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Luxembourg to the Lowveld – My Field Guide Journey

This blog was written by Mara Belacchi, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience.

Almost five years ago, I decided to become a field guide. At the time, I was camping in the Serengeti National Park as part of an overland journey from Kenya to South Africa, traveling with a group of strangers who, over time, became close friends. That night, under a sky so full of stars, we sat around the fire, reflecting on the last few days of game drives in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.

As we shared our thoughts, one of the travelers told us something that changed my life. He mentioned that he had completed a 60-day field guide training course, IFGA Professional Safari Guide Short course (2 months), and was now a qualified safari guide. Until that moment, I hadn’t even known that such a career path existed. I was fascinated. The idea of living and working in the African bush, of spending every day surrounded by nature and wildlife, immediately took hold of me. He gave me an email address, and after a few exchanges back and forth, I was introduced to Bushwise. That was the day I decided that I would become a field guide.

At the time, I was just 20 years old and had only recently finished school. I decided to go to university first, but from that moment on, there wasn’t a single day – truly, not one – where I didn’t think about this dream. I followed Bushwise on every platform, read every post, watched every video, and counted the days until I could finally be here. And now, here I am.

The first four weeks of my 6-month training have felt like a dream. A dream I finally get to

live, and one I never want to wake up from. Every part of the training feels right – whether

it’s attending lectures, practicing my driving skills, memorising plant species, or heading

out on game drives. My heart has never been this full, and my mind has never been this

at peace.

It’s not just the big moments, like watching elephants calmly pass by or the thrill of

navigating the game viewer across rivers, that make this experience so incredible. It’s

the small, everyday moments that truly bring it to life. Starting to recognize plants and

trees, excitedly shouting “Knob Thorn!” every time we pass one. The growing instinct to

identify birds by their calls alone. Learning to identify birds, ticking new species off my

list, and slowly becoming a birder. These are the moments that make this experience so

special. The small victories, the quiet realizations, the growing connection to the bush.

Every day, it feels more like home.

Now, an exciting break lies ahead – our first off-week. A few of the girls from my campus

and I are heading to the very north of Kruger National Park, a region known for its

incredible birdlife. While taking a break from training will be strange, the thought of

exploring a new part of the bush with new friends makes it exciting. Of course, I have a small but important mission: to find and identify birds we haven’t seen yet. The Giant Kingfisher, in particular, has been on my mind, and I’m determined to finally tick it off my list.

Every day here reaffirms that I am exactly where I am meant to be. The road to get here

wasn’t always easy – it took patience, determination, and years of waiting – but it was

worth every second.

Five years ago, I sat under the Serengeti sky, dreaming of this life. Now, I wake up every

morning, step outside, and realize that I am living it.

I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Ready to start your journey as a field guide? Explore Bushwise courses and apply now to become a qualified guide!

March 11, 2025
What can an expert guide learn from Bushwise? This is Daniel’s story

Daniel Razafimandimby, an experienced tour guide from Madagascar, recently travelled to South Africa to join the Bushwise IFGA Professional Safari Guide Course (2 months). His goal? To enhance his skills, deepen his knowledge, and bring these insights back to inspire and elevate guiding standards in his home country. This is his story.

With a career spanning more than 20 years, it’s safe to say Madagascan tour guide Daniel Razafimandimby is an expert in his field. Though he giggles as he recalls being completely stumped by Bushwise’s Track & Sign module during his first week in South Africa.

“Nobody explained to me about the tracks and signs,” he laughs as we connect via Zoom. “And then I thought, what were they doing? When the instructors stopped and explained about the toes, about the lobes [animal tracks in the sand], what were they doing?”

Fueled by curiosity and encouraged by his fellow students, Daniel referred to his course material, quickly working to understand tracks and signs and other essential guiding skills. And so began his 2-month journey as a Bushwise student in the South African savannah.

“I think the best way to describe the 2-month IFGA Professional Safari Guide Course is to say it’s an ‘experience of a lifetime’,” says accomplished Bushwise trainer Andrew Kirton. This high-level course, backed by the International Field Guides Association (IFGA), is perfect to get students ready for the guiding industry. “It takes a lot of hard work from the trainers, but even more so from the students,” he adds.

