepared a quick snack before going out. 

The first drive was guided by Zander and the second by Breadon. It was the first time we did three-hour drives – which made some people nervous. Thankfully it did not rain during the day, so the drives weren’t interrupted by the weather. The lecture on Monday was about fish, it was a short afternoon lecture. 

At night one of the rooms had a snouted cobra sighted near the room. It didn’t stick around for long and left undisturbed. A genet was also seen at the reception area, apparently it’s a local to the camp. It stayed near the ceiling looking at people go by, completely comfortable with our presence. 

Encountering Lions on a Wet Afternoon Drive

On Wednesday, the rain started to pour – we had about 70mm in the morning, another 40mm in the afternoon and 150mm by night. Unfortunately Joel and I lost out on our morning drives due to the rains as many of the roads were closed and the majority of the area had flooded. On Friday, the afternoon drive was moved to 12pm instead of the usual 3pm. It started as a pretty quiet drive guided by Ben, but just as we were heading back to the campus, three lions sprinted across the road, directing themselves towards a burrow. We could see the vultures were filling the sky near the burrow. 

As we drove toward burrow, we lost sight of the lions, but luckily one of the lionesses emerged from the thicket and went directly towards the carcass of a waterbuck, which we had found in the water a few days ago. We had no idea what its cause of death was. We watched the lions for about half an hour pulling the carcass out of the water and into a bush to get it out of the vulture’s sight and to avoid attracting other competition like hyenas who would try to get a bite. 

Life at the campus has been pretty normal in general. No major problems have been reported! Each day I feel I’m a step closer to achieving my dream job of bringing people to wild areas, teaching them about wildlife conservation and showing them the beauty of the remaining wild places. 

Interested in wildlife conservation like Lucas? Learn more about the campus where Lucas has been doing his Bushwise Professional Field Guide course, our campus in the Greater Kruger National Park.

#lion #wildlife #bushwise #fieldguide #qualification #safariguide #Exam #animals #apprenticefieldguide #safari #sightings #fieldguiding #tracking #Assessments #guiding #fieldguidecourse #studying #fieldguides

This blog was written by Braedon Saunders, Bushwise Professional Safari 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.

A piece of my journey

My name is Braedon Saunders, and this is a piece of my journey. The story of a KwaZulu-Natal born boy who made his way to Kruger National Park as a young man with a dream – to live a life that matters, to be the change he wants to see, and most importantly to do it through his passion for the bush. I never wanted a desk job, the thought of doing the same thing every day scared the life out of me. In the bush every day is a new adventure, a different experience and a more beautiful sunset, what more could I wish for.

The week began as every week does on a Monday morning, except this Monday morning was a game drive in the Lowveld. We set off eager and ready to discover our passions in a whole new way, the way we always dreamed. So, it began with a beautiful sighting of lions – 4 females, an old male and one young male. The stuff out of a fairy tale. These golden coloured hunters brought smiles and a sense of amazement to all present, and to think it was only the start.

Being camp manager is a privilege

Managing the camp for my fellow students sounded like a challenge, but little did I know what a privilege it would be. I was fortunate enough to manage the camp during our first game drive week. This meant that I had to wake up at around 4-4:30 every morning to ensure that the hot boxes were prepared, and the kitchen remained tidy and locked. Leading friends can be challenging as you form a bond with people who you then have to lead, however you quickly find a balance between leadership and management. I like to think I was more of a camp leader than a camp manager.

Soon enough it was my turn to drive – my first time driving a Toyota Land Cruiser and my first time in the Kruger National Park. It was truly an experience I will never forget. The smells of the plants and animals, the sounds of bird and animal calls, and the sun beating down on your face as you prepare yourself for the adventure of a lifetime.

On our game drives that week we got to see beautiful cheetahs, lions and elephants. Three animals many people have never had the privilege of seeing, and we saw all three in three drives. There truly is nowhere like Africa.

Surrounded by wildlife

At the end of the day, you realise what a true privilege and honour it is to be surrounded by such beautiful wild animals – it is an experience like no other. From early morning drives to late night fence walks, I have been privileged to lead the camp for a week. Fulfilling the responsibilities expected of me was initially a challenge, but today I look back on it as a privilege. 

Thursday morning I had the chance to experience my first big five sighting as the driver on a game drive – we spotted two elephant bulls. Looking at these gentle giants is a humbling and thrilling moment. The dry mud on their backs showing a massive difference between the silvery grey skin and this dark brown tinge was a sight to behold in the sunlight.

This is my story, one of nature, adventure, love and passion. The only question I have is will you be next? We all have a dream and a passion; the hardest step is always the first. Take that first step into your dreams.

Thuma mina – send me.

