Country: South Africa - Kruger National Park
Departures: 2012: 8 Jul | 2013: 7 Jan, 8 Jul
Price: From £6950 - £8950 (12 weeks) excluding flights
More info: From £6950 (23 weeks) excluding flights. We can offer advice on flights from the UK. Course can be extended for up to 1 year from £8950.

Six month to full year course
If you are looking for a career that will be an adventure, or a hands-on experience in the bush that you will never forget, this course is for you. The 6 month and full year courses are the ideal platform for a successful career in the African game lodge industry. Over the years, field guiding has become more specialised and sophisticated. It has become a career, which is increasingly viable in larger areas of Southern Africa as tourism continues to grow, but also one which demands dedication and education.
This course has been designed to develop highly skilled professionals in this exciting area of field guiding and lodge management, by providing a well-rounded and specialised education. Students spend six months practical and academic training on campus. The curriculum includes bush skills such as shooting, 4x4 driving and bush knowledge such as conservation, reserve management, geology and animal behavior. The lodge management section includes supervisory skills and many varied aspects of how to work in lodges in the African Bush.
The academic curriculum is accredited by the Field Guide Association of Southern Africa (the industries leading independent body on the training and operation of field guides throughout South Africa), the South Africa Qualifications Board and the Hospitality, Education and Sports Training Authority. The curriculum has been developed by accomplished industry experts. Unlike many other training providers, this course gives students a regular exposure to working and guiding around dangerous game, such as Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard, Cheetah and Hippo.
This is invaluable experience and gives students excellent grounding for placements and possible future employment in ‘Big Five’ reserves. The course is run from two campuses in the Limpopo province in the northeastern region of South Africa, an area famous for its big game and dramatic scenery of the African bush and the Drakensberg mountains.
This course provides wildlife enthusiasts with a thorough insight and introduction in the world of field guiding.

Departure Location: Hazyview or Kruger National Park
Departs: Daily, year round
Start Times: 4.00am November-March and 5.00am April-October.
Duration: 4 hours
Hotel Pick up: Your exact pick-up time will be advised when you reconfirm the tour locally.

A wonderful African experience and a fascinating alternative to an open vehicle safari, walk through the spectacular Kruger National park and enjoy magical close-up encounters with the diverse wildlife population including the opportunity to view the ‘Big Five’.
After an early morning departure for the Kruger National Park, join with an experienced National Park Trails Ranger who will guide you along the wilderness trails that traverse this spectacular park. Perhaps track white and black rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs, buffalos and wild dogs as you move in and out the Savannah grasslands and low-lying veld and enjoy the unique opportunity to learn about the medicinal properties of the local trees and plants.
The walking safari can be enjoyed by anyone who is reasonable fit and offers a much more intimate sense of the bush than would ever be possible from a vehicle. The pace is modest and covers around 10 miles.

Start: Johannesburg
End: Johannesburg
Day 1 Johannesburg/Greater Kruger National Park
It doesn't always have the best reputation, but Johannesburg has fascinating, vibrant places to explore like Soweto, Alexandra, Rosebank Flea Market and its wonderful museums. Created to control diminishing animal numbers due to hunting, Kruger National Park became official in 1926 and is now deservedly one of Africa's premier safari parks.
Day 2 Kruger National Park
One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five.
Day 3 Johannesburg
Johannesburg is a sprawling city of remarkable contrasts: mansions stand alongside tin shacks and there are as many green parks as there are conglomerations of concrete.

start: Johannesburg
end: Johannesburg
Day 1 Johannesburg/ Kruger National Park: Depart the urban wilds of Johannesburg and discover the vast plains of the Kruger National Park where the Big Five roam. The park is home to 150 species of mammals, including cheetahs, lions, zebras and aardvarks. The staggering amount of bird species, plus the wide variety of insects and reptiles make this the ultimate wildlife experience. Jump on board an open safari vehicle to explore the park in search of iconic animals.
Day 2 Kruger National Park: Depart at first light for an entire day's game viewing. With luck there will be close encounters with lions, elephants and even a giraffe or two. At night, head out once more for a sunset safari drive and keep eyes peeled for night predators and other nocturnal animals.
Day 3 Greater Kruger National Park: Enjoy another full day of game-viewing in Kruger before travelling to a private reserve in the late afternoon. In the evening, settle into a lodge and enjoy a drink and a tasty traditional dinner.
Day 4 Greater Kruger National Park/ Johannesburg: Complete the safari experience with an early morning nature walk. Explore the wilderness one last time with a field guide and learn how to track wild animals. Sadly, it's then time to bid the African wilderness farewell. Travel along the Drakensberg Escarpment and see the spectacular Three Rondavels while overlooking the awesome Blyde River Canyon. Continue on to Johannesburg where this short but thrilling adventure ends.

