That Holiday Feeling

We celebrated another successful year with family, friends and colleagues, ending the year on a high note as that holiday feeling creeps up on us once again.

Have a very Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Drum Beat will be closed from 15 December 2009 to 4 January 2010.

Congratulations

We are indeed proud to announce that Michael van Niekerk, Drum Beat’s Affiliate for the Western Cape, has been re-elected to serve a further four year term on the international Board of Directors of NAUI Worldwide.

The acronym NAUI stands for National Association of Underwater Instructors

Michael is in fact the first and still the only South African ever elected to the Board of Directors of any international diver training agency.

Formed in California in1959, with its current headquarters in Tampa, Florida, NAUI Worldwide is the most respected and the largest non-profit diver certifying organization in the world, whose members offer a full range of training programs from Skin Diver through Instructor Course Director, with dozens of specialty courses including Nitrox and Technical diving. Tens of thousands of NAUI member instructors, dive businesses, resorts, and service centres are located in countries throughout the world.

It is interesting to note that all US astronauts (who train at the Johnson Space Centre in Texas), are required to undergo scuba training as an introduction to ‘weightlessness’. For this purpose, NASA, the agency responsible for the United States space program selected NAUI as their agency of choice. The result is that every astronaut is NAUI certified.

We are indeed proud to be associated, even indirectly, with an organization of this stature.

Congratulations, Michael.

For further information on NAUI in Southern Africa visit www.nauisa.org

The Ranch Hotel and Lion Kingdom

We had the wonderful pleasure of facilitating a First Aid Level 1 training course at The Ranch Hotel & Lion Kingdom just outside of Polokwane in Limpopo Province. The Ranch is situated in a malaria free grasslands area and boasts a wonderful lion and wildlife park.

Something we all forget to do...

Go to Drum Beat Academy's Tour Guide and Event Support Training website for more information on our First Aid Training (Level 1, 2 & 3) and Basic Fire Awareness Training courses.

Guvon Academy Open Day At Glenburn Lodge, Mulderdrift

Join us and Drum Beat Academy to find out more about our unique learning institution that offers a nurturing transition from Level 2 to a diploma.

Date: 10 October 2009
Time: 09:00 – 13:00

Courses Offered:

National Diploma in Service Management

National Certificate Food and Beverage Service/Management

National Certificate Professional Cookery

National Certificate Accommodation Service

National Certificate Hospitality Reception

National Certificate Event Support/Management

Tourism and Conservation:

National Certificate in Tourism Guiding

National Certificate Conservation Guardianship

Course will include practical Workplace Experience at one of our 3 or 5 star Lodges/Hotels. After Completion, GUVON will assist you with Employment.

Book your FREE tour and refreshments for the 10th of October now!!!
Different Tours include:
Food and Beverage Service/Kitchen and Morning Tea
Nature Walk (Please wear Tekkies and Jeans)
Events: Weddings and Conferences Facilities and Services
Reception and House Keeping
Information regarding Study and Career Choices will also be available

For more information on the Open Day, please call:

Training: 011 668 1628/00 or SMS your name for Tour to:

082 950 2999 / 071 421 2271 / 073 845 1839
Email: training@glenburn.co.za

Cullinan Diamond Mine

It was reported that a huge white diamond (507 carats rough) was discovered at Cullinan Diamond Mine on 24 September 2009. It is speculated that it might be a Type I diamond and amongst the top 20 largest high quality rough diamonds ever found worldwide. More details on the diamond will be released as soon as the diamond has undergone appropriate analysis.

The Cullinan Diamond Mine is situated in Cullinan, 40 km east of Pretoria. It was established in 1902 and became world renowned in 1905 when the Cullinan Diamond (3,106.75 carats rough) was discovered. Other significant diamonds from the mine include the Golden Jubilee (755 carats rough) and the Centenary (599 carats rough). Cullinan Diamond Mine is also the only significant source of blue diamonds in the world. De Beers sold its historic Cullinan Diamond Mine in 2007 to a consortium led by Petra Diamonds.

Cullinan Diamond Mine

507 Carats (rough) diamond

For more information about the mine and the diamonds visit their site.

For more information on the courses we off please visit Drum Beat Academy’s Tourism and Event Support website.

Tour Operator Workshop

What is the difference between a Tourist Guide and a Tour Operator? A Tour Operator is a person / company that make all the arrangements regarding transport, accommodation, tour packages, etc. Basically the Tour Operator is the person that sits in the office and makes all the preparations. A Tourist Guide is the person that guides visitors, for a fee, interpreting cultural and natural heritage and is effectively in charge of the group for the duration of the tour. The Tourist Guide has no part in the organising component of the tour.