The Bushwise IFGA Professional Safari Guide Course (2 months) consists of 17 modules including ecology, botany, astronomy, arthropods, taxonomy and more. Students also participate in daily game drives, learning to operate viewing vehicles, track animals, identify bird calls and distinguish between different flora. “The modules are the foundation of what a guide should know,” says Andrew.

And while courses like astronomy were introduced to Daniel in Madagascar, he praises the comprehensive approach Bushwise implements.

“Here [we’re equipped with] a practical way to combine everything. Especially the practice drives helped a lot; we don’t have that in Madagascar,” Daniel tells me. “My instructors really helped me have extra practice with driving. That doesn’t exist in Madagascar – to combine everything together and to be assessed on it, that doesn’t exist at all. We have a written test at the end of the program, and that’s it.”

Daniel’s course with Bushwise was made possible through Noble Caledonia, a boutique wildlife and marine expedition cruise company based in the UK. Recognising the value of Bushwise’s field guide courses, especially their focus on soft skills training, Noble Caledonia sponsored Daniel’s studies. Over two months, he acquired these invaluable skills and will now share them with his network back home.

“Soft skills are one of the most important aspects of being a guide,” explains Bushwise trainer Andrew. “We work on developing great communication skills, verbal and non-verbal skills, teamwork and being a team player, but also having the responsibility of being camp manager for a week, which ensures delegation skills and teaches students how to work under pressure. Time management is also an important aspect within the many soft skills we cover.”

With these skills in hand, guides gain a deeper understanding of the tourism industry, says Andrew. “Bushwise has mastered this throughout the years, ensuring the best possible guides come out of this course, which is an important aspect for us – they are, indeed, the future of the guiding industry.”

In his short time with Bushwise, Daniel gained insights from his trainers and identified ways that guides in Madagascar could enhance their customers’ experience. “We don’t have hotboxes [insulated cases designed to keep drinks and food hot or cold] in Madagascar; we don’t have any drink breaks, even during a trek that can start from 06:00am until 16:00pm. I think I can tell them how it’s quite the highlight of a tour just to add a kind of hotbox to have a drink break.”

Daniel also plans to share his experience on the Bushwise way of learning. “I think the most important thing will be how to combine astronomy with geology, the climate and wildlife. Because in Madagascar, the guides are mainly focussed on wildlife, and that’s about flora and fauna (plant life and animals) most of the time. Some will add a bit of history and culture. But it’s a big world, I think everything should be included, because I was told I might not see animals during a game drive, and so I had to talk and get the guests interested in what I’m talking about.”

Daniel’s passion for guiding can be felt even through the computer screen, and Andrew says it was even more of a joy to behold in person. “Daniel was such a great person to have on the course. One thing I can say is, the Daniel who arrived is not the same Daniel that left.”

Learn more about Bushwise courses and how you can take your guiding expertise to the next level with the IFGA.

December 6, 2024
From rugby fields to the African bush: My field guide journey

This blog was written by Charlie Birch, a Bushwise International Field Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience.

Bushwise is a place where like-minded people come together to complete a course that they are all passionate about. If that’s conservation, guiding or just nature in general. We have all heard the same story of “I’ve always wanted to do this” and “this has always been my dream.” Yes, to some extent this was mine, but it came about in a completely different way than I imagined.

My original dream was to play rugby, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have played at a decent level in different countries, experiencing things that one can only dream of. However, like a lot of dreams, you eventually wake up. I got injured multiple times with my shoulders and decided to call it quits long-term, as I would like to still be intact when I reach the age of 40!

This is where Bushwise comes in. If you told me a year ago that I would go from playing rugby, living in a flat with someone in my hometown, working a good job and progressing in it, to then moving to the South African bush, living with a bunch of strangers studying to be a field guide, I’d say you’re lying. But here I am.

This has honestly been one of the most important and fascinating decisions of my life. I feel at home here more than I have ever before. The people, the culture, the food, the brandy and coke, just everything seems right for me here in South Africa. I can say I have met some people I will be friends with for life – cringe, I know, but I do genuinely see myself keeping in contact with some and having them in my life forever.

