Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Nature Guide Training

Drum Beat Academy is offering a new and exciting Nature Guide Training Course. It consists of theoretical training (done in Pretoria) as well as practical bush experience at Balule Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.

The theory is a one month full time course done at Drum Beat Academy in Pretoria and covers all the outcomes of the National Certificate in Tourism: Guiding NQF Level 4 and includes the Nature Elective. This will enable the learners to gain theoretical knowledge before they leave for their unforgettable practical bushveld experience.

The practical is a 3 week bush experience in the Greater Kruger National Park. All food, accommodation and equipment for the 3 weeks are included in the price (learners have to get to Balule at their own expense). Learners will also get a chance to explore the surrounding area by visiting wildlife, ecotourism and natural research projects and all they have to offer. Learners will assist with the meals in the kitchen (so bring your recipes). Accommodation is in A-frame houses with 3 to a house.

We are limited to 6 per camp and course so learners will get personal attention and coaching.

Theoretical and Practical Course Modules:

Ecology & Interpretation of Natural Phenomena
Geology & Soils
Guiding Practices
Astronomy
Basic Botany
- Grasses
- Trees
Basic Zoology
- Animals
- Birds
- Insects
Big 5
Climatology
Tracking
Level 1 First Aid
Certificate in Rifle Handling
Assistance with all legal requirements

The facilitators are fully qualified and very experienced in Nature Training and have considerable knowledge of the veld (particularly the bushveld) with plenty of guiding experience and know-how.

Drum Beat Academy has Full Accreditation with THETA
(Accr No: 613/P/000035/2004).

When completed you will be qualified with the National Certificate in Tourism: Guiding NQF Level 4 and you will be able to guide legally, when you have registered, as a Driver Guide or Trails Ranger in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the North West Province.

Please visit our website (by clicking the link) for more information about course dates and costing for the Drum Beat Academy Nature Tourist Guide and Event Support Training.




2 comments:

  1. If you present Nature guide courses and I do them with you and I am declared competent, do I still have to do the FGASA exam?

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  2. No. FGASA stands for Field Guides Association of South Africa. It is an association of guides to which you can belong if you want to; it is not compulsory. They also do the THETA qualification but they then require that you do their exam and become a member thus working under their umbrella. The difference is that we do the full THETA qualification and not just the skills programme. The legally required qualification for a guide to have the right to register as a guide is the THETA qualification which is based on the National Qualifications Framework. If you have that you can register as a guide, get the badge, get the registration card and go guiding.

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