Drum Beat’s Tour Operator Workshop has been designed for Tour Guides, Entrepreneurs and Existing Tour Operators to gain knowledge and information on the industry. During this five day course the following will be covered:

* Legal Implications (driver’s license, P.D.P, R.T.P, C.O.F, pax liability)
* Marketing in the Tourism Industry
* Technical Management (services, tyres, fuel, oil)
* Itinerary (Designing a Guided Experience)
* Infrastructure (office, staff)
* Product Knowledge (accommodation, STO & Rack rates, single supplement)
* Administration (reservations, confirmations, vouchers, payments, cancellations, filing)
* Guides (qualifications, personality & appearance, tour preparations file, payment, loyalty, registration)

This workshop will help you make the best of your business, helping you grow through marketing, building a great reputation through well thought out and executed tours, using only the best guides to fit your company image and making sure that you comply with all the legal implications.

For more information on this workshop visit Drum Beat Academy’s Tourist Guide and Event Support website.

Registering as a Tourist Guide

Once you have completed your Accredited Tourist Guide training course, you are required to register with your local Tourism Authority. They will require the following:

1. Complete the Application Form
2. Sign the Code of Conduct & Ethics
3. Submit a copy of your Qualification Certificate (Theta / Training Provider)
4. Submit a valid First Aid Level 1 Certificate
5. Certified copy of your ID
6. 4 recent colour ID photos (head & shoulders)
7. Pay registration fee of R240 VAT incl.
8. If you are Non South African also submit a copy of a Valid Work Permit

Contact details for Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA)

No.1 Central Place, Corner of Henry Nxumalo and Jeppe Streets
Newtown
Johannesburg

Tel: + 27 11 639-1600
Fax: + 27 11 639-1700
Registration Fax: + 27 11 832-2628

All Tourist Guides are legally required to register with DEAT.

Visit our website for more information on our Tourist Guide, Hospitality and Event Support Qualifications.

Proud to Present

Drum Beat is always proud of each and every learner that passes through our doors, even if we have to temporarily make their doors ours. Now with any further ado we are proud to present...

Gerald Bakamela who is nearing the end of the Professional Cookery Learnership at Africa Sky Hotel. Good luck with the last few remaining weeks!

Gerald takes his job very seriously

Nauticus Place is a charming Restaurant and Cafe in Brenton-on-Sea, host to a Professional Cookery and Food & Beverage Learnership. Below are the participating learners striking a dashing pose.

Fun in the sun

FNB Middelburg and surrounding region recently sent some of their staff on a training course and it would seem that they breed them happy in Mpumalanga. These first aiders will save your life with a smile!

Service with a smile

From the Ground Up

For the past year AgriSkills has been running a project at Phake Thabeng where we are training the local people to produce vegetables organically. The project is funded by Missio-Austria with funds from the Austrian Development Authority. We got off to a good start with the infrastructure and put up the fence, drilled the borehole, built the reservoir for the water and set up the pump. However when it came to Eskom laying on the power we had to 'wait', so there was a significant delay in getting the vegetables planted. We purchased a generator for the interim but because of the heavy rains in the region we could not get into the project as the soil is very good quality black turf. We are proud to say that after so many delays the project is growing to new heights. Winnie, our associate, is running the project, while Greg, the facilitator, does the training and assists with the infrastructure.

AgriSkills falls under the Drum Beat Group umbrella.

Please visit our website for more information on Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training courses.

Do you comply with OHS?

According to the Amended Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 & 181 of 1993 all companies with 5 or more employees must abide by these regulations.

To know if you comply, ask yourself the following questions:*

1. Does your company have written documentation explaining the evacuation as well as emergency procedures?
2. Does your company have adequate fire equipment?
3. Is the necessary signage indication fire and evacuation routes in place?
4. Are there adequate trained First Aiders (Level 1,2 & 3)?
5. Are there adequate Fire Marshalls responsible for the evacuation of the building?
6. Are there schematic designs mounted to the walls (emergency exits, fire equipment, hoses, smoke detectors, sprinklers, first aid boxes and assembly points)?
7. Are there adequate Regulation First Aid Kits?
8. Is there an alarm system in place to alarm employees in case of an emergency?
9. Have you done evacuation drills with scenarios and written up reports?

If you answered NO to any of these questions, your company is liable and these aspects need to be addressed URGENTLY.

The following need to be in place:*

• An emergency and evacuation plan
• Adequate fire extinguishers and fire hoses
• Necessary signage
• Trained first aiders
• Trained fire marshalls
• Schematic designs on walls
• First aid kits
• Alarm system
• Evacuation drill with scenario training

(*Uni-Excellens)

Go to Drum Beat Academy's Tour Guide and Event Support Training website for more information on our First Aid Training (Level 1, 2 & 3) and Basic Fire Awareness Training courses.

