Bushwise Field Guides, a leading FGASA-endorsed field guide training provider, has launched a new and exciting initiative in conjunction with Tourvest, aha Hotels & Lodges and Mankwe Gametrackers. This initiative offers fully sponsored safari guide training and employment to students from local communities in South Africa. This is part of the Bushwise Field Guides and aha Hotels & Lodges investment in upskilling students from local communities.
Under this initiative, Bushwise will provide comprehensive field guide training to eight local students every six months, who will then go into positions at aha Hotels & Lodges around the country, and with Mankwe Game Trackers in the Pilanesberg. The partnership hopes to train and employ approximately 40 candidates over three years, while promoting skills development and transformation in the wildlife tourism industry.
“We are very excited to have the first candidates arriving in a few weeks’ time. These candidates will go on to become full-time employees in our lodges, and we hope that they will continue to grow with us for many years to come. This partnership is a vital initiative to ensure that the communities which our lodges serve, continue to benefit from, and be the guardians of conservation in this country,” said Graeme Edmond, CEO of aha Hotels & Lodges.
The first group of eight future field guides began their training in January 2023 in the Greater Makalali Game Reserve, home to the aha Makalali Private Game Lodge and Bushwise’s Mahlahla campus. Uniforms have been generously sponsored by Ruggedwear, a leader in bush wear clothing, who are based and manufacture exclusively in South Africa.
Bushwise Director Eugene Relling commented, “It’s amazing to see our leading tourism brands coming together to create ambassadors of the natural world. What makes this transformation project even more special, is that these ambassadors will be given permanent employment.”
The training provided by Bushwise will include field guide qualifications, track and sign, trailing, 4×4 driving, guiding ethics, conservation, community engagement, first aid, and more. After graduation, participants will go on to work at lodges around South Africa, including aha Makalali Private Game Lodge, aha Thakadu River Camp, Mankwe Game Trackers and Nkambeni Safari Camp.
“This partnership is about opening doors and creating opportunities for these young men and women that we hope will be life changing for them. We look forward to working with aha Hotels & Lodges and Bushwise, to make their dreams a reality,” said Howard Rogerson, MD of Ruggedwear.
Over the next three years the journey of these students will be closely followed in this exciting new initiative. Most sponsors will provide regular updates on the progress of the students.
Originally published on www.bushwise.co.za.
