Maps vs. GPS

The trusty road atlas has fallen out of favour over the last few years as technology caught up with demand and GPS navigation systems became more affordable to the masses. GPS is definitely a must have for any guide, it gets you from point A to B in the shortest time possible and helps you out in a pinch if you happen to take the wrong turn, but should this really be a reason to recycle your maps?

GPS quickly and efficiently calculates the route you need to follow whereas a map gives you the big picture of the area you are heading to/through. What happens when a tourist would like to see the layout and boundaries of the provinces? How would you show them the size of the Kruger National Park in relation to the size of the country? How do you show them exactly where you’re heading if you don’t have a map with you?

Maps come in hundreds of different varieties, from road atlases to pocket guides. You get specialised maps of areas such as the Kruger National Park, Winelands, Panorama, Drakensberg , Richtersveld, the Garden Route, 4 X 4 routes, flower route map and dive site to name but a few.

GPS might be the new kid on the block but that good old trusty map that has laid forgotten in the glove box is still a handy tool for any tourist guide.

Flag Day At Drum Beat

Across the world people are celebrating today and here at Drum Beat it’s no different.

In Australia they are celebrating Australia Day, in Uganda it’s Liberation Day and in India they are celebrating Republic day.

Here at Drum Beat we are having fun with our own special day - Flag Day. Everyone needs a reason to celebrate, right?

The whole office joined in and represented a flag in some way or the other, we have just about everything from Ghana to Bangladesh.

Just to make this an educational experience we had a little test to see who knows their flags, turns out it’s a bit harder than expected and even the test creator couldn’t remember them all. But it is our great pleasure to announce that we have a clear winner! Congratulations Christa! We all had a good guess but you are most certainly the champion!

Can you guess where these flags are from?

If you want to learn more about our country then our Tourist Guide Course is the thing for you!

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

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.

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.

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.

Easter Special

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.

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.

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.

Happy Holidays

We will be closed for the Holiday Season, from 14 December 2010 till
4 January 2011. Feel free to email us during this time (info@drumbeatacademy.co.za).
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Kids Party Planning Course

It’s party time next week at Drumbeat Academy in Pretoria! This course is for all the undercover fairies, spies and pirates out there.

Did you ever dreamed of being a fairy princess, a pirate, a fireman or even just dreamed about never-never land…. But now you are and adult and you have responsibilities and there is no place in life for fairytales… Wrong!!

There are places where fairytales can come alive and even bring some money to you. You can start your own children’s party company. Let me just tell you before you even start thinking about it…. It is not for the faint of heart! You have to be full of patients and LUVVVV… for other people’s children! The second biggest thing is that you cannot stand the whole time and talk to the kids… they don’t just wants to see your nostrils the whole time – get down, get to their level and connect with the kiddies where they are!

This is the type of company a mom with small kids can think off. You’ve got an instant customer base with all the friends of your kids and all the kids in the school where your child attends. As a Kids Party Business owner you'll experience the joy of a business that puts you in charge. You'll be able to choose your own hours and schedule your work around your family first.

Kiddie’s parties have become big business. With the rise in single parent and two working parent homes, this means that many parents don’t have the time to plan and coordinate these parties themselves. Specializing in pulling of fabulous children’s parties may be the perfect home business for an energetic, creative and organized person!

Join us on the kid’s party planning course next week! 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th (evening class) 28th (whole day) August 2010. Classes will run from 18:00 to 21:30 each night and the Saturday – 9:00 to 13:00.

We end this course with a Fairy Party at Drum Beat Academy and if you have a little girl - you are welcome to bring her to the party!

In this course we will deal with issues such as themes, how to build your own props, party programs, invitations, admin, and holiday programs and corporate kids parties.

This course is still on special: normally R5500.00 –

now only R3000.00

Payment plan available!

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

Event Management Information Evening

Organise, manage and coordinate events such as:
Weddings
Product launches
Sport events
Corporate events
Music events
Conferences
Exhibitions,
Etc.

New exiting practical subjects and short courses:
Draping
Protocol and etiquette
Table layout
Centre pieces
Décor
Kids party planning

Now your active imagination, creative ideas, systematic thinking and enjoyment to interact with people can earn you a career, income (or additional income) or your own business.

You will enjoy theory classes at our campus in Groenkloof and the opportunity to complete activities, research and plan your first event during the 6 month programme.

This will qualify you to obtain the National Certificate in Tourism Event Support NQF Level 4.

Join us on 26 August 2010 at 19:00 for a free information evening.

Contact: Mart Van Der Walt
012 460 9585
mart@drumbeatacademy.co.za

Visit Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training website for more information on our training programmes.

Black and White Elegance

Colors can sometimes make for the simplest, yet most striking statements at a wedding. A classical black and white wedding theme is still a very popular choice among couples. Simple, yet sophisticated, this theme is fairly simple to plan.

With a Black and White wedding theme – Simplicity is the way to go. Keep your wedding attire as elegant and plain as possible – Ruffles and Frills don’t go with this theme! The bridal dress should be white with accents of black and if you wish to then you can get your bridesmaids to wear black.

