Having an intimate knowledge of each camp and area they are able to expose the relevant highlights, adding continuity and depth as your journey unfolds, and effectively tailor making your experience around any special interests. Many guests return year after year to be guided by a particular guide with whom they have built up a relationship on previous trips.
Wilderness Safaris Guide Training Programme
Today nature guiding is a respected full-time profession, with various qualifications needed before a person is able to guide. All of our guides undergo intensive and comprehensive training in every aspect of nature guiding.
Leading guests (by safari vehicle or on foot) into the wild big game areas of Botswana and other countries in which we operate is a big responsibility and something Wilderness Safaris takes very seriously. The Wilderness Training Facilities and its qualified trainers and evaluators are intensely involved in the writing of, implementation and the monitoring of the minimum standards and operating procedures for all guiding staff and all our guides must in addition be legally licensed to guide in their respective countries under these nationally recognised standards In Botswana this is achieved by sitting a theory and practical exam through the Department on Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), in Namibia through the Namibian Academy for Tourism and Hospitality (NATH), in South Africa through (THETA) and so on. Where national qualifications are not avialable we implement our own high standards and in many cases have been instrumental in establishing and guiding national qualifications in the countries in which we operate Each country has specific nuances and we tailor our courses and training to take this into account. After attaining the national qualification, each guide has the opportunity to acquire higher levels of qualification through the in-house program offered by the Wilderness Training Facility in conjunction with the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). The qualifications are as follows:
Stringent guiding qualifications
In order to qualify under the above, each guide must sit a theory examination (except for Senior guide, which is an oral and practical) and pass with 75% or higher. From there they are practically evaluated by one of the trainers. This evaluation is conducted in the field with the guide guiding guests.
Further more, the Walking and Weapons qualification is strictly evaluated.
Each guide must first undergo extensive weapons training and evaluation. The pass mark for the initial weapons qualification is 80%. Once a guide has his weapons qualification, he/ she is then eligible to be evaluated on dangerous game walking skills. Before being eligible for walking evaluation, each guide must have a completed Logbook. He/she is to record hours spent on foot in a dangerous game region with a qualified walker who signs off his hours and experiences. Each guide must have a minimum of 100 walking hours logged. The walking evaluation involves the guide leading a walk with guests and an evaluator. He is evaluated on all aspects from guests control, awareness, bush skills, animal approach and retreat, weapon readiness etc. Each guide must successfully lead a walk into three of the potentially dangerous game - mostly elephant, buffalo and lion. The idea of approach is that the guide approaches, views and retreats without the animal being aware of their presence.
The pass mark for the walk is 75%. All walking guides are issued with 15 carry rounds of rifle ammunition, which must be shot off every two months for practice. Wilderness Safaris Botswana uses about 5000 rounds a year for practice.
Once the guide attains his level 3 qualification, a more advanced walking qualification is also available, with the following criteria already in place:
- Full professional Botswana Guide License
- Trauma First Aid certificate
- PSV driver licence
- Level 3 guide certificate
- 1000 hours walking experience logged in logbook
- Advanced weapons handling certificate
Only these 'advanced walkers' are permitted to lead walking/ adventure trails, which involve extensive walking in dangerous game regions.
As medical emergencies are a possibility, all guides must further have at least a Level One First Aid qualification, which also has to be refreshed every two years. All Wilderness Safaris camp managers do an intensive Level Three First Aid Trauma course every two years. This creates confidence when having to handle health and safety issues.
In the modern guiding era, all aspects are continually evaluated and improved to ensure a safe, very informative wilderness experience for visiting guests.
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