This past week, I had the pleasure of being camp manager, which involves having more duties as well as a voice for your fellow camp mates. Fortunately, we have had a nice week of ARH (advanced rifle handling) which has been a great new experience as I have never shot with a rifle before. I say this, but due to us having rifle handling, and one of our golden rules being ‘drinking and shooting don’t mix’ it’s been quite a dry week where some of the camp mates have struggled adjusting to this new way of life! All-in-all, we have passed everything so far and have enjoyed it, but I can assure you we all have a lot to learn and none of us will be a James Bond any time soon.

In terms of what is next for me, I have no clue. One thing I have learnt about myself and about life out here is that it’s best not to plan too far ahead as everything changes on a dime. I want, and would love, to stay here and work in a lodge as I feel like I’d do well as a guide, or maybe one day even a trainer and share the knowledge I gathered through the years I was working and hiding here.

This is my plan and I know for some it will be theirs if they do this course too. Maybe one day I will go back home to the Southwest. One thing is for sure, though, I will never lose my love and respect for this place and its wildlife. My name is Charlie Birch and this is the beginning of my guiding journey.

Ready to start your own life-changing journey? Learn more about Bushwise courses and apply today!

November 22, 2024
Fierce, fast, and under threat: The extraordinary life of African wild dogs

This blog was written by Amy Jefferson, a Bushwise International Field Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience.

Facts:

African wild dogs are highly endangered animals with an estimated population of 6,600 with their current population decreasing. They have incredible hearing, with muscles allowing their large ears to swivel. They only have 4 toes per foot, unlike other dogs which have 5 toes. They can run up to 70 kilometres per hour. They generally live up to 11 years old in the wild. They communicate by touch, actions and vocalisation.

They have a success rate of up to 80% when hunting due to their high levels of communication, they are among the most effective predators in the world. To put that into perspective, lions have a one-in-four success rate. This is nearly all a result of their pack coordination, which is still a rich source of zoological research. It was only recently discovered that they use sneezes to ‘vote’ on hunting decisions.

Territories:

Wild dogs spend their days prowling huge amounts of territory, with home ranges of up to several hundred square kilometres. To put that into perspective, Greater London is home to 8.8 million people, but an area that size could only support one or maybe two Wild Dog packs.

Pack social structure:

African wild dogs are seasonal breeders, in South Africa pups are usually born mid winter, after a gestation period of 70 days. Litters can be 12 pups or more, the female cannot suckle offspring for too long. From the age of 3 weeks, milk is supplemented with regurgitated meat brought to the pups by other pack members. Their pups are given priority over dominant pack members when feeding. Packs average around 15 members and have been known to sometimes go up to 40. Before the recent population decline, packs of up to 100 were recorded.

Non-breeding adults sacrifice their own nourishment to ensure the pups in the group get enough to eat and grow. The packs typically hunt antelopes and will also tackle much larger prey. They are extremely social and known to help the other members of the pack when they are weak or sick. Once mature, males stay with their original pack while the females generally seek a new pack. They are extremely loyal to its species and habitat.

To form a pack:

To form a pack you need a few brothers and a few sisters who are NOT related and put them in an enclosure together and they will decide who becomes the alpha male and alpha female. Only the alpha female and male will mate and have pups but the whole pack will look after the pups. If they do not form any connections together, when they are sedated you can rub one on the other and when they wake up they will automatically be drawn together because their scents will be on each other.

Threats:

Unfortunately, they are often hunted and killed by farmers who fear for their livestock. They are also threatened by shrinking space to roam as well as susceptibility to diseases – these diseases include rabies and distemper from coming into contact with domestic animals. The IUCN reports that the population level of African wild dogs fluctuates but is in a likely irreversible decline. Genetic inbreeding may be the possible cause of the Kruger National Park wild dog’s life expectancy of only 6 years.

Conservation:

African wild dogs are among many species that benefit from the creation of protected wildlife corridors that help connect their increasingly fragmented habitats. Conservation groups are also working on initiatives that reduce conflict between humans and African wild dogs. These include awareness initiatives that dispel myths about the animals as well as educational initiatives that offer farmers training in livestock management techniques that prevent depredation

Learn more about Bushwise courses and find out how you can contribute to conservation efforts and make a real impact.

November 8, 2024
‘I have found my true passion’: A life-changing Bushwise journey

This blog was written by Surprice Shabangu, a Bushwise International Field Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience.