The Brag File

There is nothing better in business than having a satisfied customer. Be it one that has just completed their training or those still a little wet behind the ears that are equipping themselves for their future career path.

Most often people say that bragging is only for the selfish but in business if you don't do it yourself, who will?

Celesté Belelie and Ronell Burger are two star learners from the Professional Cookery Learnership currently running in Oudtshoorn. This photo was taken in the restaurant at African Sky Hotel while they served breakfast.


The next two learners are both from KwaZulu-Natal and did their training through one of Drum Beat's associates, Chris Lake.

On the left is Martinus Nel, showing off his Drum Beat Certificate, who to date is Chris Lake's most senior (oldest) tour guide candidate. Martinus, 73, is a very keen and enthusiastic guide and a mine of information about the Weenen District.

On the right is Allison Lettinga a go ahead farmer's wife from the district of Ixopo. She has worked out a unique tour programme of the Southern Drakensberg including some interesting birding and San/Bushmen Rock Art sites.

This group from Potgietersrus recently passed their First Aid Level 1 training course with flying colours! Their inquisitive minds were keen to learn and helped them apply their theoretical knowledge and practical exercise exactly where it counted during the assessments.

Congratulations and good luck!

For more information on Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training and other courses please visit our website.

Conference and Workshop Venue Hire

Our facilities are available for hire to individuals, organisations and groups for conferences, workshops, meetings, lectures and training.

We have two superb spacious and functional conference rooms available that can easily handle up to 15 people.

The following options are available:

Option A (R160.00 per person)
Arrival: Coffee, Tea and Rusks
Midmorning: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits
Lunch: Light Lunch
Afternoon: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits

Option B (R190.00 per person)
Arrival: Coffee, Tea and Muffins/Scones
Midmorning: Coffee, Tea and Snacks (Sandwiches)
Lunch: One Meat, Starch, One Vegetable and Salad
Afternoon: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits

Option C (R220.00 per person)
Arrival: Coffee, Tea and Muffins/Scones
Midmorning: Coffee, Tea and Snacks (Sandwiches)
Lunch: Two Meat, Starch, Two Vegetables, Salad and Dessert
Afternoon: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits

All options include: Water, sweets and cordial on tables, pen and writing pad, safe and secure parking.

Please go to our website for information on Tourist Guide and Event Support Training and our Venue Hire.

100 % South African

Truth be told when you sit down and think about it there is no one thing that defines Truly South African. Everybody has his/her own view of what characterises being South African. Whether it originated in South Africa or if it was incorporated into our culture through the decades, it really doesn’t matter. All these elements bind our different cultures together to build the Rainbow Nation that flows through the veins of our little piece of Africa.

I did a pole in the office to find out what it is exactly that we think is Truly South African. This is what I found:

Cedric (ATS): Pap & Wors

Christa (Hospitality): Maroelas & Amaroela

Danie (AgriSkills): Knysna Loerie (Tauraco corythaix)

Daphne (Reception): OppiKoppi Music Festival

Ester (Admin): Lekker

Hannetjie (AgriSkills): Drakensberg Mountains

Hermann (ATS): Boeremeisies

John (Conservation): Bakgat

Lizette (MD DBA/ATS): Bobotie, Geelrys & Raisins

Ockert (Owner DBA): African Drums

Paal (Sport): Friendliness of the People

Rina (Finance): Braaivleis, Music, Brandy & Rugby

Vance (Guiding): Vellies

Winnie (AgriSkills): Humanity

Other things that came to light includes: Fynbos, Mampoer, Baobab Tree, Table Mountain, Bushveld Sunrise, the fact that any song can be turned into a Sokkie Treffer, Traffic Light Entrepreneurs (a.k.a. Street Sellers), Potjiekos, the shrill Sonbesie (Cicada) sound of summer, Biltong, Droëwors, Castle, Mrs. Balls, Taxis, Koeksisters, Melktert, Sheba, Vuvuzela, and that’s just to name a few. What is Truly South African to you?

The Witness' view on Proudly South African (video).

Visit our website: Tourist Guide and Event Support Training

Snake Identification & Dangerous Snake Handling Courses

These very practical and brilliantly informative courses were developed over 16 years of intense study and practical research on the characteristics and behaviors of all our South African snake species, with special emphasis on Venomous snake species.

By attending this course I will share my life’s knowledge and experience with you on how to approach, identify (module1: Snake ID course) and safely capture, remove and release (module 2: Dangerous snake handling course) any South African snake.

