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!