My name is Surprice Shabangu from Numbi village, which is located near the Numbi gate of the Kruger National Park. Growing up I used to see buses and open vehicles taking international tourists to the national park “Skukuza”, and that was quite fascinating to see how people from all over the world are coming to visit the national park which is a symbol to our locals. I have always been curious to how few of our elders with the community ended up working in the park driving open vehicles.

After completing my studies in BA honors in sociology, which mainly focuses on society and its behavior, I worked for an NGO known as Gold-Youth Development, where I served for 4 years as a intern facilitator. My contract was for 3 years and this year it was extended by 2 years where I was going to serve two more years as a lead intern facilitator.

I started following Bushwise on social media early 2023 and I was fascinated by the things they used to post about. To me their posts were informative and some of the things were very relatable to me as a local resident. Last year I saw a post from Tourvest, but never got the opportunity to apply. I spend so much time with high school friends who are now nature and culture guides, listening to their life stories of Kruger National Park and wildlife. They made me more curious and to develop love for the bush and wildlife.

Around May or June this year I saw a post from Bushwise together with Sabi Sabi Ranger Academy, they were looking for people who will be trained as field guides. I did not waste time because I knew that this could be a life-changing opportunity. I applied and luckily I was amongst the people who received the scholarship.

I did not know what life would be like in the bush, hence I was ready to face anything. When I got the opportunity I had to quit my job to start a new life in the bush. Bushwise came to me at a time where I was stressing a lot about life as I knew that soon the pipeline at work was going to get to me and I was going to be unemployed eventually.

Honestly, being in the bush with Bushwise has imparted me with knowledge and skills that I never thought I would gain in life – from understanding animal behaviour and nature to delivering an ethical nature guide experience for guests. I gained skills on how to work within a team, how to manage and lead people with diverse cultures and behaviour.

I have found my true passion and I feel connected to nature. Through this new journey I have gained incredible experience on trailing wild animals, interpreting animal’s behavior. I believe that I will be a good mediator between wildlife and people visiting Africa who never got to see the wildlife.

I met wonderful people, from the previous 60-day students to my classmates; I believe that I met lifetime friends whom I might work with in future. Being with them feels like a new home and we are a family. We often fight but always have a way of sorting our differences, we help each other with academics and whenever one loses focus we are able to be honest with one another and encourage each other.

Lastly, how can I forget my instructors, they did an amazing job in sharpening my driving and guiding skills. They are amazing people, always patient with their students and they want what’s best for us. I will forever be grateful to Sabi Sabi and Bushwise for changing my life, ensuring that I am able to change my home situation.

I hope that Bushwise will continue to transform the lives of disadvantaged African children to be tools that will ensure that conservation is preserved so that the future generations get to know the beauty of African wildlife.

Ready to discover your true passion? Explore Bushwise courses and apply now to start your own adventure!

November 1, 2024
Inspiring the next generation of female field guides

This blog was written by Lihle Donecia Mndawe, a Bushwise International Field Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience.

Enrolling with Bushwise academy has been a great evolving journey for me, I have developed into a passionate and knowledgeable person with wildlife. This blog reflects my growth and development before, during and after. How I got to be part of the Bushwise 6-month program was a very fortunate experience for me, through the Sabi-Sabi Foundation which sponsored four candidates to study in becoming a field guide with Bushwise and the Sabi-Sabi Ranger Academy. Out of 700 plus candidates that applied for the sponsorship I got to be part of the four candidates that made it to the final selection. After the selection, that’s when I knew my life was about to change to an exciting one – new skills and development.

Before

I have always been passionate about wildlife, as I have worked at a safari lodge as a receptionist for over 6 years. With my great customer service, patience and being a team player, I knew I would be a perfect fit for being a field guide. Before stepping into Bushwise’s gates, I knew little about animal track, signs and trails, birds and trees, yet I had the eagerness to learn the ins and outs about the wild. I had so much interest in bush walks, even though I had a limited knowledge of the ecosystem. With the lack of information and direction, it took me a little bit longer to finally be where my passion is.

