Africas Volunteer

This 28-day course was designed to supply the safari industry with high caliber professional Field Guides.  It is not only available to people wishing to enter the industry as field guides, but for anyone who wants to increase their knowledge of the African bush.  So whether you’ve just finished school and are on your gap year, or if you’ve possibly taken a career break or are retired, this course is for you!

Wildlife Courses details - Level 1 FGASA Field Guide Course in Kruger Park (1 Month) - South Africa

Location	Kruger National Park - South Africa (Bush)
Expedition length	28 days
Age limit	Minimum 17 years, must hold a valid drivers license
Fitness required	Minimum
Expedition fee	£ 1290 US$ 2300 Prices subject to change due to the currency rate of the day

You will gain in-depth knowledge about nature, ecology and wildlife but that is only one aspect of the course.  It is about absorbing nature, learning how to interact with the environment, and tuning yourself into the ecosystems.  It’s about becoming intertwined with the natural environment that sustains us.

The bush is powerful and on course, you start to realize that the clutter of modern society’s trappings becomes less relevant.  There is a mental, emotional and spiritual shift to respect, consideration and sensitivity towards nature and your peers.  Along with learning about wildlife and nature… it is also a cultural interchange for our learners.  The inter-human benefit of living and learning together in the outdoors for 28 days tests one’s social and emotional intelligence skills and provides you with a holistic life experience.

It is a bonding experience - in 28 days learners learn about the natural environment, themselves and each other. Learners who have attended our courses have returned to the “real world” with a different outlook on life.  Some have taken this new outlook into their day-to-day lives and others, inspired by their time with us, have completely changed their lives and careers.

Because we respect and want to instill a respect in our guests for the environment, we do not take chances with nature.  We have a 100% safety record since 1993 as we have and always will subscribe to two vital principals - safety and sensitivity. Sensitivity is exercised in relation to our entire environment which includes mankind.

Itinerary - Field Guide Wildlife Course, Africa

The course is structured to maximize the practical experience of our learners in the bush.  Each day allows for hours of time spent in the field interpreting the ecology and enjoying a wildlife experience.  Activities alternate between walks and driving. Lecture time follows after brunch, which involves topical instruction (lectures) and discussion on the subject of the day (see list below).  This is followed by time for self study for the learners. Learner participation in the care of the camp, equipment and vehicle will be expected.Learners will be expected to pay attention to the needs of fellow learners and to work in teams at times. 

The following list of subjects is covered during this course: 

• Introduction to guiding in nature
• Creating a guided nature experience
• Geology and soils
• Astronomy
• Weather and climate
• Ecology
• Taxonomy
• Introduction to the biomes of southern Africa
• Botany and grasses
• Vegetation identification
• Amphibians
• Reptiles
• Fish
• Birds
• Mammals
• Animal behaviour
• Tracks and tracking
• Radio procedures
• Conservation management and historical human habitation
• Habitat management
• Bush camps

 Additional activities: 

• Basic 4x4 driving skills [not driving lessons, but an opportunity to drive the game viewing vehicle
• Sleep out in the bush
• Fire Arm theory and practical shooting

 Tests, presentations and evaluations:

• 3 x Written tests
• 2 x Oral presentations
• 2 x Practical evaluations:  Walk evaluation & Game drive evaluation

   

Adventure activities

The Level 1 FGASA Field Guide Course in Kruger Park (1 Month) includes the following adventure activities:

Included in your Wildlife Courses cost

Wondering what is included in your Field Guide Wildlife Course tour? Check out the list below.

• Lectures
• Game drives
• Walks
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Tea & Coffee

Excluded from your Wildlife Courses cost

While planning your Level 1 FGASA Field Guide Course in Kruger Park (1 Month) trip, take note of the following excludes:

• Transfers/transport to and from the camp, before and after the course
• Any accommodation before and after the course
• Beverages
• Laundry  
• Kruger National Park entrance fee (for Makuleke Camp courses)
• All FGASA registration, examination and moderation fees
• All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing and tips
• Flights, visas, travel and medical insurance (please note that emergency air evacuation is essential)
• Email and telephone calls during your stay (charged out at cost)
• Personal insurance cover for the duration of your placement which is expected to include cover for repatriation

Orientation & arrival

A qualified instructor will brief you upon arrival.

Support

Throughout your course, you will have the full support and guidance of our coordinators and professional guides, who will provide you with competent 24-hour field support and assistance.

Accommodation

The sleeping arrangements at all our camps consist of 2 people sharing per tent.  Most of the tents are large walk-in safari style tents

Meals

Meals for the Field Guide Wildlife Course Wildlife Courses are as follows:

The day starts off with biscuits, fruit or cereal with tea and coffee at sunrise before the morning activity. A hearty brunch consists of fruit, cereal and a variety of cooked breakfasts. High tea before the afternoon outing consisting of sandwiches and snacks to give you energy for your afternoon activity before returning to camp in the evening for a hot plated dinner of meat, vegetables and salads.

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

How to get there

Fly into OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. Our Pathfinders Booking agent will be in communication with you about transfers to the specific camp.

Benefits of Volunteering in Africa

Volunteer in Africa | Pathfinders

Source: http://www.volunteeringinafrica.org

Enhancing the quality of your CV (curriculum vitae)

Are you looking for ways to make a difference while gaining relevant work experience to add to your resume? Do you want to learn new skills? Do you want to explore potential career areas? You can accomplish all of this, and more, by becoming a volunteer in Africa!