Thuma mina means “send me” in isiZulu, one of the national languages in South Africa. It is also the name of a popular and inspirational song here. Perhaps that is why Braedon chose it for the title of his blog – as it has served as some inspiration for him while he starts his field guide journey.

#lion #wildlife #AdvancedRifleHandling #bushwise #fieldguide #qualification #safariguide #Exam #training #safari #sightings #Assessments #gamedrive #guiding #fieldguidecourse #studying #fieldguides

This blog is by Edward Chauke, Professional Safari Guide candidate studying under the exciting new partnership between Bushwise and Tourvest Group.

3 min read

Mixed feelings, great memories and passion. I’m looking back at how the beautiful journey started – just to learn the information that I have been selected for or I have been offered a lifetime opportunity to become a field guide, it is something that I still remember very well like it happened yesterday. 

A trip down memory lane

My dream of becoming a field guide started in 2019. Then Covid-19 came and we had to wait almost three years! Considering the fact that we had to wait almost three years shows how passionate I am with my dream of becoming a field guide one day. 

The waiting game wasn’t pleasant at all, it was just a matter of keeping my enthusiasm. But the support that I get back home, I regard as a pillar of my strength and it helps me keep going even though it looks impossible. 

My dream has come true

Here I am today, my dream has come true. I can’t wait to see myself taking guest to a game reserve to share my knowledge with them. One of my personal attributes is as a storyteller and an entertainer, which I feel like is great aspect in the guiding industry.

The Bushwise Mahlahla campus near Hoedspruit is where  the training is currently taking place. A wonderful experience of wildlife, since the beginning of the year to now. So far so good and not much to worry about in terms of acclimatising to the weather, because it’s almost the same as my hometown Hazyview where I was born and bred.  

Since day one it’s been such a wonderful experience and exciting moment of my life! All the lessons that I have been learned so far have been fantastic and very helpful to me. Especially on changing my mind set to view the nature in different perspective.  I’ve started to have huge respect for the natural environment and wildlife. I imagine walking down the street and starting to hear birds call, and pause a bit to try to identify which birds is that one… woah that’s an awesome moment, which was not a case before my  journey started here at Bushwise Mahlahla Campus. 

Camp manager for the week

Recently I have been assigned with the task of Camp Manager. At first it looks easy, until you realise that with this duty comes responsibilities. Especially if you take fact that I have to make sure that everything works properly and all the students and staff are happy. To achieve that I have to wake up early and sleep late. Day by day, my duration as Camp Manager came to an end. I handed over all the camp manager’s equipment to my successor with pride and dignity – mission accomplished!

As I conclude, I’ll share a nice story about my neighbour who keeps on visiting me every evening…

A porcupine for a neighbour

Every late evening, I have a visitor – a porcupine – come next to my house to look for food around the dust bins. They hunt their food most at night which makes them to be nocturnal animals. Her physical appearance is really unique, especially with her quills. Being in a neighbourhood with this porcupine has pushed me to start to need to know more about them, which will be great knowledge to share with guests in future!

Keen to live out your dreams becoming a field guide – perhaps with a sneaky porcupine as a neighbour – just like Edward? Find inspiration in all that surrounds you on a Bushwise course or a career in wildlife.

#wildlife #AdvancedRifleHandling #bushwise #fieldguide #qualification #safariguide #Exam #training #animals #safari #IFGA #sightings #fieldguiding #tracking #endangeredspecies #gamedrive #guiding #fieldguidecourse #studying #IFGAGuide

This blog was written by Emily Cowling, who’s attending Bushwise along with her partner Alexander Denney. As a couple, they’re training to become field guides before entering this exciting industry! Read about what inspired them to make this journey together.

4 min read

It was close to ten years ago when I first heard the word ‘Bushwise’, and it was being said to me by the person I had recently started dating. 

“Bushwise, what’s that?” I asked, never expecting the answer to be so interesting and so exciting. A chance for adventure, a chance to meet people from all around the world, a chance to get new skills, and a chance to help change the world for the better. 

It sounded thrilling and although we wanted to leave immediately, we knew it was not possible. We were penniless young students working our way towards our degrees. The dream was put into a box and quickly began to gather dust. 

Our wildest adventure yet

Seven years later, the topic arose again. It had cropped up now and then throughout our years together but never in a realistic or achievable way. But this time, now over two years ago, we finally began to see the dream as a possibility and it began to take shape. 

Despite the excitement and possibilities, I had some reservations. The main one was the fact that it seemed as though if I pursued this dream, I would then have to be apart from the person that I had barely spent a night away from in the past ten years, my other half, my best friend. Even if we went together, I imagined we would have to stay in separate tents, maybe even separate campuses, and then when attending placements, spend a full 6 months apart. I didn’t even know if we would both get accepted which opened up the possibility of spending a year on different continents. There was no denying that the idea filled me with dread but we both really wanted to do it so we went ahead and sent an inquiry. 

