Land Owner Field Training

The following senario might sound familiar:

Game drives involve you as the host/“guide” – the safari companions being either family or friends. The drives entail a basic trolling exercise en route to a favoured coffee-break or sun-downer venue, hoping that you may bump into something mammalian. You rely upon your reflections, anecdotes, the open air and wilderness (and in many cases the contents of a well stocked coolerbox) to sustain everyone’s enthusiasm. You idle along scanning vacantly at the bush, passing landmarks where you regale stories of memorable past sightings that you have enjoyed. Unbeknownst to you the tyres of your vehicle are neatly obliterating the trail where a female leopard has dragged its freshly killed prey, and you do not notice the Bateleur eagle perched in a tree 50 metres off the road, waiting patiently for the leopard to move off its kill. Then you inadvertently bump into a breeding-herd of elephant and all of a sudden there are 8 “generals” on the back of the vehicle, firing orders at you or taking refuge under the seats. You feel you should be in control of the situation as you are the host/”guide”. You may even be naively comfortable: after-all you have an inherited Lee Enfield .303 in the rifle rack to see off any hostility, although you are blissfully unaware of the potter wasp nest a third of the way down the barrel and the 1978 vintage ammunition locked safely away back at the camp. You manage to get through the “near-death experience” with the help of some high-speed reversing skills and impressive 3-point turns (assisted by a robust bull bar and tow-hitch) and exercise a swift evacuation.

Back at camp and you find yourself plodding through your bird books in an effort to key out (once again) some of the more common and visibly striking birds with at least some degree of certainty. Then there is that persistent bird call that you keep hearing…

Unfortunately the acquisition of a private wildlife property does not come with an automatic knowledge and understanding of its rich and complex environmental content. It takes an enormous amount of time, effort and investment in order to get to a position which allows you to begin extracting the wondrous enrichment that this knowledge affords you. Everything is meaningful once you have a decent working knowledge of your natural surroundings.

Scope of services

• Tailored courses on the identification, knowledge advancement and appreciation of all forms of wildlife (Mammals, Birds, Trees, Wild flowers, Arthropods, Amphibians, Reptiles and Fish) and their associated behaviour and interrelationships – from basic through to advanced (Seasons may need to be factored in relating to relative abundance of certain ephemeral species)
• Understanding and interpreting animal behaviour
• Training in fire-arm use and safety
• Tracking skills and Track & Sign Interpretation
• Off-road driving skills and vehicle recovery
- Audit on your equipment and the safety/serviceability of it
• Astronomy – colloquial and interest-based (naked-eye; binocular or telescope)
• Viewing and dealing with Potentially Dangerous Animals (in vehicle or on foot)
• Walking skills and techniques
• Entertaining children at your camp
- Activities
- Equipment


All of these services are conducted on your own property or area of regular operation, so you get to learn more about your own environment and are able to contextualize and apply this knowledge for the benefit of future visits. You will also be able to better appreciate and enjoy your surroundings in a safer and more confident manner. A follow-up note pack will be supplied, collating the details and information covered in the sessions for your later revision. Specific services and training can also be provided to your staff, if necessary