Keep in mind, a single flower can often make more of an elegant statement than an overflowing bouquet, especially with a black and white wedding theme.
However, if you would like to waver a bit from the strictly black and white wedding scheme, consider adding the slightest hints of one other color as contrast, such as bright red, bright pink, emerald green or a hint of gold.

Don't go overboard though... add just a hint here and there. For example, white roses with the tips tinted red and nestled in a black vase sitting on a table covered in a white tablecloth. Use black napkins secured with white napkin rings and a hint of some other color. These are simple accents that you could try which won't overpower the black and white theme.

Some things to remember about our courses: Our courses are both Theory and Practical – Elect Training Academy work in Association with Drum Beat Academy. Our courses are also endorsed and sometimes presented by the International Hotel School of South Africa.

Information Sessions:

• Our next information session in Pretoria is on 10 August 2010 @ Drum Beat Academy in Groenkloof – Time: 19:00. We will be finished @ 20:00
• Our next information session in Cape Town is on 31 July 2010 @ The Lord Charles Hotel – Somerset West – Time: 10:00
• Our next information session in Durban is on 22 July @ The Westville Hotel in Westville – Durban – Time: 19:00. We will be finished @ 20:00

Please let us know if you want to attend the session then we can send you more info.

Our next courses:

Foundational Draping in Durban: 23 & 24 July 2010 – Westville Hotel
Foundational Draping in Cape Town: 13 & 14 August 2010 – Somerset West
Foundational Draping in Pretoria: 20 & 21 August 2010 – Drum beat academy

Advance Draping in Pretoria: 28 & 29 July (evening classes) 30 & 31 July 2010 (full day)

Foundational Décor in Pretoria: 11 & 12 & 14 August OR 12 & 14 August 2010

Kids Party Planning: 23 – 28 August 2010 (Day or evening classes)

Events Management: Pretoria

We have an ongoing intake policy with the events management course in Pretoria – you can join us any Saturday.

Events Management: Cape Town

We start on the 4th of September with our new Events Management course.

Hope to see you at our info meetings!

Visit Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training website for more information.

Bird Watching/Identification

Do you want to learn more about bird watching?

Would you like to easily identify birds in your area?

Come join us for a day and learn more about bird watching and how to identify them. A basic theoretical introduction will be done as well as an outdoor practical at Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary.

Date: 17 July 2010
Time: 08:30 – 16:30
Venue: Drum Beat Academy, 7 Van Wouw Street, Groenkloof, Pretoria
Price: R295

Bring along:
Field guide of own choice
Binoculars
Basic stationary (pen, paper)
Own lunch

Programme:
Bird watching
Bird identification
Overview of South African birds
Practical at Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary

About the facilitator:
The course will be presented by Annémarie Viljoen Van Der Walt, she studied BSc Ed majoring in Zoology and Botany, and started her career as Environmental Educator at the Pretoria Zoo. She presented Bird Identification programmes for eight years amongst other environmental education programmes and still maintains an interest in bird watching, environmental observation, guiding and developing environmental education elements.

Limited space available. Bookings essential. Payment needs to be made to secure booking. Non-refundable. All interested parties will be notified of the next available date.

Please contact Ester for bookings on (012) 460 9585 or admin@drumbeatacademy.co.za

Visit our website for information about Tourist Guide and Event Support Training.

Fountains Circle

The Fountains Circle 2010 Flag Ship Beautification Project is a Metropolitan Landmark and Gateway which has been developed successfully to landmark quality enhancing a sense of place, character, legibility and Capital City status. This development radically altered the character and image of the entrance to the City as envisaged. The whole design forms a spiral radiating outwards beyond the traffic circle itself symbolizing the 2010 FIFA World Cup that's being hosted in South Africa (Tshwane) and radiating outwards beyond Africa's boundaries to rest of the world. The main feature consisting of a spherical steel space frame/ ball cladded with broken panels depicting the people of Tshwane is being swung into infinity by the force which originates at the Fountain/South Africa. This ball is 'followed' and shot up in the air by spikes consisting of 'I'- beams in juxtaposing carefully placed. The spikes increase in height as it lifts off with the sphere symbolising the kick-off of a soccer ball.

Information & photos from Tshwane Municipality

Visit our website for information on Drum Beat’s Tourist Guide and Event Support courses.

Go Bafana Bafana!

2010 is here! Let us all get into the Ayobaness of the moment and learn a little SA soccer lingo.

Bafana: Nickname of the South African national team, meaning ‘boys’ in Nguni. Often appearing as Bafana Bafana.

Makaraba: South African fan helmets, artfully created from miners’ hard hats.

Vuvuzela: Plastic horn producing an energetically loud noise, it is the sound of South African Football.

Mzansi: A popular Xhosa word amongst the youth and townships for South Africa.

Ayoba: An expression of joy. Ayoba means cool, nice, sweet, etc.

Eish: An expression of surprise or resignation.

Howzit: A term meaning: How are you?

Lekker: An Afrikaans word meaning delicious.

Laduma: A popular cheer at South African soccer matches when a goal has been scored. It’s a Zulu word meaning ‘he thunders’.

