The Beginning of an Adventure of a Lifetime: Safari Guide Training in South Africa

Week 1:

After visiting South Africa in 2017 I had a powerful longing to return. I learned about the field guide course at Limpopo Field Guiding Academy from a safari guide and I worked everyday towards taking this opportunity of a lifetime. Week one of the course exceeded all of my expectations. I knew it would be challenging and it tested me in every way possible. Everything in nature is connected from the smallest blade of grass to the tallest tree. From an ant to an elephant. We began the course learning about geology the framework that holds everything together and supports life. At night we slept in our tents while lions roared us to sleep. We learned about plants and reptiles all while a Nile crocodile did her morning swim by. Not everything can be learned in a book so we set out on foot in the bush to put our knowledge to a test followed by a daily game drive. The people in my course represent 7 different countries from ages 19 to 60 and we instantly became a family. We saw tracks from various animals and worked out who they belonged to and how they got there. Some included buffalo, blue wildebeest, zebras, snakes, giraffes and different species of birds. They were challenging to work out but learning is easy when it’s knowledge you seek…