During

One can acquire a skill from an academy, from a role model or a mentor. Currently as a Bushwise student I have gained so many skills. I got my driving skills with Bushwise with the help of the head trainer – I will forever be grateful for such an opportunity. I have gained a lot of skills and am still learning, with the very knowledgeable and patient mentor I got to learn a lot. Practical assessments such as track and sign, birding, botany, astronomy and sleep out I enjoyed the most, theory lessons were also exceptional, reptile was a bit of a challenge but had a happy ending. Lodge hosting was top-tier for me as I have experience in hosting from my previous workplace; it reminded me of all the good times shared with customers creating unforgettable experiences.

At the beginning of the course I had less confidence in myself, especially being 1.5 metres in height. I had a few challenges that did not favour my height, like reaching the pedals [in the game viewer], getting on the tracker seat, and changing tyres, but it all comes with practice.

Future

Now all that is left is the fun stuff – rifle handling and trails . My goal is to achieve the remaining assessments and I am looking forward to getting placed at the lodge. That is when reality will hit, putting all the practical and theoretical skills into practice and engaging with the ecosystem.

There is still a long road ahead – more studying, research, learning new techniques and exploring to do. Everyday is a learning experience. Graduating will be the biggest part of my growth and development.

The Bushwise program is definitely a life changing opportunity, I would recommend it to anyone who has the passion to become a field guide because of their well-trained instructors, proper study material and good course planning. My mission is to grow in the industry and inspire other young females who are passionate to become field guides. Exploring outside the country and experiencing different ecosystems is definitely a dream for me.

Ready to begin your own wildlife journey? Apply for a Bushwise course and start your adventure.

October 25, 2024
The call of the bushveld

This blog was written by Jon-Harry van Wyk, a Bushwise International Field Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience.

When I was a young boy growing up in South Africa, the ultimate experience would be to stay in the bushveld. The wildness of the place, the sounds you hear at night, the excitement of seeing animals looking at you through the underbrush – there is no place on earth where you feel more in touch with the beauty and magnificence of nature. It is hard not to have an awakening in your soul once you have travelled deep into the bush, along the rivers and looked out over it from atop the peaks.

The first experience that I can think of that really sparked my interest in becoming a guide was around the age of ten. My family and I went on a game drive in the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve when this happened. I remember it was a sweltering day, the flies followed us as we moved in hopes of getting moisture from a bead of sweat. Our guide had found a herd of elephants who at the time were in the midst of their breeding season. We watched as two massive bull elephants struggled against each other for dominance and the breeding rights to their female onlookers. One of the bulls was defeated after a tussle that shook the ground and broke trees. As we sat there, he turned to face us, you could almost see the embarrassment in his eyes after his loss. There was a switch that flipped in his mind, he decided he would not stand the embarrassment, no mock charge or warning he flew towards us.

I remember in those moments of fear and the pumping of adrenaline how cool and collected our guide had stayed. He had read the situation before the fight had even finished, he had kept a cool head when the dust started flying and five tons were barreling towards us. After we had reversed for over three hundred meters or so the elephant felt he had gotten his frustrations out. As we drove back to the lodge, I felt an excitement and a newfound feeling of yearning to be the man in that seat, to be the man who could read the wild, to be a guide! Many years have passed since then, but that passion has always kept burning inside of me.

Now, as a young man, my passion for the bush has evolved. I want its serene beauty to still be here for my grandchildren and their children. I have taken the first steps in my journey towards becoming a guide by joining Bushwise. I want to immerse myself with this lifestyle and learn all it can teach me, I intend to leave no stone unturned in this experience. My end goal is to get involved in more of a conservation career through hunting. I’ve come across many individuals who disagree with my plan but in order to keep our parks ecosystems functioning there has to be checks and balances for populations. I hope that through my career I can learn from and teach those that I encounter how to ethically control population numbers, so that we may preserve the beauty of the South African bush for many generations to come.

My adventures along this path may very well lead me to different outcomes for my future, but my sights will always firmly be set upon preservation of the wild environment I now get to call home. Becoming a guide is just the beginning of this journey that I have set out upon, however it will not be its conclusion. Being in a place surrounded by people with the same passion and love for the bushveld was the perfect start. I encourage those that feel the pull of the bushveld to take that step deeper into its wonder and wildness, it is a place that changes you.

Ready to start your own journey in nature conservation? Explore Bushwise courses and apply now to become a qualified field guide!

October 11, 2024
A wilder path: Why I quit my desk job for a life in the South African bush

This blog was written by Aleisha Carter, a Bushwise International Field Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience.

