Experience life as a field guide. Join the ultimate safari experience where you’ll learn from experts, earn CATHSSETA NQF2 knowledge, and start your path to becoming an IFGA-certified guide.
DURATIONS: 7–28 DAYS
NEXT START DATE: 3 SEPTEMBER
FORMAT: ON-CAMPUS
ACCREDITATION: IFGA
AGE: 18+
Ever wanted to escape the city, disconnect from the modern world, and live among wild animals in the African bush? The International Field Guide Academy (IFGA) offers a unique opportunity to do just that with its Safari Guide Training Experience, a flexible 7–28 day immersion for nature lovers, travellers, and curious minds.
Unlike formal guiding qualifications, this short-term experience is designed for everyone—whether you’re a student, adventurer, career-break traveller, or someone who simply wants to understand nature on a deeper level. No experience? No problem. This is the perfect introduction to the world of safari guiding and wildlife conservation.
What is the IFGA Safari Guide Training Experience?
The IFGA Safari Guide Training Experience is a short-term, immersive bush skills programme where participants live and learn in a private Big 5 game reserve in South Africa. You’ll spend your days tracking animals, learning about African ecology, and experiencing life as a field guide—without the pressure of exams or formal qualifications.
This flexible programme runs from 7 days (1 week) to 28 days (4 weeks) and is open to anyone aged 18 and older with a love for the outdoors and a thirst for adventure.
Whether you’re looking for an exciting travel experience, a gap-year enrichment opportunity, or a nature-based retreat, this programme offers a once-in-a-lifetime bush adventure.
Who is This Experience For?
This course is open to all backgrounds and nationalities. You do not need any previous wildlife or guiding experience.
Ideal for:
- Gap year students
- Adventure travellers
- Wildlife enthusiasts and photographers
- Couples or friends seeking an immersive holiday
- Career-break professionals
- Nature lovers and eco-tourists
- Individuals curious about becoming field guides
If you’ve ever dreamed of getting off the beaten path, tracking lions at sunrise, and sleeping under a sky full of stars, this course is for you.
Duration Options: 7, 14, 21, or 28 Days
You can choose how long you want to stay based on your availability and budget. Each additional week deepens your bush knowledge, tracking skills, and personal growth.
7 Days (1 Week)
- Perfect taster for safari guiding
- Learn bush safety and animal behaviour
- Go on daily game drives and short bush walks
- Ideal for travellers passing through South Africa
14 Days (2 Weeks)
- More hands-on tracking and ecology lessons
- Practice spotting, birding, and basic bush survival
- Begin to understand animal interactions and ecosystem roles
21–28 Days (3–4 Weeks)
- Dive deeper into tracking, navigation, and fieldcraft
- Assist with conservation tasks
- Participate in basic wildlife monitoring
- Get a real feel for the safari guide lifestyle
Each experience builds upon the last, so longer stays offer more depth, adventure, and connection with the African bush.
What You’ll Learn
Though not a formal qualification course, the IFGA Safari Guide Training Experience is based on a FGASA-aligned framework, giving you authentic exposure to what field guides learn on the job.
Core Topics Covered:
- Animal identification and behaviour
- Bird calls and visual ID
- Tree and plant uses in African culture
- Animal tracking and spoor identification
- 4×4 game drive and off-road driving principles
- Safety protocols in Big 5 territory
- Conservation ethics and reserve management basics
- Bush navigation and orientation
- Stargazing and night ecology
You’ll also develop confidence, resilience, and mindfulness—qualities essential to life in the wild.
Daily Life at Camp
Each day in the bush follows the rhythms of nature—early mornings, midday heat, and golden evenings. Here’s what a typical day might look like:
- 05:30 – Wake up and light breakfast
- 06:00–10:00 – Morning game drive or bush walk
- 10:00–12:00 – Lecture or workshop (tracking, trees, mammals)
- 12:00–14:00 – Lunch and downtime
- 15:00–18:30 – Afternoon drive or conservation activity
- 19:00 – Dinner and fireside story-sharing
- Evening – Optional night drives or stargazing sessions
This is bush life at its best—simple, soulful, and full of discovery.
Where You’ll Stay
The IFGA Safari Guide Training Experience is hosted in private, unfenced bush camps located in Greater Kruger or other Big 5 reserves. Accommodations are comfortable but rustic, blending you into the environment.
Camp facilities typically include:
- Shared tented or chalet-style rooms
- Communal dining and study area
- Outdoor firepit and stargazing space
- Showers and flushing toilets
- Solar or gas-powered utilities
There’s no Wi-Fi or urban noise—just you, the bush, and the wild sounds of Africa.
What’s Included
Your programme fee includes:
- All training and bush activities
- 2–3 daily game drives or bush walks
- Shared accommodation in the bush
- All meals and filtered drinking water
- Uniform shirts and study guides
- Transfers to/from the nearest airport (on start/end dates)
- Use of field equipment (binoculars, radios, etc.)
Not included: Flights to South Africa, travel insurance, visas, optional excursions or alcoholic beverages.
Why Choose This Over a Tourist Safari?
A typical lodge safari lasts 3–5 days, with limited interaction beyond game drives. This experience lets you become part of the bush, not just observe it.
Here’s why it’s better:
| Tourist Safari | IFGA Safari Guide Experience |
|---|---|
| Passive game viewing | Hands-on learning and tracking |
| Stay in luxury lodges | Live in authentic bush camps |
| No bush knowledge needed | Learn field guiding skills |
| Short duration | Choose 7–28 days |
| Minimal wildlife immersion | Daily exposure to the wild |
| No conservation involvement | Participate in real conservation |
It’s not just a trip—it’s a transformative experience.
How to Prepare
You don’t need prior knowledge, but it helps to:
- Be in reasonably good health (some walking and early mornings)
- Pack light but durable (hiking boots, neutral clothing, hat, sunscreen)
- Bring curiosity, patience, and a sense of adventure
- Read up on African wildlife (optional, but rewarding!)
You’ll be provided with a complete packing list and pre-arrival guide once enrolled.
RELATED Courses:
- IFGA Safari Guide & Conservation Course – 12 Months of Wild Africa and Career-Ready Training
- Bushwise Practical Game Management Course – 6/12 Months of Hands-On Wildlife Reserve Training
- IFGA Professional Safari Guide Course – 6/12 Months of Real-World Wildlife Training
- IFGA Professional Safari Guide Short Course – 2 Months of Intensive Bush Training
Final Thoughts
The IFGA Safari Guide Training Experience (7–28 days) is the perfect short-term adventure for anyone who wants to experience the African bush beyond the tourist lens. It’s about learning, reconnecting with nature, and stepping into the boots of a field guide—even if only for a week or two.
Whether you’re on a gap year, celebrating a milestone, or seeking clarity and growth, this is an opportunity to go wild—in the best possible way.