Ranger Training: Your basic wildlife course in Botswana

Course length:

7 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:

Although we will spend most of the course on foot in the wilderness, we will also have nature drives and, water levels permitting, mokoro and boat excursions to different habitats.

• Practical experience in navigating the African wilderness, survival techniques in the bush, the ancient art of tracking, handling weapons, identifying birds and mammals and much more.
• Hikes and overnight stays in the wilderness
• Game drives in a 4×4 vehicle
• Game viewing safaris
• Stargazing and astronomy
• Theory lectures and presentations by qualified and knowledgeable instructors on a variety of topics ranging from local geology, ecology and hydrology to astronomy and weather/climate

Who should do this course?

• People who want to reconnect with themselves and are looking for an authentic experience in the bush to help them recover, renew and reboot.
• Experienced safari visitors 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 experience.
• People with a sense of adventure who want to do more than just a typical backpacking trip.
• Survivalists who want to gain the skills necessary to survive in the wilderness.
• Guides who want to learn many of the practical aspects that are often only discussed in theory.

Participants' objectives and qualifications:

The walking hours gained during this course can count towards the BQA 'Back-up Trails Guide' and the FGASA 'Apprentice Trails Guide'. This course is not registered on the National Qualifications and Credit Framework in Botswana.

However, there is a practical examination at the end of the course and and depending on your ability, you will receive a certificate of achievement.

You do not need any previous experience. However, you should have sufficient English language skills and a generally good level of fitness.

Itinerary:

First day:
The African Guide Academy trainer will meet all participants at the Duck Cafe opposite Maun Airport at 14h00. This allows the students to arrive on the international flights on the first day of the course (flights normally land at 13h15). In order to have enough time to arrive at Kwapa Training Camp while it is still light, we can only grant a grace period until 15h30 in case of flight delays.

Daily Activities:
The daily schedule is to leave at dawn and we return to camp between 10am and 11am. Although we will be travelling to different parts of the concession, most of the time we will be on foot. During the heat of the day we will have free time or have short informal talks. In the afternoon, when it cools down, we will set off and return to camp around evening.

We will have informal lectures on the theory of tracking and some digital quizzes, but most of the course is focused on what nature gives us.

Last day:
We will be driven back to Maun, arriving at the Duck Café around 11am.

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