3 min read

I used to be an Executive Assistant. A bubbly joker of an Executive Assistant to a wonderful Executive Director in the heart of Brisbane, Australia. My biome was the concrete jungle filled with twinkling glass skyscrapers and dilapidated old buildings waiting to be bought out and replaced with even more twinkling glass skyscrapers. My flagship species was the roaring city buses, all filled with different assortments of workers and, keeping with my current theme, tiny parasites. Okay, yes, I mean lice.

Life in the concrete jungle biome was defined by the scent of coffee every morning, followed by the unfriendliness of people waiting for those coffees to work miracles. Life inside the twinkling glass skyscraper home ranges was defined by eye strain from staring at three computer screens for eight hours a day, ticking the seconds on the tiny computer clocks.

We choose the path of least resistance, right? I’d fallen into administration because I was good at it, it paid well, and the opportunity to climb up the corporate ladder meant very nice moolah (money) if I stuck at it. But there’s something missing in this scenario – job satisfaction, happiness, contentment.

Thanks to my job being inside, I was suffering from a serious lack of not just vitamin D, but also vitamin joy! So, while volunteering in Finland in 2023 with 87 Siberian Huskies, I made a decision: I would pursue a career in something that brought me joy – animals. And so, I applied to study Zoology at university and I got accepted!

Unfortunately, I simply could not commit to living in the concrete jungle for three straight years while I completed my degree. Call it whatever you want – commitment issues, a travel itch, a yearning for something BIG – I felt that there was something else out there for me, another pathway I could take to pursue my dream of escaping the desk and being surrounded by animals every day. And then I found it, or more specifically, it found ME! It was like the sky opened up, and a choir of angels started singing as I laid eyes on the description of the Bushwise Field Guide Course, courtesy of my Instagram targeted ads. It had everything I had desired to learn in the zoology course, but implemented in a practical setting to get me out into the real world NOW.

An interview, a deposit, many appointments and visa stresses later, and I was on the plane to South Africa to pursue this dream. Did I cry when I flew away from my previous biome and my previous home range and my previous role in this complicated ecosystem? No. Did I cry when I left my family, not knowing when I would see them again? Yes. But the beauty of this course is that I’ve accidentally found an entirely new family out here in the bush.

My new home range is a small village of bomas set in the savannah biome of South Africa. My territory is, in my humble opinion, the cutest boma in the village, stationed right outside the dining hall and bathrooms. Our flagship species is no longer the crowded buses and lice-ridden seats but the African Elephant and Leopard. No, we’re not parasite-free, but many impalas are here to nibble any ticks attached to their fur.

My days are no longer spent in front of a screen, but instead I’m living out the scenes of my computer screensaver. We drive through herds of elephants, watch flocks of vultures take to the sky in wind thermals, track the prints of lions until we find entire prides. And then every night we eat together as a family, recounting the adventures and sightings of the day.

I used to be an Executive Assistant. Now, I’m a Field Guide in training and I finally feel alive.

Ready to leave the office and embrace a life in nature? Learn more about Bushwise courses and apply today to start your adventure as a field guide!

September 27, 2024
Stealth and claws: Life of the elusive leopard

This blog was written by Lionel Gojon, a Bushwise International Field Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience.

3 min read

A shadow in the night. A speck of dust rolling. Razor-sharp claws severing. A piercing shriek. Leopards are the epitome of stealth.

As an Emirati field guide told me once, “You can’t own a leopard.” Fences can be made, national parks can be guarded and protected, but there is no way to keep a wild leopard in a specific area. Like a shadow, it will vanish into the night. It can be anywhere and you wouldn’t notice. It would only leave its haven at night, a deadly creature killing in complete silence.

Leopards can survive even in areas not thought for them. A rocky outcrop, a mountainous chain, a desert, a rainforest, farmland, the outskirts of a city, you name it. Male leopards have been known to cover large distances, looking for territory.

The leopard has always been my favourite animal since a young age. Their stealthiness fascinated me; their raw power made me wonder. I found it unimaginably beautiful from the first glimpse. I was always looking at pictures and watching videos of leopards, wondering when I would be able to witness such grace in person. How could a fairly light animal lift such heavy prey into the trees? How could it stay up there, comfortably settled with its meal, laughing at the fight for food raging on below? Some would call it arrogance, I’d call it sheer superiority.

