Banks now provide loans for accredited field guiding courses

These courses provide the minimum qualifications for people aiming to pursue a career professional safari field guides. The move is welcome news for the country's game reserves as there is a dearth of qualified South African field guides.

"We're told time and again that overseas visitors want South African guides, but until now the vast majority of applications we've had for our courses are from international students. In fact this year interest from international students is up 50%," says Richard Walton, co-founder of Bushwise.

"We hope that with the banks now considering certified field guiding courses as a legitimate qualification, offering good prospects both here and abroad, more South Africans will consider it as a career."

Bushwise's 23-week FGASA training course gives graduates a Level 1 professional qualification, covering everything from first aid and advanced weapon handling to specialist birding and reptile orientation. Graduates are qualified to guide amongst dangerous game. It also offers an optional six-month work placement at one of South Africa's leading safari lodges or predator research venues.

The 23 week course costs R104,950 or R109,950 for the 50 weeks which includes work experience. To encourage South African applications it offers a R10,000 discount for local students who sign up four months in advance.

"Access to student loans should make the courses much more accessible to local students wanting a career in the safari and hospitality sector," says Walton.

"It will also challenge perceptions that safari guiding is a menial job, when it can be hugely rewarding and for many of our students is the first step to a career in lodge and reserve management."

For more, go to www.bushwise.co.za/courses