Barely a day later, we received a response and all of our earlier reservations flew out of the window. We could attend as a couple, we could be housed together and, most importantly, we could be placed together on our placement. 

But could we do Bushwise together?

A week later we had booked! We were going to Bushwise, albeit in two years’ time. It didn’t matter to us, the dream was on the horizon, and we were going to be doing it together. 

The time flew by in a flash and two weeks ago, we arrived in South Africa, hand in hand, nervous but encouraged by each other. Despite the gruelling trip, we were here, together, and life in the bush began. 

I had feared that maybe all of the things I was told about us being allowed to stay together may have been half-truths or even lies to get us here, but this couldn’t have been farther from the truth. 

From the start, we were treated as a unit as well as individuals, an odd thing to say considering these are antonyms. What I mean is we were housed together, placed next to each other in the classroom, and often spoken about as if we were one entity. And yet, we were also individuals in the sense that we were given separate tasks, sent on different game drives and, generally given some space to be apart, a definite positive in that it allowed us time away from each other should any tiffs arise. It also allowed us to meet back up at the end of the day, excited to see each other and discuss all of the different things we had seen and learned. 

The best decision we could have made!

The opportunity to be here with my partner has been nothing short of amazing, living a dream together. I have a best friend, a study partner, a person to cry on when things get tough, and a general sounding board. 

To anyone considering whether or not this experience could be done with a partner, I would say absolutely but perhaps with one caveat. It isn’t an experience to enter lightly. And maybe not one to begin with a new partner or someone you don’t know if you can live with because you will be spending a lot of time together and sometimes under many different pressures. It is something to consider. 

For me, living out my dream with the person I love has made the experience even better. Spending the evening chatting about the exciting new things that we learned, finding interesting ways to study, meeting new people at every mealtime, and watching the stars every night before settling down together to listen to the sounds of the bush. What could be better than that? 

Did you know you can book a Bushwise course with your partner? Imagine having this life-changing experience together! Contact us to find out more. 

#wildlife #AdvancedRifleHandling #bushwise #qualification #safariguide #Exam #training #guidejobs #animals #ifga #fieldguiding #endangeredspecies #guiding #IFGAguide #fieldguidecourse #studying

This blog was written by Nicol Maree, a Bushwise student at our Mahlahla campus. Camp Manager blogs are written by students who each manage camp for one week during their course. Students are encouraged to be creative and write about their experience as a story. Nicol certainly took this task to heart with his original blog!

3 min read

Part 1: The road trip

Our story starts on 3 January, with a boy from Cape Town preparing for a journey. Crossing borders and facing fears, his destination Limpopo… to be more specific Bushwise – the best training facility known to man. But little did he know, he was in for one memorable first week as camp manager. 

Let’s start at the beginning. The road trip started by saying goodbye to family and his two fur babies and getting ready to drive 1,800km. His first destination was Bloemfontein, then Johannesburg and then finally after many hours on the road, one or two truck stops and many angry people coming from holiday, he landed at Bushwise. 

Upon arriving at Bushwise he was met with friendly faces and a warm handshake here and there. With a shiny nametag, he was prepared to get to work and learn about the bush and all the beauty it has to offer – after all, he had come too far to turn back now. The three days started off slow and it consisted of mainly getting used to his new environment and getting to know the new faces of his classmates and educators. 

Part 2: King of the jungle

As an old friend used to say, “There can only be one king of the jungle and it’s not you”. After settling in the young boy became good friends with a fellow classmate. Together, they would stay up late studying and crushing their daily goals, and till this day they remain a formidable team! 

One evening while studying the two Bushwise learners took a 10 min break gazing at the stars when the silence was interrupted by a sound which the boy had never heard. 

Lions in the distance at Makalali Game Reserve had given a roar, a roar so loud the earth had shaken and now every animal in the bush knew the king was upset. ‘Upset about what?’ the boy thought to himself… was it perhaps the heat? Or the fact that he was also feeling a little bit lonely? Oh well, it doesn’t really matter because he is still king! 

To be a king sounds quite nice, the boy thought, and knew that was his goal. What makes a good king? To lead of course and that was exactly what the boy did with a new title to his already new nametag – the title of camp manager!

Part 3: Camp Manager (aka Class Captain)

With the reminder of the king of the jungle sitting fresh in the back of his mind, the boy began his daily duties. 

Half a week into his journey as camp manager, things started to turn for the better. The boy got the chance to drive a safari vehicle and not just for practice – but in a real game reserve. With this golden opportunity, the boy along with nine other students set out to find the infamous king who had given him inspiration.

