When we first connected with Timothy Raven, we had no idea how many twists and turns his journey had taken before he found his way to the bush.
Before field guiding, there was retail, bartending, and even managing a gaming store. He’d done a bit of everything. But through it all, he always felt the pull of the wild. He tells us he felt more at home in nature than in the city, inspired from a young age by Jurassic Park, David Attenborough, and Steve Irwin. “I saw how they made a difference,” he says. “I thought, maybe I could do that too.”
Looking for a way in, Timothy started small. He enrolled in the Bushwise 8-week Nature Enthusiast online course. It was his first real look at what a field guide’s life might be like, and it clicked. The content gave him a feel for the training and lifestyle, and he felt instantly connected to the trainers. “They felt real and grounded,” he says. “And their passion was contagious.” That experience was enough to convince him to take the next step. In July 2023, he joined the IFGA Professional Safari Guide course (6/12 months).
Timothy calls the course both intense and transformative. “A roller coaster of good times, hectic times, and amazing times,” he laughs. It wasn’t always easy, but it gave him exactly what he needed — a real understanding of life in the bush, and the confidence to step into it.
“Bushwise helped me figure out what I was good at, and what I didn’t even know I’d be good at.”
One of the biggest shifts came during the six-month job placement that’s included in the 12-month-long course. It gave him practical insight, hands-on experience, and opened the door to the conservation industry. “That placement was a game changer,” he says. “I learned how to navigate interviews, grew more confident, and realised where I actually belonged.”
Now, Timothy is a working field guide on a reserve in Zululand. It’s a small team, which means he gets involved in nearly everything. From leading game drives and assisting with animal releases, to conservation efforts like wildlife monitoring, and even dehorning. No two days look the same. “You get into it all,” he says. “And that’s what I love. The variety keeps you sharp.”
But it’s not just the work that’s kept him going. Timothy talks a lot about the animals themselves and how each has its own quirks and character. “When you respect them, they respect you back. It’s something you have to experience to believe.” And then there’s the human side of bush life: the friendships, the fireside chats, the sense of community with others who share the same love for nature. “This life changes you,” he says. “In the best way.”
For anyone thinking about following a similar path, his advice is simple. Start with something small, like the online Nature Enthusiast course, and see how it feels. “If it speaks to you, go all in,” he says. “This job asks a lot, but it gives so much more. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
And when we ask if he’d do it all again? His answer is immediate: “Absolutely.”
If you’re ready to swap the ordinary for the wild and discover your own hidden strengths, explore Bushwise’s wildlife courses. Your adventure starts here.
