Ranger Training - Tracking Wildlife in the Okavango Delta

Course duration:

7 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:

A lightweight 2-person hiking tent with mattress, sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, and pillow.

Activities:

• Hands-on experience with navigation in the African wilderness, bush survival techniques, the ancient art of tracking, bird and mammal identification, and much more...
• Hiking and overnight stays in the wilderness.
• Tracking and following wildlife.
• Encountering and approaching potentially dangerous animals on foot.
• Stargazing and astronomy.
• Theoretical lectures and presentations by qualified and knowledgeable instructors on various topics ranging from local geology, ecology, and hydrology to astronomy and weather/climate.

Who should take this course?

• People who want to reconnect with themselves and are looking for a simple bush experience to help them recover, renew, and reset.
• Experienced safari-goers looking for a deeper, more holistic experience in the African wilderness.
• School and/or university graduates looking for a life-changing gap year experience.
• Adventurous individuals who want more than just a typical backpacking trip.
• Survivalists who want to acquire the necessary skills to thrive in the wilderness.
• Guides who want to learn many of the practical aspects that are often only discussed in theory.

Participant goals and qualifications:

This course is not a standalone qualification. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance. All hours spent on the trail can be credited toward a current or future Trails Guide qualification.

No prior experience is required. However, you should have sufficient English language skills and a good general level of fitness.

Itinerary:

Day one:
The African Guide Academy trainer will meet all participants at the Duck Café opposite Maun Airport at 2:00 PM. This allows students to arrive on international flights on the first day of the course (flights usually land at 1:15 PM). To ensure we have enough time to reach Kwapa Training Camp while it is still light, we can only allow a grace period until 3:30 PM in the event of flight delays. We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance that covers your accommodation and unscheduled transfers to the camp should your flight be significantly delayed.
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Daily activities:
Each morning we wake up early, have a light breakfast, and head out into the wilderness on foot. We return to our camp for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon, we set off on foot in a different direction.
We will spend a maximum of 3 nights at our wilderness camp before moving on foot to a new location. Depending on water levels, we will load our equipment into mokoros (dugout canoes) or have it transported by vehicle while we carry our supplies for the day.
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Last day:
We return to Kwapa Training Camp on foot or by mokoro, where a vehicle will be waiting to take us back to Maun, arriving at the Duck Café at approximately 11:00 AM.

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Please note that this is only a rough overview, which can and will change depending on guest needs and external factors—and on some days, it may not be followed at all! We leave it to the wilderness to determine the best possible experiences.

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