Wilderness Trails Skills Course

about the school

Operating for 24 years, EcoTraining is the pioneer and leader in safari guide and wildlife training in Africa. EcoTraining is widely recognised by the safari industry for its credibility and standard of excellence in nature guide training. We offer accredited career courses, gap year and sabbatical programmes, nature programmes, high school and university study abroad programmes, custom courses and on-site professional guide training at safari lodges. All courses are run directly from EcoTraining’s unfenced bush camps in prime wilderness areas across South Africa, Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. To date EcoTraining has trained over 11 000 people from 33 different countries around the world

course content

Some subjects and activities covered on course:

The PLAN for overnight stops

• How to make an eco-friendly fire (you’ll have to come on course for that one…)
• Minimal footprint – how to guide in the bush leaving little or no evidence of your presence
• Minimization is maximizationWilderness Trails Skills
• Wilderness – the importance thereof
• Night watch
• Planning for and collection of water replenishment
• Mastering ‘Time’
• Sounds of Silence – Facilitating a Wilderness Experience

Course structure
Day 1 Meet at Pafuri Gate (KNP) at 13H00. Vehicles will be left at the student car park. The course commences from car park. Sleep out in the bush.
Day 2 – 5 Sleep out on trail
Day 6 Students depart from the car park (Pafuri Gate).

start dates

camps

The sleeping arrangements at all our camps consist of two people sharing per tent. Single requests are required to pay double-rates. Women and men do not share tents unless booked as a couple.

Meals

• Early morning wake-up (tea, coffee, biscuits, fresh fruit and cereal)
• Brunch after activity (cooked breakfast and fruit salad)
• Afternoon tea (light lunch/ sandwiches)
• Dinner (balanced, warm plated meal with meat, vegetables and salad)

The Wilderness Trails Skills course takes place in the Makuleke Concession.

transfers

Scheduled Bush Bus Transfers

There will always be a scheduled transfer for the start and the end of all EcoTraining courses. These transfers come at an additional rate.

Departure from Johannesburg (1st day of course)

All EcoTraining scheduled Bush Bus transfers will depart from the Emerald Guesthouse on the first day of a course. The departure time is strictly 6am from the Emerald Guesthouse. Please arrive at departure point no later than 15 minutes prior to departure.

Participants flying into Johannesburg (international and domestic) are advised to arrive the day before and overnight at Emerald Guesthouse to ensure all passengers are on time for departure and the bus leaves as scheduled. Please book directly with Emerald Guesthouse on info@emeraldguesthouse.net.

The guesthouse is within close proximity to OR Tambo International Airport and if supplied with your flight details, will collect you at no additional charge. They offer a range of accommodation options, to suit your individual requirements and budget. As the Bush Bus departs early morning from Emerald, overnighting at the guesthouse will help simplify your departure.

Drive time (from the relevant EcoTraining Camp):

• From Selati or Karongwe: approx. 5 hours
• From Botswana: approx. 7 hours
• From the Makuleke Concession (Kruger National Park): approx. 7 hours

Departure from Camp (Last day of course)

All EcoTraining scheduled BushBus transfers will depart from the relevant EcoTraining camp on the last day of a course. The departure transfer time is between 9 and 10.30am from all camps.

Please expect a late afternoon arrival back in Johannesburg. Drop off can be arranged at OR Tambo International Airport or Emerald Guesthouse only. Please book late evening flights (preferably 20h00 and onwards). Alternatively, please arrange post course accommodation at Emerald Guesthouse.

price

Price 2024

ZAR 12.770,00 per person

Price 2025

ZAR 13.550,00 per person

*Please note that the official price for this course is in ZAR as above. Any other currency price for this tour is merely indicative. The ZAR price will be converted to your preferred currency using the exchange rate on the date of invoice.

Price includes:

• Instructor & walks (sleep-outs/ trail)

Price excludes:

• Meals & beverages (please see before “what to bring”)
• Transfers/transport to and from the camp, before and after the
  course
• Any accommodation before and after the course
• Kruger National Park entrance fee