Ranger Training - great experiences in the Okavango Delta

Course length:

14 or 28 nights

Starting point:

Meeting point is opposite Maun airport at 2pm on the first day of the course. The time is chosen to fit in with international arrivals

Accommodation:

This course takes place at Kwapa Trails Camp. The Meru-style tents have en-suite bathrooms with bucket showers and bush toilets. Each tent is equipped with two camp beds, sheets, pillow, duvet and towels. There is a battery-powered LED lamp in the tents. There is a sink and camping chairs on the covered veranda.

Activities:

• Game drives - including approaching big game on foot.
• Game drives
• Navigation and tracking
• Overnight camping in the wilderness
• Stargazing/astronomy
• Theory lectures with Powerpoint presentations
• Mokoro excursions (dugout canoe) - depending on water level
• Motor boating - depending on water level

Who should do this course?

• People who want to re-engage with themselves and are looking for an authentic bush experience that will help them recharge, renew and reboot
• Experienced safari-goers who are now looking for a deeper, more holistic experience in the African wilderness
• School and/or university graduates looking for a life-changing time out
• People with a sense of adventure who are looking for more than just a typical backpacking experience
• Aspiring guides
• Experienced guides who want to further develop their knowledge and skills

Important: Even as a participant who is not seeking certification, you will be required to complete a minimum of exams and game drives. This is not a cheap safari, it is a guide school.

Participant objectives and qualifications:

No previous experience is required for this course. It is important that you are clear about what your course objective is when you book.

• Just for enrichment: This is not a cheap safari! Many students join this course for personal enrichment and have a fantastic time, but remember that our aim and focus is on learning and skill development. You will train alongside people who want to become the best guides in the industry. To maintain the integrity of this structured course, all participants are required to take the daily revision tests and a final theory exam. Upon completion of the course, all participants will receive a certificate from the African Guide Academy.
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• Qualifications:
  ‍Participants can opt for one of the following qualifications, or both:
  
  1. FGASA Field Guide (Level 1): The Field Guide Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) is the national guide qualification in South Africa. South Africa. It is also the most widely recognised qualification in Africa. Please note: To qualify for FGASA Level 1, you must complete the pre-course workbooks and prepare the required course material before attending the course. It is the student's responsibility to contact FGASA directly and arrange for the registration and mailing of the books to achieve this. It is advisable to do this as early as possible as the mailing of study materials and workbooks takes some time before the course.
  
  To gain the FGASA certificate, you will also need to complete the full 28 days of training, but this does not have to be done in one go, it can be done over a longer period of time.
  
  The FGASA Level 1 theory exam will be taken in the final days of the course at Kwapa Camp, your practical assessment will be done during the 4 weeks - depending on your progress, you will be graded as competent in the required areas, with the final assessment being done in the final days of the course.  Please also note that you cannot register for the FGASA Trails Guide Course until you have successfully completed this Field Guide Course.
  
  2. BQA Level 2&3: This is the Botswana Qualification Authority (BQA) exam, the national guide qualification for Botswana. Participants write their theory exam during the last days of the course at Kwapa Camp. The practical exam takes place over 2 or 4 weeks. The practical exam takes place over 2 or 4 weeks - depending on your progress, you will be graded as competent in the required areas, with the final exam taking place in the last days of the course. BQA also differs in that you don't have to complete the full 28 days, but can complete 14 days instead. In addition, BQA gives you the option to complete the Trails Guide course before successfully completing the Nature Guide course. Please note that for an expat to be eligible for a guiding licence in Botswana, you must have a valid work and residence permit, at least 5 years guiding experience outside Botswana and a BQA Level 3 Nature Guide qualification (local and enrichment students qualify at Level 2)

You should have sufficient English language skills and a generally good level of fitness.

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Itinerary:

First day:
‍The African Guide Academy trainer will meet all participants at the PPCC Indian restaurant opposite Maun Airport at 14h00. This allows participants to arrive on the international flights on the first day of the course (flights normally land around 13h15). Participants will then be given the opportunity to purchase drinks, snacks, etc. before the approximate 2-hour road transfer to Kwapa Camp. Please note that participants arriving after 2.30pm will need to find accommodation in Maun and pay the U$70.00 for an unscheduled transfer to Kwapa Camp the next day.

After arriving at Kwapa Camp in the late afternoon, the remainder of the first day consists mainly of orientation and briefing on the assessment process used for this course.

Meals: Dinner

Typical day:
‍Kwapa Camp on the banks of the Kwapa River in the Okavango Delta operates on a 'duty-guide' system. Every day there are two duty guides who help with waking up and preparing breakfast. One duty guide leads the morning activity, the other the afternoon activity. Each activity lasts about 3 hours. After returning from the morning activity at around 10.00 am, there is a coffee and tea break.

The trainer 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 facilitator adds the points that he/she thinks could have been handled differently. At each meal, the duty guides are encouraged to host the group, using appropriate hosting techniques, such as keeping conversation going throughout the meal and ensuring 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: Lecture
12h00 - 13h00: Lunch
13h00 - 14h00: Showers and rest time
14h00 - 15h00: Presentation of the candidates (topic to be discussed with the moderator). Discussion about the content and technique of the presentation.
15h00 - 18h00: Afternoon activity / training session.
18.30 - 19.30: Review of afternoon activity / training session.
19.30 - 20.30: Dinner and conclusion of the daily activities.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Last day:
‍After the morning activity and breakfast, we return to Maun in time to catch your international flight.

Meals: Breakfast
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Please note that this is only a rough outline and can and will change depending on guests' needs and external factors.

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