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Awareness through Wilderness . . .
© Copyright Bhejane Nature Training cc 2011
It’s 5:30 in the morning and there’s a knock on my door. The sun is just starting to warm the Acacia tops here in Zululand. It’s time for another 5km walk and I still can’t believe that I am six months pregnant and my feet barely fit into my boots. The motivation of knowing that I’m almost a FGASA level one qualified ‘Dangerous Game Field’ guide is what propels me from my bed and into the shower. It’s what I’ve been working towards for almost two years. Click on the title to read more . . .
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What follows below, is an article written by Zululand Butterfly Guide – Amon Ndlovu. We met Amon nearly two years ago when he was taking care of a Space for Elephants Camp on community property, for Nkosi Zeblon Gumbi. The Space for Elephants Foundation had at the time an Australian Entomologist, Dr. Andy Young, also staying at this camp and completing a Butterfly survey of the area. Amon had an immediate interest in the research project and went out daily with Dr. Young for just over 6 months, learning about all of South Africa’s butterfly species. On completion of the project, Amon joined Bhejane Nature Training as a Space for Elephants Sponsored student and started training towards his FGASA Level 1 ( which he achieved with outstanding results.) Click on the title to read more . . .
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I look around at my one year Nature Guide students, they have been with me now for three months. Their faces are alive with a mixture of nervous expectancy. Three months ago when I took them for their first nature walk in a dangerous game area, their faces were full of the same excitement as they are now. The difference this time, is that I am not in control of the situation. My .416 rifle is locked away in a safe back home in the bush. We are all in the same boat now, or should I say Rubberduck (rigid inflatable boat) as it launches through the surf towards 2 Mile Reef. Our mission is to dive the corals of Sodwana Bay. Click on the title to read more . . .
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How can you get qualified as a marine guide? Bhejane Nature Training, as the only FGASA accredited training provider in the region, offers Marine Guiding courses. As per the new requirements from FGASA and THETA these courses are now 10 weeks long. It was found that many people struggled to take in all the information over a 6 week period and although 10 weeks seems long, for most people this will be a good amount of time to familiarize yourself with the theory and practical aspects of marine guiding. As mentioned above, included in the course is a Padi Open Water Course with one of the best dive centers in South Africa, Coral Divers in Sodwana Bay. Click on the title to read more . . .
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Nature Guiding is one of those dream jobs, that is envied by many for good reason. While it is certainly hard work, the rewards are numerous. The typical image of a Nature or Field Guide, would be picturing the guide in an open game viewing vehicle with guests in the back, ready with binoculars and cameras, driving through beautiful grasslands, with lions relaxing and elephants browsing somewhere in the distance! While this picture rings true for many areas in South Africa, guiding in Zululand takes on a whole different dimension. The reason for this being the absolutely breathtaking diversity of the region. A bloodiest that according to Dr. Ian Player overtakes that of the entire Kruger National Park and even the Okavango Delta. Working in such a diverse area offers the nature guide many possibilities for specialisation. Click on the title to read more . . .
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As a guide I have been privileged enough to have lived and worked in Zululand for several years now. I have been fortunate to have done trips to many of the region’s most appealing locations and I feel the need to express my feelings for this, arguably the most diverse and scenic part of our country. I would like to mention some of the areas that will forever remain special to me. Click on the title to read more . . .