Never RUN in the African Bush

Ever wondered what it would be like to live in a tent, in the middle of no-where, with a bunch of fun people and learn about our wonderful wildlife? Then a Field Guide Course in South Africa could be your experience of a lifetime!

When we think of Africa, some of us have a rather frustrating and sad image in mind. I wasn´t so different, in fact, I didn’t have a clue what to expect or how Africa would be. After doing some research and reading, it was clear, a Field Guide Course would be a perfect opportunity to let my more adventurous and curious side out!

A Field Guide; someone who wears mostly beige clothes, big boots and a rifle around their shoulders. Well, this description certainly fit most of our Instructors.

Though, a Field Guide is so much more than that. It is a person that cares deeply about wildlife, loves inspiring people, can explain the difference about a bipinnate and a pinnate Leaf as well as be able to track down the Big 5. To be a Field Guide, you participate in a long education that starts with the Level 1. There you will learn the "Basics" from the smallest of rocks to the biggest of stars. Nothing is left out, and nothing is unanswered. Well, not everything, sometimes you just have to tell your Guests;

" That is a good Question, I will come back to you". Being in the bush with signal only available on top of the one hill in the whole Game Reserve, 20 other students and occasionally some un-welcomed roommates such as Skorpions or Spiders can be challenging. But hey, at least you learn all about them, so you can tell how harmful it is to have such a Tent-buddy. A Day in the Camp starts early, and there are some tasks to get done before first light. For example, boiling enough water for everyone, getting the vehicles ready and doing your safety check. So, a good night sleep is recommended. That should be easy when you can’t scroll through social media, right? Yes and No.

If you had a day in the sun with lots of new exciting events and studying, then yeah, after one beer, you are ready for an early night in. If only there wouldn’t be so much noise around you. The Bush is loud, especially at night. Not only do you hear the birds and all the insects saying goodnight, in the distance you often hear some Hyenas getting ready to hunt. Which is an incredible and slightly scary experience. Their laughter travels for many kilometers, and being in your tent, it will sound like if they are only a few meters away. But enough about sleeping. What does a day in the Bush look like? Well, after everyone is ready and if you are the Guide for the morning drive, you must wear nice and neat clothes, know exactly the interests of your fellow students and are informed where the Lions are. Joking, no one expects you to know everything. But you will gain all the knowledge in the next two months. Depending on the Game Reserve the camp is located in, the roads can be a bit bumpy and not always is everything as it should be. Elephants are the most common big animal you will see and they love pushing over trees so that they can enjoy the highly nutritious roots. Handling situations like these can be a challenge, though, the vehicles have a lot of power which is a whole different challenge for people like me.

When you drive and guide in the mornings, you will know why you did that course and why 4:30 a.m. seems to be a good time to wake up. It is the feeling of being in the moment. You hear all the excited birds calling and advertising themselves, you smell a cold breeze and feel the sun in your face. This feeling is reminding you how precious this world is and that we often just walk past so many beautiful things. Well, to be honest, after the one hundred Impala you saw that day, you will drive past that too. When in a sighting, you, as the guide, will talk about what you know. Preferably you should only stop and talk about what you know. As I had to learn a few times, a Sandpaper Raisin Tree is not the same as a Sandpaper Raisin Bush.

Be enthusiastic, be excited and tell your story. That is what guiding is mostly about. Not that a Giraffe´s gestation period is 15 month and they give birth while standing up. Though, that is quite fascinating and it is a pretty rough welcome to this world. On each drive, which is about 3-4 hours, the group will have a tea/coffee break or in the evening, a sundowner. Now you are allowed to relax, chat a bit, have a smoke or jump behind the bush for a toilet break. Leaving the vehicle is actually one of the best moments, it makes you realize how vulnerable we humans are in the wild. The animals are way ahead of us and know exactly where we are and how we smell. They see the vehicle and us in it as one, meaning, they see us as one big silhouette. Outside the vehicle it seems a bit different, we are spread out, like a group of Impalas, ready to run.

First Rule in the Bush: Never RUN!

Back in the camp, breakfast and all other meals during the day are prepared for us. Local food as well as the classic bacon and eggs. Everyone finds something they like, but you need to be quick. Then before you are allowed to eat the students on “Duty Team” who dish up, will ask some questions about the things you need to know. Such as bird or frog calls. So, if you want enough food, you got to know your birds. Each day there will be lectures held by instructors, some of them more interesting than others. For each lecture there is a chapter in a workbook and a theory review a few days later. And let me tell you, it is a good idea to keep up with your work. It is hard work, and a lot to take in when you have a hot day in the Bush ahead of you. If you need a break, around the camp there are some areas where you can meet up with others and play some games or read a book. For the athletic people, there is an area with some weights you can lift. After a hot day or some exercising, the real bush experience awaits. The showers. Because we are in the middle of nowhere and we willingly decided it is a great idea, we need to respect the fact that there is not a lot of water. Maximum of 2 minutes of warm water should be enough, right? Yes, you will be good friends with everyone, especially when you sit next to them on the outdoor toilet or sing the same song in the shower. That’s how you find your best friend or the love of your life. “It is all about the natural smell”, an Instructor once told us. If you don’t like someone’s smell, it will not work out. In the afternoon the whole group goes out for another drive, tries to find those wild dogs you saw tracks of a few days ago.

No day is the same, and the Bush is full of surprises, that is the beauty of it. The evenings slowly get longer as you adjust to the lack of sleep and the beer input the group can take. Everyone is invited to sit around the

campfire, play the guitar, chat or play some games. Sitting under a sky full of stars is magical. Never have I seen so many stars, and definitely have never known so many stories about star constellations. When you are finally back in your tent, ready to fall asleep, there is one last thing you always have to do. Check your bed. There might be an un-welcomed guest making itself comfortable and we definitely don’t want to wake it up too roughly. If you think the course could be something for you, then here are a few things you should bring that is not on the typically “safari list”:

• Less study books than you think you will need, the camp has a whole library

• Black pens and a lot, you will probably loose them and you are only allowed to write the exams with a black pen

• A hammock, sometimes you do not want to sit in a chair or lay in your hot tent

• Hair conditioner, I wouldn´t be able to brush my hair otherwise

• A watch, your phone is not allowed on your assessment drive and you need to keep track of time

• Invest money in a bird app, it helps so much with identifying and studying

• Snacks, you will get hungry in-between meals