NQF2 Nature Site Guide (Formally level 1)
Field Guide Course
Congratulations on enquiring about our exciting 55-day course!
Hopefully we’ll meet quite soon. Here are a few bits of information about how we are going to turn you into a professional field guide
We cover the FGASA Level 1 syllabus in this fully FGASA accredited course, including the following subjects:
- CREATING A GUIDED NATURE EXPERIENCE
- INTRODUCTION TO NATURE GUIDING
- GEOLOGY
- ASTRONOMY
- WEATHER & CLIMATE
- ECOLOGY
- TAXONOMY
- BOTANY: TREES AND GRASSES
- ARTHROPODS: SPIDERS, SCORPIONS & INSECTS
- FISH
- AMPHIBIANS
- REPTILES
- BIRDS
- MAMMALS
- ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
- CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT
- HUMAN HISTORY
- BUSHCRAFT AND SKILLS LIKE TRACKING, SURVIVAL ETC
All subjects are backed up by lots of practical work, with lots of bush walks and game drives. You get to conduct a lot of research and do a few presentations, and learn to conduct your own game walks and drives.
IMPORTANT: This course is accredited to qualify you for the TG/NatSiteGd/2/0040 Nature Site Guide National Skills Programme. Remember that an unaccredited course can also call itself “Level 1” or something similar. Check with FGASA whether a course is accredited! Even courses by otherwise accredited providers are only accredited as valid FGASA L1 courses if the course duration is a minimum of 50 Training Days.
Your head instructor is a qualified biology teacher, FGASA Level III SKS (DA) guide and holds the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the voluntary service of the SANDF. He has been guiding since 1989, and conducting training since 1996.
Your other Senior Trainer has been guiding since 1996, is a Level 3 Advanced Trails Guide and also has vast experience in game reserve management. As we also do in-house advanced training for guides working in leading game lodges, we are in touch with the actual needs of the industry and ideally suited to arrange employment for many of our top students.
Our course consists of lectures and practical work, preparing the student for the Level I FGASA-exam. Because our course is fully accredited by FGASA, you write a Special Sitting Level 1 exam at the end of the course on our premises. The final week of the course is used to conduct practical assessments for all learners.
Please contact us at at info@motsumibush.com for prices and dates!
We take a maximum of 8 learners per course to ensure personal attention. I do the training personally to maintain continuity and quality. Our school is sort of between Pilanesberg and Rustenburg, in the Magaliesberg Nature Area. Around camp (which is on the foot of the mountain), animals like kudu, mountain reedbuck, brown hyena, serval, grey duiker, steenbok, caracal, klipspringer, porcupine and other small mammals roam, and elusive leopards leave their spoor. More than 300 bird species are found here, including the magnificent Verreaux’s Eagle.
Our accommodation is in 3mX3m dome tents, of which every learner has her own. Tents are on concrete floors and under awnings, and equipped with beds and small bedside tables. The ablutions are shared, but obviously there are separate ones for men and women. There is running hot and cold water. The kitchen is equipped with fridge, freezer, microwave and a stove with oven, and there is an outside “braai” area. A thatched lapa serves as general relaxation and dining area. The classroom is equipped with a big screen TV, library etc.
Practical field work is conducted initially in the surrounding bushveld and mountain, as well as nearby private game reserves, and from week 5 onwards we also do game drives in Pilanesberg National Park. During Trails Guide Course we do walks on private game reserves and 12 walks (3-5hr each, total of 50hr) in Pilanesberg where the big 5 roam.
Electronic equipment can be charged in the kitchen area, lapa and classroom.
Having been operating since 1996, MOTSUMI has been the alma mater for many guides, and among our past students there are many who are today top notch guides, conservators, wildlife photographers, lodge managers and, of course, guide trainers.
The focus of our training is to teach you to be self-sufficient and adaptable, ready to start working, rather than pampering you into merely passing an exam.
The MOTSUMI mantra is:
“THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE BUSH, IS TO LEAVE YOUR FOOTPRINTS THERE“