We’ve all witnessed the incredible agility and skill of a domestic cat. It can fall from anywhere and will land on its feet, unfazed; so flexible that a fall which could have killed a human would barely bother it. We’ve seen them dodging snake attacks, so fast that even the incredible reflexes of a serpent are no match for them. We’ve seen them bullying much bigger dogs or hunting and playing with food as if it were easy. Now imagine the same animal, but much bigger, and without thousands of generations of domestic life that may slowly erode their reflexes and capabilities. That’s the leopard.

From a mouse to a wildebeest, the leopard can kill a vast variety of prey. It will ambush the animal, or get close enough without being noticed before striking. The suffocation will be fast, the chances of survival will be thin. For me, the most impressive hunts are when the leopard waits up in a tree for an impala to get under it, and then lets itself fall on the poor ungulate, sometimes from very high points.

Despite its incredible abilities and adaptation skills, the population of leopards around the world are largely declining, mainly due to habitat loss, poaching for claws and body parts, as well as conflict with farmers and trophy hunting in some instances. Once widespread around Africa, Asia and even parts of Europe, leopards are now believed to be present in only around 25% of their original range. Some subspecies such as the Amur leopard in the Russian far-east have populations of no more than a hundred individuals. It is our duty to preserve this magnificent animal and find ways to coexist.

Learn more about the fascinating world of leopards and find out how you can contribute to wildlife conservation with Bushwise programs.

August 29, 2024
Building bonds, facing fears and embracing bush life

This blog was written by Meere Malherbe, a Bushwise International Field Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience.

3 min read

It’s already the fifth week of being a Bushwise student. I can’t believe how time flies here. I can personally say that we’ve all grown closer and are a huge Bushwise family. We all look out for one another. I could not have asked for a better group!

Our week consisted of doing our presentations and our final lectures. Yes, that’s right, we are finally done with them! On Monday we did mammals, Tuesday was ethology, Wednesday was reptiles, Thursday was conservation management and historical human habitation. It has been a lot to take in for the past couple of days but at least we have each other.

On Saturday night the group got together for a braai! It was a good way to end the week! Braais always takes me back home, where every night my family and I would spend a whole night laughing and enjoying each other’s company, and Saturday was exactly that!

Every day we’d set off on our early morning and afternoon game drives. I always look forward to these because you never know what you might see. Every day one or two students will get their chance at driving us around and talking about nature and all its glory. I can proudly say that everyone has been doing an amazing job so far and can’t wait for the next one!

On Wednesday, we had our reptile lecture, and got to go to the Hoedspruit reptile park. We all enjoyed a different scene for once, and learned quite a lot. We got to experience some close encounters with some of people’s biggest fears.

Every night, all the students get together and learn all the bird calls, and come up with their own personal way of remembering them. There are so many different calls and some sound so similar. It’s spectacular to see how hard everyone has been working and all the effort being put into the days! We should all be proud of ourselves.

Every weekend we do get some time to ourselves which is always wonderful. A few of us will often drive to Gravelotte or Hoedspruit, usually just to enjoy a day out at a restaurant or paddle. Sometimes even just to stock up on snacks.

The days have slowly but surely started to warm up. Whenever we study in the classroom, we put on our swimsuits and just hop into the pool to cool down before getting back to do some studying. I have to say I am quite excited to experience how nature changes when spring comes around and all the leaves and plants start to sprout (It will make botany a lot easier).

I have to be honest, the thought of being camp manager was like a constant worry that I had in the back of my head. I didn’t want anyone to feel that they needed to treat me differently, but as the time went on, I realised that nothing really changed. It felt like a normal week at camp. Being camp manager doesn’t mean that you don’t have to do your duties, but to make a good impression on others around you.

If anyone ever asked me if Bushwise is worth it, I would one hundred percent recommend it! It is so peaceful out in the bush, and it’s a great way to connect to nature and make amazing friends. Don’t wait till the last minute to do what you love, don’t be afraid to take that step in your life, you only live once. Make it worth your while!

Ready to embrace the wild and make lifelong friends? Explore Bushwise courses and apply now to start your adventure in nature!

August 22, 2024