Course duration:
14 or 28 nights
Starting point:
The meeting point is opposite Maun Airport at 2:00 PM on the first day of the course. This time is scheduled to accommodate international arrivals.
Accommodation:
This course takes place at the Kwapa Trails Camp. The Meru-style tents feature an en-suite bathroom with a bucket shower and a bush toilet. Each tent is equipped with two camp beds, bed linen, pillows, a duvet, and towels. There is a battery-operated LED lamp in the tents. A washbasin and camping chairs are provided on the covered veranda.
Activities:
- Game walks - including approaching big game on foot
- Game drives
- Navigation and tracking
- Overnight stay in the wilderness
- Stargazing/astronomy
- Theory lectures with PowerPoint presentations
- Mokoro (dugout canoe) excursions - subject to water levels
- Motorboating - subject to water levels
- Theory lectures on Potentially Dangerous Animals (PDA) behavior and ballistics
- Tracking, navigation, and survival techniques
- Basic firearm handling
- Air rifle shooting practice
- Practical shooting with a large-caliber rifle
- Rapid fire drills
- Rapid fire assessment - quick kill drill; malfunction recovery; simulated attack
Who should take this course?
- People looking to reconnect with themselves and seeking an authentic bush experience that helps them recharge, renew, and reset
- Experienced safari-goers now looking for a deeper, more holistic experience in the African wilderness
- School and/or university graduates looking for a life-changing gap year
- Adventurous individuals looking for more than just a typical backpacking experience
- Aspiring guides
- Experienced guides looking to further expand their knowledge and skills
Important: Even as a participant not seeking certification, you must complete a minimum number of assessments and game drives. This is not a budget safari; it is a guide training school.
Participant goals and qualifications:
If you are not seeking certification or the BQA qualification, no prior experience is required for this course. For the FGASA qualification, however, participants must have successfully completed the Field Guide NQF2 qualification. It is important that you are clear about your goal for taking this course when booking:
- For personal development only:
Many participants attend this course purely for personal enrichment. To maintain the integrity of this structured course, all participants are required to complete daily revision tests and a final theory exam. All students will also receive a certificate of attendance from the African Guide Academy.
- Qualifications:
Two similar qualifications are offered, and students can choose either or both the FGASA qualification and the BQA (Botswana Qualification Authority) qualification. Both require daily revision tests and a final theory exam.
1. FGASA Backup or Lead Trails Guide: This is the Field Guide Association of Southern Africa, which is the national qualification for walking guides in South Africa. Please note: To qualify for the FGASA Trails Guide (Backup or Lead), you must have successfully completed the Field Guide qualification and finished the FGASA Trails Guide workbooks prior to the course. It is the participant's responsibility to contact FGASA directly to arrange registration and the shipping of the books. It is advisable to do this as early as possible, as shipping can take a very long time. To obtain the FGASA certificate, you must complete the full 28 days of training; however, this does not have to be done in one session and can be spread over a longer period. You will take the theoretical exam during the final days of the course at Kwapa Camp. The practical assessment is conducted over the course of the 4 weeks—depending on your progress, you will be assessed as competent in the required areas. The final assessment takes place in the last few days of the course.
2. BQA Backup and Lead Trails Guide: This is the qualification from the Botswana Training Authority, which is the national qualification for Botswana. You will take your theoretical exam during the final days of the course at Kwapa Camp. Your practical assessment is conducted over 2 or 4 weeks—depending on your progress, you will be assessed as competent in the required areas. The final assessment is carried out in the last few days of the course. Please note that to obtain a professional guide license in Botswana, you require a valid work and residence permit and must be able to demonstrate at least 5 years of guiding experience outside of Botswana and a BQA Level 3 Nature Guide qualification.
You should have a sufficient command of the English language and be in generally good physical condition.
Itinerary:
Day 1: The African Guide Academy trainer will meet all participants at the PPCC Indian restaurant opposite Maun Airport at 14:00. This allows students to arrive on international flights on the first day of the course (flights usually land at 13:15). Students will then be taken to purchase drinks before the 2-hour road transfer to Kwapa Camp. Please note that students arriving after 14:00 must find their own accommodation in Maun and pay the US$70.00 for an unscheduled transfer to Kwapa Camp the following day. After arriving at Kwapa Camp in the late afternoon, the remainder of the first day consists mainly of orientation and an introduction to the assessment procedure used for this course.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Our week begins with an introduction to firearms and firearm handling, and for those who already have some experience, we continue with advanced muscle memory exercises. After rifle handling, we head out on a walking safari and return to camp for lunch. The afternoon begins with further firearm handling, followed by an introduction to handling a mokoro (depending on water levels). These traditional dugout canoes are an important part of the course and allow you to travel from island to island in absolute silence.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: We wake up at the crack of dawn to head out on a game walk. The direction of our morning walk is often determined by the vocal clues left by our nocturnal prey. After returning to camp, we head to the shooting range to see how our marksmanship is progressing. In the afternoon, we practice firearm handling and review video footage from the morning's training. These videos are recorded in slow motion, allowing both the trainer and the student to better understand any errors in shooting technique.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Another early start for a morning game drive, followed by a theory lecture on firearm safety, ballistics, and/or tracking potentially dangerous game on foot. In the afternoon, we will head out on the river by motorboat (depending on water levels) to find a suitable area for a hike, where we hope to encounter potentially dangerous game.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: We head out on a morning game drive to the north of the camp, where large buffalo herds often pass through. After hopefully getting in a few approaches, we return to camp for lunch. In the afternoon, we begin firearm handling exercises to improve our shooting techniques and perfect our muscle memory. After the "firearm training," we head out on foot to continue searching for wildlife to observe.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: You guessed it, the morning begins with another game walk! The wonderful thing about the Kwapa region is the diversity of habitats, meaning every walk is different and every student has the opportunity to lead a walk. We return to camp for a short firearm exercise before lunch. In the afternoon, we set off on a grand adventure. We pack our backpacks with the essentials and head to a special area where we hang our mosquito nets and set up our "night camp." This overnight stay is a chance for the ultimate intimacy with nature. Without tents, without artificial light, and equipped only with the bare essentials, we experience the bush as our ancestors did thousands of years ago. Participants take turns tending the fire and keeping watch while the others rest.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7: We wake up in our wilderness camp and, after removing all traces of our presence, hike back to the main camp. We continue our lessons on tracking, navigation, and safe walking techniques, hoping for a few good encounters before enjoying a well-deserved lunch! In the afternoon, we head to the shooting range. It is time to evaluate what everyone has achieved during the week's shooting exercises and practical sessions. After the evaluation, we head back to camp for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
On the following days: more of the above.
Last day: After breakfast, we return to Maun in time for guests with international flights to make their connections.
Meals: Breakfast
Please note that this is only a rough overview, which can and will change depending on the needs of the guests and external factors.
