Course length:
14 or 28 nights
Starting point:
The meeting point is opposite Maun Airport at 14:00 on the first day of the course. The time is chosen so that international arrivals can be adjusted
Accommodation:
This course takes place at Kwapa Trails Camp. The Meru-style tents have a private bathroom with a bucket shower and bush toilet. Each tent is equipped with two camp beds, sheets, pillows, duvet and towels. There is a battery-powered LED lamp in the tents. The covered veranda has a sink and camping chairs.
Activities:
- Game walks — including approaching big game on foot
- Game drives
- Navigation and search for clues
- Overnight in the wilderness
- Star gazing/astronomy
- Theory talks with PowerPoint presentations
- Mokoro trips (dugout canoe) - depending on water level
- Motorboating - depending on the water level
Who should take this course?
- People who want to reconnect with themselves and are looking for an authentic bush experience that helps them recharge, renew and restart
- Experienced safari visitors who are now looking for a deeper, more holistic experience in the African wilderness
- School and/or university graduates looking for life-changing time off
- People with a sense of adventure who are looking for more than just a typical backpacking experience
- Prospective guides
- Experienced guides who want to further expand their knowledge and skills
Important: Even as a participant who is not seeking certification, you must complete a minimum of exams and game drives. This is not a cheap safari, it is a tour guide school.
Objectives and qualifications of participants:
No previous experience is required for this course. It is important that you know what your course objective is when you book.
- Just for enrichment: This is not a cheap safari! Many students take this course to enrich themselves personally and have a fantastic time, but keep in mind that our goal and focus is on learning and developing skills. You will train with people who want to become the best guides in the industry. In order to maintain the integrity of this structured course, all participants are required to take the daily retests and a final theory test. After completing the course, all participants receive a certificate from the African Guide Academy.
If you want - Qualifications:
Participants can choose one of the following qualifications, or both:
If you want
1. FGASA Field Guide (level 1): The Field Guide Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) is the national leader qualification in South Africa. South Africa It is also the most recognized qualification in Africa. Please note: To qualify for FGASA Level 1, you must complete the pre-course workbooks and prepare the required teaching material before attending the course. It is the student's responsibility to contact FGASA directly and arrange for the books to be registered and mailed to achieve this. It is advisable to do this as early as possible, as it takes some time to send study materials and workbooks before the course.
To obtain the FGASA certificate, you must also complete the full 28 days of training, but this does not have to be done in a tour, but can be completed over a longer period of time.
The FGASA Level 1 theoretical exam is taken in the last days of the course at Kwapa Camp, your practical assessment is carried out during the 4 weeks - depending on your progress, you will be considered competent in the required areas, with the final assessment being carried out in the last days of the course. Please also note that you can only register for the FGASA Trails Guide course once you have successfully completed this Field Guide course.
If you want
2. BQA level 2 & 3: This is the Botswana Qualification Authority (BQA) exam, the national leader qualification for Botswana. The participants write their theory exam in the last days of the course at Kwapa Camp. The practical exam takes place over 2 or 4 weeks. The practical examination takes place over 2 or 4 weeks - depending on your progress, you will be considered competent in the required areas, with the last exam taking place in the last days of the course. The BQA also differs in that you don't have to complete the full 28 days, but can complete 14 days instead. With BQA, you also have the opportunity to complete the Trails Guide course before you successfully complete the Nature Guide course. Please note that an expat must have a valid work and residence permit, at least 5 years of guiding experience outside Botswana and a BQA level 3 naturalist guide qualification (local and enrichment students qualify with level 2) for a guiding license in Botswana
You should have sufficient English language skills have and are generally in good fitness.
Itinerary:
First day:
The trainer from the African Guide Academy meets all participants at the Indian restaurant PPCC opposite Maun Airport at 14:00 This allows participants to arrive on international flights on the first day of the course (flights usually land around 1:15 p.m.). The participants are then given the opportunity to buy drinks and snacks, etc. before the approximately 2-hour road transfer to Kwapa Camp begins. Please note that participants who arrive after 14:30 must find accommodation in Maun and pay the U$70.00 for an unscheduled transfer to Kwapa Camp the next day.
If you want
After arriving at Kwapa Camp in the late afternoon, the rest of the first day consists primarily of orientation and introduction to the assessment process used for this course.
Meals: dinner
A typical day:
The Kwapa Camp on the banks of the Kwapa River in the Okavango Delta works according to a “duty guide” system. Every day there are two Duty guides, which help you wake up and prepare breakfast. One duty guide leads the morning activity, the other the afternoon activity. Each activity lasts approximately 3 hours. After returning from the morning activity around 10:00 a.m., there is a coffee and tea break.
The instructor then discusses the performance of the morning activity with the duty guide and gives the participant the opportunity to comment on his/her own strengths and weaknesses. The group then discusses these points and provides constructive criticism. Finally, the presenter adds the points that, in his opinion, could have been handled differently. At each meal, duty guides are encouraged to entertain the group using appropriate hosting techniques, such as having conversations throughout the meal and making sure that drinks are always available and that all “guests” get what they need before they start eating.
06h00 - 10h00: morning activity/training session
10h00 - 11h00: tea & coffee break
11h00 - 12h00: Speech
12h00 - 13h00: Lunch
13h00 - 14h00: Showers and rest time
14:00 - 15:00: Presentation of candidates (topic will be discussed with the moderator). Discussion about the content and technology of the presentation.
15:00 - 18:00: afternoon activity/training session
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Review of afternoon activity/training session
7:30pm - 8:30pm: Dinner and completion of daily activities
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Last day:
After the morning activity and breakfast, we'll return to Maun in time to catch your international flight.
Meals: breakfast
If you want
Please note that this is only a rough overview, which can and will change depending on the needs of guests and external factors.If you want