4 days ex Johannesburg
What's Included: Traditional Shangaan dinner and dance | Kruger National Park entrance with game drives | 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners (Allow USD25-40 for meals not included) | Simple hotel (1 nt), participation camping (2 nts) | 16-seat touring vehicle | Chief Experience Officer (CEO)/cook and driver throughout |Small group experience; Max 16, avg 12

Short and to the point, if you're already in Joburg or simply hungry for a taste of South Africa's exceptional wildlife and culture, this 4-day safari adventure will certainly hit the spot. Starting in Johannesburg, you'll head into world-renowned Kruger National Park—one of the largest and most diverse wildlife areas in Africa and home to zebras, elephants and lions. Travel is via a small 16-seat minibus. Participatory camping keeps you under the stars and, thanks to our long-standing community ties, you'll get plenty of invigorating local interaction as you meet the people of Shalati. The African wilderness is closer than you ever imagined.

Day 1 Johannesburg
Arrive at any time.
Day 2-3 Greater Kruger Area/Kruger National Park (2B,2L,2D)
Drive through scenic mountains, experience a traditional Shaagan dinner and dance, visit Shalati village and a community project supported by Planeterra. Experience a game drive and wildlife viewing.
Day 4 Johannesburg (1B)
Rise to the sounds of the wild, depart upon arrival in Johannesburg in the late afternoon.

start: Johannesburg
end: Johannesburg
Day 1 Johannesburg/Greater Kruger National Park
It doesn't always have the best reputation, but Johannesburg has fascinating, vibrant places to explore like Soweto, Alexandra, Rosebank Flea Market and its wonderful museums. Created to control diminishing animal numbers due to hunting, Kruger National Park became official in 1926 and is now deservedly one of Africa's premier safari parks.
Day 2 Greater Kruger National Park
One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five.
Day 3 Greater Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is reputed to have the continent's greatest variety of animals and its sprawling stretch of savanna offers one of the best safari experiences in Africa.
Day 4 Johannesburg
Johannesburg is a sprawling city of remarkable contrasts: mansions stand alongside tin shacks and there are as many green parks as there are conglomerations of concrete.

start: Johannesburg
end: Johannesburg
Day 1 Johannesburg/Greater Kruger National Park
It doesn't always have the best reputation, but Johannesburg has fascinating, vibrant places to explore like Soweto, Alexandra, Rosebank Flea Market and its wonderful museums. Created to control diminishing animal numbers due to hunting, Kruger National Park became official in 1926 and is now deservedly one of Africa's premier safari parks.
Day 2 Greater Kruger National Park
One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five.
Days 3-4 Greater Kruger National Park/Panorama Route
The area surrounding Kruger boasts some of South Africa's most stunning scenery, including God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels.
Day 5 Johannesburg
Johannesburg is a sprawling city of remarkable contrasts: mansions stand alongside tin shacks and there are as many green parks as there are conglomerations of concrete.

Runs: Varied Run Times
Duration: 4 Days
Leaves: Johannesburg
Returns to: Johannesburg