There it was, lying in the tall grass, the legend was true! The lion had waited for the boy. The Bushwise students finally came face to face with the king – well from a safe distance in the safari vehicle. 

Part 4: Man vs Beast

Little did the boy know that the animal kingdom had another battle lined up back at camp. This time it was a snake, courtesy of the Hoedspruit Reptile centre*. An exciting, yet chilling experience awaited the students. 

*Note from the Bushwise team: this was when the students were visited by the Hoedspruit Reptile Centre for their reptile handling and orientation. No snakes and definitely no humans were harmed during this process!

After quite an eventful week, the boy rested to regain his energy. But he will continue to channel the king’s energy as inspiration as he hands over the title of camp manager to a new leader, ready to face their own fears!

This is all in a week’s work when you’re studying with Bushwise. Interested in having an amazing time while becoming a safari guide? Apply today!

#lion #wildlife #ifgaguide #gameranger #bushwise #qualification #safariguide #trailsguide #Exam #training #animals #tracks #apprenticefieldguide #safari #ifga #sightings #fieldguiding #tracking #trackandsign #Assessments #gamedrive #guiding #ifgaexam #fieldguidecourse #studying #fieldguides

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. This blog is by Josh Judd.

3 min read

During my tenure as camp manager, my thoughts were distracted from time to time by the topic or subject of this blog, which I knew I would need to write . 

The logical or easy option would’ve been to discuss the incredible track & sign/trailing courses that we completed with Collin Patrick, his daughter Samantha and their master tracker, Coda. This would’ve led me down a path of explaining the intricacies and attention to detail which are required to excel within this area of guiding. 

My second thought process entailed writing about some of the photos taken off our camera trap which has been on an ever more entertaining roundabout trip throughout campus and the Makalali Private Nature Reserve with each new locality perceived to be better than its previous localit. We tried to capture some of the incredible animals that are found within this special locality in the foothills of the northern Drakensberg Mountain range. 

After debating the previous two thoughts, I decided to settle on a topic which I’ve felt has not received the credit that it deserves, nightlife on a field guide course. 

Nightlife on course

The only free time we really get in the bush is in the evenings once we have finished our delicious dinner cooked by our very own masterchef Rose. Once we have wolfed down dinner we often finish our evening off by going on a night drive on the public road around the reserves in order to explore the wonders of the bush at night. There is nothing quite like living in an area with multiple reserves next to each other; it makes the drives extremely interesting and always gives us a story or two to tell the following morning. 

When the sun sets and our diurnal critters rest their weary heads after a long day of browsing, grazing and general antics the night brings with it more elusive animals that wake up when the sun sets and start getting ready for their evening of busyness. Who doesn’t love to bump into an African civet making its way on its nightly route to forage and hunt down various insects and the odd arachnid! 

The wise old spotted eagle owl sits as still as a statue on his post waiting for an unsuspecting rodent or small mouse to come sneaking around looking for food, only to become dinner himself as our beautiful nocturnal owl swallows it whole with one large gulp! 

Snakes in the Lowveld

With the rains starting to come down, we couldn’t have been more excited to jump into the car to go looking for all things reptile. As we made our way down the dirt road, I spotted it, the awesome silhouette of a puff adder. What an incredible snake! It is crazy to think that this spectacular beast that was moving ever so slowly over the road is actually one of the fastest striking snakes in the world. With the rains, we were fortunate enough to find seven amazing species of snake in the two days. 

To add some perspective to how incredible these night drives have been, I would like to pose a question to you. Would you say we have had more incredible sightings within the reserves or outside the reserves on a normal dirt road on our nightly drives? 

Whilst it may seem impossible to beat the incredible 4m long monster African rock python we were privileged to see within Makalali Game Reserve or watching two cheetahs unceremoniously being asked as kindly to leave their zebra kill by a brown hyena at Shlereni Dam, there was something very special about being able to drive at 10pm at night on some occasions through these wild areas. 

Empirically speaking for those statistically inclined, we saw more male lion, leopard, African civet, cheetah, sable and roan antelope, white tailed mongoose, potentially one Meller’s mongoose, rhino and even pangolin during our night drives than what we saw in the reserves. On that note, I’m off to bed, goodnight!

From day drives to nightlife on a field guiding course, you could experience it all with Bushwise. Make your career a wild one and apply today.

#wildlife #gameranger #bushwise #fieldguide #qualification #safariguide #ifgaguide #training #guidejobs #animals #safari #ifga #sightings #fieldguiding #tracking #endangeredspecies #gamedrive #guiding #ifgaexam #elephant #fieldguidecourse #studying #fieldguides