Volunteering in Africa can be one of the most rewarding and best investments you can make with your time. A volunteer is someone who performs a service for free. Although the type of service can vary widely, many volunteer opportunities provide a vital benefit to the community and to the individual organizations assisted, since without the support of volunteers, a lot of programs or services could not take place.

Helping Others

People have many reasons for volunteering in Africa. Many want to help others and some are looking for ways to be involved or to make the world a better place. Desires for activism, community building, and self-exploration can also be fulfilled through volunteering. Connect with the African community and be a part of the various cultures, activities, issues, etc. that you may never experience otherwise. Perhaps you have a cause you feel strongly about: put your beliefs into action by volunteering your time and efforts toward that cause. Some people volunteer formally through a profit, non-profit, or charity organization, while others volunteer informally by helping a sick neighbor or tutoring a friend.

People who volunteer in Africa get first hand information about the social and economic problems facing Africa like poverty, hunger, malnutrition, disease, unemployment and environmental degradation. This has been caused by illiteracy, ignorance, excessively high population growth rate, declined rate of manufacturing, excessive exportation of raw materials, unfair international trade, primitive and un-mechanized methods of agriculture, corruption, political instabilities and unjust world economic order. The first hand information of previous volunteers in Africa has contributed immensely to the recent cancellation of Africa's foreign debts of multi-billions of USA Dollars by the G-8 rich countries.

Personal Growth and Satisfaction

Besides helping others, as a volunteer you will contribute considerably to your own career development. Volunteering can help you more clearly define your career path, while enhancing existing skills or developing a variety of new skills. In today’s world of rapid change, there are always new and necessary skills to learn and build. You will also gain hands-on experience and expand your horizons as you become more knowledgeable in the field in which you volunteer. In addition, you will make numerous interesting and valuable contacts that may be instrumental in your job search later on. Last – but not least! – personal satisfaction, a strengthened sense of personal achievement and value, and increased confidence often result from making a positive impact on an organization or directly on a person’s life.

Some people volunteer in Africa because they finds it a pleasure and satisfaction in giving back to the world by traveling to another part of it to volunteer their time, skills and various other efforts to help improve the living standards of the people there.

Farther Field

If you enjoy traveling around the world, trying new things, and exploring various cultures, you might consider volunteering in Africa. Similar to working abroad, you will have the opportunity to see the world with a purpose while changing it for the better. Unlike paid employment, volunteering provides a more flexible schedule and varying time commitments. International volunteer projects generally fall under four main categories: community development, education, eco-environmental work and social welfare. By volunteering in Africa, you may learn a new language or experience a new culture and way of life.

People who volunteer in Africa get the opportunity of learning about the rich culture of Africa and the unique hospitality of Ghanaians since they stay with host families and are treated as members of the family and not just traditional tourists. Our culture includes the kind of food we eat and the dresses we wear, our traditional methods of farming, marriage, herbal medicines, our traditional beliefs, fears, dreams and hopes. Volunteers get the opportunity of adopting a whole or part of a new culture that will benefit them in the area of personal growth and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet.

Volunteering in Africa may enable you have a cross-cultural exposure and responsible eco-tourism including taking part in initiatives that minimize the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhancing the cultural integrity of local people.  Therefore, in addition to evaluation environmental and cultural factors, the initiatives promote recycling, energy efficiency, water reuse, and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities. This is an integral part of eco-tourism.

It is more interesting traveling in a group than traveling alone since some people have fears of traveling alone thousands of miles away from their homelands. Volunteering in Africa offers you the opportunity in meeting other volunteers and becoming travel companions for traveling together in a new country.

Networking

Maintaining contacts with the people you meet while volunteering is critical to maintaining a strong and effective network. As you make connections with others, you will uncover opportunities you may never have otherwise discovered, because every person you meet is a potential lead to new career prospects.

Volunteering in Africa is a win-win situation: you are not only helping yourself, but you are helping others as well. As a volunteer, you can make a difference!

Internship

An internship is a structured work experience that is linked academically. Internships may be part-time or full-time. Students can do internships during the summer, winter term, or even during the academic year. Internships are valuable opportunities to relate your academic studies to the world of work. Internships allow students to see how their liberal arts skills (such as writing, researching, problem-solving, etc.) apply in work situations. Internships allow students to test their assumptions about workplaces and their own skills and values. An internship can help you to: Put to use skills you have acquired, develop new skills, and identify areas for further development; Discover how your academic preparation and theories you have learned in classes apply to a work setting; Gather information about career areas that are of interest to you. Internships are a critical component of career exploration. Internship may help you discover whether or not you really would like to pursue a career in a given field. Internships can also help you build a network of professionals to whom you can turn for advice about future career opportunities; Gain valuable work experience. More and more employers look for internship experience when hiring for entry-level positions.

Advantages of an Internship in Africa

Cross-cultural exposure; A first hand learning experience living in another society, often at a more grass-roots level than is provided in overseas studies programs is vital. Discovering if the elements that attracted one to a certain culture in linguistic and area studies are still attractive in real life settings is essential to future success in the international arena. An increase in foreign language competency; Nothing enhances language training more than total submersion in the society where it is spoken! Challenges involving adaptability to different environments; Culture shock can be traumatic and affect career performance.

An international internship is a good learning experience on what to expect and how to deal with those adjustments. Some people, after completing international internships, realize they do not want to live overseas after all! Contacts for developing future career goals; Determined interns develop a wide network. While they are impressing contacts with their sincerity, loyalty, and initiative, they are also asking plenty of questions about how to begin their own international careers.

These contacts become invaluable resources over time. Internships are valuable work experiences that can provide an edge in career placement; Acquire real life experience solving practical problems. Employers value students who have completed successful internships.