Day 1: Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (South Africa)
The tour departs early morning from Johannesburg and Pretoria. We will stop en-route for breakfast (own cost), after which we continue to Nelspruit (only if we have pickups there) and then to the Kapama Cheetah Centre (Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre). This afternoon we do a guided tour of the Centre with one of their guides. The centre is home to many endangered species, such as wild dog, cheetah, lion, vultures, king cheetah and many more.
A short drive takes us to our exclusive camp close to Kruger national park, where we will be staying the night. There is a large variety of wildlife such as zebra, giraffe, blue wildebeest, impala, bushbuck, nyala and much more, which we often see around the camp. After sunset you leave for a night drive in the neighbouring big five game reserve which is part of the Greater Kruger National Park. The game viewing on the night drive is exceptional, and the guides very knowledgeable. We then return to our camp, where you will hear hyenas, lion and jackal calling, while relaxing around a camp fire in the boma where we enjoy dinner.
Please note that we might do the night drive the following night.
Included meals: Dinner
Day 2: Kruger National Park (South Africa)
A short drive takes us to Orpen gate which is the most central gate to Kruger national park, where we arrive as the gates open. Kruger is home to 147 mammal (including the Big 5), 114 reptile & 502 bird species. All game drives will be done in open sided 4x4 game viewing vehicles, for ultimate game viewing and photos. Kruger national park is the same size as Israel, Wales or Netherlands and contains different vegetation types that attract different animals to different areas of the park. Therefore we spend as much time on game drives as possible, so that we give ourselves a better chance of seeing different animal and bird species. We concentrate the game drives around the central region of the park, where we have a better chance of seeing the big cats and a large variety of animals.
Breakfast and lunch will be prepared by your guide and enjoyed at one of the many picnic sites inside Kruger national park. The guides will also stop at various view points and hides inside the park.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Kruger National Park (South Africa)
We start the day with a cup of coffee or tea, before heading out on a game drive in an open game viewing vehicle shortly after the gates open. You will be on a game drive for the majority of the day, searching for as many animal species as possible. Breakfast and lunch will be enjoyed at picnic sites inside Kruger national park.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Blyde River Canyon to Johannesburg & Pretoria (South Africa)
We depart early morning, heading towards the Blyde River Canyon, where we stop at the Three Rondawels view point. From here we drive back to Nelspruit, Johannesburg and Pretoria, where we will drop you off at the airport or backpacker hostels and hotels.
Included meals: Breakfast

ACCOMMODATION INFO
Accommodation Provided:
- Campsite

Runs: Varied Run Times
Duration: 4 Days
Leaves: Johannesburg
Returns to: Johannesburg

Day 1: Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (South Africa)
The tour departs early morning from Johannesburg and Pretoria. We will stop en-route for breakfast (own cost), after which we continue to Nelspruit (only if we have pickups there) and then to the Kapama Cheetah Centre (Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre). This afternoon we do a guided tour of the Centre with one of their guides. The centre is home to many endangered species, such as wild dog, cheetah, lion, vultures, king cheetah and many more.
A short drive takes us to our exclusive camp close to Kruger national park, where we will be staying the night. There is a large variety of wildlife such as zebra, giraffe, blue wildebeest, impala, bushbuck, nyala and much more, which we often see around the camp. After sunset you leave for a night drive in the neighbouring big five game reserve which is part of the Greater Kruger National Park. The game viewing on the night drive is exceptional, and the guides very knowledgeable. We then return to our camp, where you will hear hyenas, lion and jackal calling, while relaxing around a camp fire in the boma where we enjoy dinner.
Please note that we might do the night drive the following night.
Included meals: Dinner
Day 2: Kruger National Park (South Africa)
A short drive takes us to Orpen gate which is the most central gate to Kruger national park, where we arrive as the gates open. Kruger is home to 147 mammal (including the Big 5), 114 reptile & 502 bird species. All game drives will be done in open sided 4x4 game viewing vehicles, for ultimate game viewing and photos. Kruger national park is the same size as Israel, Wales or Netherlands and contains different vegetation types that attract different animals to different areas of the park. Therefore we spend as much time on game drives as possible, so that we give ourselves a better chance of seeing different animal and bird species. We concentrate the game drives around the central region of the park, where we have a better chance of seeing the big cats and a large variety of animals.
Breakfast and lunch will be prepared by your guide and enjoyed at one of the many picnic sites inside Kruger national park. The guides will also stop at various view points and hides inside the park.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Kruger National Park (South Africa)
We start the day with a cup of coffee or tea, before heading out on a game drive in an open game viewing vehicle shortly after the gates open. You will be on a game drive for the majority of the day, searching for as many animal species as possible. Breakfast and lunch will be enjoyed at picnic sites inside Kruger national park.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Blyde River Canyon to Johannesburg & Pretoria (South Africa)
We depart early morning, heading towards the Blyde River Canyon, where we stop at the Three Rondawels view point. From here we drive back to Nelspruit, Johannesburg and Pretoria, where we will drop you off at the airport or backpacker hostels and hotels.
Included meals: Breakfast

ACCOMMODATION INFO:
Accommodation Provided:
- Semi-luxury walk in safari tents with en-suite bathroom