Friday, August 12, 2011

10 things no guide should be without




1. Q-cards


2. A good map or GPS


3. Spare microphone


4. Torch


5. Multi tool


6. Cell phone (with air time) and charger


7. 1st aid kit


8. Own medication


9. Patience


10. Sense of humour

Sunday, June 19, 2011

First Aid Across Borders





Limpopo Valley Horse Safaris asked us to come and present a First Aid course for their trail guides in Botswana.

What an experience!

We went across the border at Pontsdrift. We were pulled over the Limpopo River in a little steel cable cage. A first for us.

The class was presented on the bank of the river with the wonderful symphony of birds in the trees around us.

Everyone enjoyed the course especially the practical part. Even the little one’s participated and astonished us with the accuracy with which they mimicked the CPR procedures.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

ROMANZ Anti-Poaching Concert




SANPARKS Honorary Rangers (Pretoria Region) presents ROMANZ for their Anti-Poaching Campaign.



Place: Sorex Estate

Date: 14 May 2011

Time: 20:00

Price: R150.00

Contact Christa Viljoen 082 675 2258

Tickets also available at Computicket.

Monday, April 18, 2011

What Makes A Good Guide?

As with everything in life a good guide is a matter of opinion and personal preference. There is some truth in the saying that you can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time. There is however a few guidelines that help dictate what a good guide should be:

A tour guide needs to advocate enjoyment. The main reason people go on holiday is to enjoy themselves and to relax, to see a new part of the country or world and to go back home enriched and well rested. Even though we travel for enjoyment learning something about the place you are visiting helps enforce that ‘holiday feeling’ we are all looking for.

A tour guide needs to be well organized. A lot of guides work for tour operators and thus think that they don’t have to be bothered with the small organizing details, this type of thinking can lead to catastrophe. A guide always need to ensure that he/she knows the route and the arrangements off by heart, having an alternative backup plan or two will ensure that your group is always well taken care of and that all possible scenarios are covered.

A tour guide needs relevant knowledge. This doesn’t just refer to the area they are guiding in but also about the people they are guiding. A guide needs to know what interests his group as well as any cultural/ethnic considerations that need to be addressed.

A tour guide needs to be well spoken and well dressed. A guide is the introduction to the area or country he/she is guiding in. A guide is essentially the representative of a brand and product. It is the guide’s duty to portray a polished well rounded image of his profession and his/her area of operation.

A tour guide needs to be a Jack-of-all-trades. A tour guide needs to know a little of everything, not just facts and figures. Sometimes a guide will need to be a nanny, first aider, counselor, handyman, chef, problem solver or even a cheerleader. You never know what a client will require from you, always try to assist as well as you can and always within reason.

There are many traits and guidelines to follow to be a good guide but only through trial and error will you be able to find the right formula for you.

Visit our Tourist Guide and Event Support website for more information about Tourist Guides and Tour Operators.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Illegal Tourist Guides

This media statement was released by the office of Alan Winde, Western Cape Tourism Minister:

Western Cape Tourism Minister, Alan Winde, joined inspectors from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism to conduct an illegal Tourist Guide inspection.
This operation follows complaints from members of the public, tourists and registered Tourist Guides.

Winde said: "Currently, there is no effective policing system in place to identify illegal Tourist Guides. This has resulted in a large number of people operating as guides without the required training or authorisation. Illegal guides take work from legal guides, and in some instances, harm the industry by providing a shoddy service. Ahead of International Tourist Guide Day tomorrow (Monday, 21st of February), it is our duty to raise awareness about illegal guiding and put a stop to it."

In taking a proactive approach to combating it, the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism has appointed a team of dedicated inspectors to ensure that illegal guiding is curbed.

Between April 2010 and the end of January this year, 152 out of a total of 866 guides inspected were found to be operating illegally. There are currently 3,308 registered Tourist Guides in the Western Cape.

Illegal guides have been issued with warning letters ordering them to cease operating with immediate effect until they are registered.

As well as keeping a database of illegal guides, the inspectors monitor them closely to ensure that they do not continue working.

Institutions such as SANParks have come on board with this initiative by restricting tourist guide privileges to those that show valid registration cards.

Winde concluded: "This inspection was just one of many inspections that the Department conducts. In 2011/12, we will significantly ramp up our efforts to combat illegal guides. We will no longer tolerate a small group of people giving an entire industry, upon which the livelihood of many depends, a bad name".

Media Enquiries:
Tammy Evans
Spokesperson for Minister Alan Winde
Tel: 021 483 4327
Fax: 021 483 3892

For information on how to become a legal tourist guide visit Drum Beat Academy's Tourism & Event Support website.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Awards At Drum Beat

It’s award time in La-La Land and we wanted to have a part in all the glitz and glamour. Drum Beat had its own awards ceremony to celebrate all the wonderful qualities of its office staff and some of the quirks as well.

As Murphy would have it the owner of the award for the person who spends the most time out of office, was of course out of the office at the time of the ceremony but here is the list of awards as democratically voted by most of the staff:

Loch Ness Award…for least likely to be found.
Foot - In - Mouth Award…for always saying what comes to mind.
Dewey Decimal Award…for being well organised.
Cross The T's & Dot The I's Award…for making sure the little things get done.
P's & Q's Award…for having the best manners.
Pip-Squeak Award…for the quietest person in the office.
Spick & Span Award…for having the neatest work space.
Single File Award…for keeping everyone in line.
Eight Legged Freak Award…for knowing their way around the web.
Her Royal Highness Award…for needing plenty of attention.
The Daisy Chain Award…for constantly passing on information.
Lumber Jack Award…for killing the rain forests one page at a time.
Leprechaun Award…for being able to see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.


To learn more about the serious work we do in Guiding, Hospitality and Events, please visit our Tourism and Event Support Website.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

New Year

2011 has kicked off with a bang and we are already hard at work and feeling like 2010 was a dream that flew by in a flash. Before we get stuck into this New Year we would like to congratulate the NTK Limpopo learners that finished their National Certificate in AgriTrade Processes. We hope that your future will be prosperous.

NTK Thohoyandou. Left to right: Grace Muronga; Tshililo Nedzingahe; Bruce Tshivase; Amos Tshisikule; Roshuma Mayhungu; Obed Tshiwandimoni; Godfrey Netshilindi; Patience Nevondo.

NTK Louis Trichardt. Left to right: Thomas Mabasa; Sophy Nevari; Chefrey Theka; Patricia Mudau; Tshamano Mariba; Joseph Madumi; Tshilidzi Mavhungu.

NTK Tzaneen. Left to right: Tawny Modika; Michael Ramothoala. Absent: Ishmael Matapa.


Read more about our Agriculture courses on our website or visit our Tourist Guide and Event Support Training website.