Yebo: A word meaning Yes in Zulu.

Sharp: Often doubled up for effect, sharp-sharp. Used as a greeting, farewell, agreement or to express enthusiasm.

Bru: Slang term for brother that’s often used.


Get into the spirit and explore our country as a tourist guide and share this beautiful land with the world. For more information about Drum Beat's Tourist Guide and Event Support courses please visit our website.

Wedding Trends

Hi there all students

Good news… We’ve decided to send out a newsletter once or twice a month. In the news letter we will keep you up to date with new courses, new ideas, new trends etc in the wedding and events industry. We go to leaders in the wedding and events industry and get some good advice and tips for you… We listen to you in the courses and bring back the good advice to you! I also want to encourage you to take part in our blog where we can answer each others letter and questions. It is at times difficult for me to answer each one of you personally when you have questions – but if we can help each other and build our relationships in the wedding industry. Why not?

Most of the experts in wedding invitations, wedding décor agree on one thing – White and black will still be strong in 2011 but … look at the mood board… Dark purples, Gun Metal silvers, Black… Dark poetry will be one of the main trend setters. We’ve already started preparing décor for some of the wine farms in the Dark Poetry colours.

Interesting… keep watching our newsletters. Pls also note that our new course dates has been released.

Please note that this is our FINAL course dates for this year and we will only add another course in another region if we have 8 or more students that would like to do the course. Good news! We got a contract with the International Hotel School – they are going to present our courses in the near future. Then we will have a campus in Sandton, Durban, CPT and Pretoria.

Advance draping: After many request we decided to combine our draping level 2,3,4,5 into one course over 3 days. We are going to teach you some principles of Arch and Gazebo Draping, Room dressing, Ceiling Draping and Marquee Draping.

It is not a full course on i.e. Room Dressing but you would know the basics of it. If you need to specialize in Room Dressing then we would advise you to do the full 2 day course on Room Dressing. The cost for this course is R4500.00

Durban: On request
Cape Town: 31 July/ 3& 4& 5 & 7 August (2 Saturdays & 3 evenings)
Pretoria: 28 & 29 August (evenings) 30 & 31 August (full days)

Table setting & Centre pieces & Etiquette & Protocol:
Pretoria: 4 September 2010 / 25 September 2010
Cape Town: 22 & 23 & 24 June 2010 / 25 September & 16 October 2010

Foundational décor:
Cape Town: to be confirmed
Pretoria: 11 & 12 & 14 August 2010 (2 evenings & 1 Saturday)

Advance décor:
Cape Town: to be confirmed
Pretoria: 14, 15, 16, 18 September (3 evening and 1 Saturday)

Kids party planning:
Cape Town: 14 & 17 & 18 & 19 & 21 August (3 evening, 2 Saturday)
Pretoria: 24 – 26 & 28 August (3 evenings and 1 Saturday)

The Part time National Qualification in Tourism: Events Support starts this weekend in Pretoria. However – we can take students in at any time. If they start a few weeks later than the other students – then they will have to do the modules they’ve missed in the next intake. Our full time course is starting on the 14th June for 4 months. Remember, this course includes all the practical courses of Elect.

Visit Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training website for more information.

Events Regards and remember – We don’t work, we play… come and join us!

Event Management Certificate

Elect Training Academy, in association with Drum Beat Academy, presents a SETA-Accredited certificate course that will allow you to establish your own Event Management business.

The subjects of this course include:
Event elements
Safety and security
Special events – sport, wedding, expo’s, etc.
Venue
Décor
Marketing
Entertainment
Basic Financials
Many more theory subjects

What makes this course different from all other even management courses is the practical training that we provide, which include:
Foundational draping
Advance draping
Foundational décor
Advance décor which will include subjects like centre pieces, themes, making of props, etc.
Etiquette
Children’s party course

Entrance requirements:
Read, write and comprehend English
Basic creativity skills

Durations:
3 Months

Assessment will include a group project where each group will be required to organize and execute (with assistance) a charity event.

Award:
SETA Accredited Drum Beat Academy Certificate
Elect Acknowledgement

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

South African National Anthem

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, O se boloke
Setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa South Afrika

South Afrika !

Uit die blou van onse hemel,
uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes
waar die kranse antwoord gee.

Sounds the call to come together
and united we shall stand.
Let us live and strive for freedom
in South Africa our land.

TRANSLATION OF THE ANTHEM

Lord Bless Africa
May her glory be lifted high
Hear our petitions
Lord bless us. Us your children

Lord we ask You to protect our nation
Intervene and end all conflicts
Protect us, protect us
Protect our nation
Protect South Africa

South Africa!

Ringing out from our blue heavens,
from our deep seas breaking round,
Over everlasting mountains
where the echoing crags resound.

Sounds the call to come together
and united we shall stand.
Let us live and strive for freedom

From SA Languages

For those of you that struggle to pronounce the Anthem correctly, one innovative blogger has the solution:

Follow the link to Brand South Africa Blog for the whole document, it’s definitely worth your time.

Go to Drum Beat Academy's website to learn how you can help promote our country with our Tourist Guide and Event Support Training.