This course is not only a benefit to game rangers which often have to remove snakes out of their guestrooms but it will be a benefit to any person working in the tourism industry, fieldworkers, fireman, doctors and even interested housewives that want to know more about the reptiles living in their area.

Module 1: Snake Identification course:

The Snake ID course starts 08h00 – 13h30

This course covers:

• Identification of all the SA snake families
• Personalities of each species
• Symptoms of snakebite
• First aid treatment

Cost for the course is R 500.00 per person.
Certificates will be available within two weeks after completion of the course.

Module 2: Dangerous Snake handling course:

The Dangerous Snake Handling course starts that same day 14h00 – 18h00
This course consists of:

• Equipment confidence
• Proper handling techniques
• Practical handling by each learner under my supervision
• Verbal Questions & Answers during handling session

Cost for the course is R 500.00 per person.
Certificates will be available within two weeks after completion of the course.

(Note: both courses are non credit bearing.)

Venue:

We have two training venues available:
The first option will be Drum Beat Academy’s main campus on the corner of George Storrar & Van Wouw Street, Groenkloof (Pta).
The second option will be a satellite campus at number 124, Fifth Avenue, Gerhardsville, Centurion (Pta).
Maps to both venues are available on request.

Courses offered to companies etc. at their own training facilities for a minimum group size of 10 learners or more. The company will have to provide for their own catering (tea breaks & lunch) and supply the necessary presentation equipment (e.g. overhead projector) in the event of training at their own premises.

Enquiries: Hencke Marais
Telephone: 083 650 3481
Fax no: 086 618 8209
EMAIL: henckemarais@gmail.com

Please go to Drum Beat Academy's website to learn more about Tourist Guide and Event Support training.

The Importance of Registering as a Tour Guide

An article appeared in the Beeld on 26 March 2009 about a field guide and the organisation that employed him. Both were found guilty on charges of culpable homicide after the death of an America tourist in 2005.

Summary of the article:

According to the state prosecutor this is the first case of its kind in South Africa where both the field guide and the organisation was found guilty on charges of culpable homicide after the death of a tourist. They were also found guilty on breaching the Tourism Act.

The incident happened on 10 November 2005 at the Nungubane Lodge Nature Reserve. Three tourists accompanied the field guide on a nature walk; they came within 37m of an irritated elephant cow. When the elephant charged the field guide didn’t use his .375 Holland rifle to fire at the animal, instead he held it above his head and yelled. When the elephant started stamping its feet on the ground the field guide ran away without instructing the tourists to do the same which resulted in the death of one of the tourists.

The field guide was fined R10 000 or 6 years jail time, suspended for 5 years for the culpable homicide charge. He was fined a further R5 000 or 6 moths jail time, suspended for 5 years for breach of the Tourism Act.

The organization was fined R100 000 for the culpable homicide charge, suspended for 5 years. They were further fined R10 000, suspended for 5 years for employing an unregistered guide according to the Tourism Act. (Click here for the full article).


This incident proves the importance of being a qualified and registered tour guide.


Please follow these links to read more about:

The Tourism Second Amendment Act No 70 of 2000

Regulations in Respect of Tour Guides

Or go to our website for more information about our registered qualifications on Tourist Guide and Event Support Training.

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.

A New Age Dawns

Hi All

We are proud to announce that Drum Beat has its own Blog! You can check up on the latest news, events, developments and some generally interesting information. A new entry will be posted every 2 weeks, it might be more frequent depending on the amount of information we have to share. You are more than welcome to share your views and comment on any post or send it along to friends, family and colleagues and in so doing help us build an informative network throughout the tourism sector.

Robert Kerrigan said “the way of the world is meeting people through other people” and this is a proficient art in the tourism sector. How could it be anything else? A Tourist Guide does make his/her living by talking to strangers from the four corners of the world. According to Johan Arndt “informal conversation is probably the oldest mechanism by which opinions on products and brands are developed, expressed, and spread.” What better sector to help build and market the brand of South Africa? Who better to help develop our widely diverse tourism industry? Together we can truly make a difference no matter how small or trivial it may seem, besides even the mighty baobab that fills the skies of the north started from an insignificant seed.

Help us build a future and while we’re at it we might as well make it fun. Send us interesting stories you come across, add as much detail as possible regarding origin, people involved, etc. You can even send us your photos from your latest trip, just remember to add a caption telling us who it’s from, where it was taken, description of the photo, etc. We would love to hear from you.
Send it to: admin@drumbeatacademy.co.za (Ester),
subject: something for your Blog.

For more about us, please check out our website - Tourist Guide and event support Training

Have a wonderful day!

Drum Beat