What makes a Great Field Guide?

I have been involved in Nature Guiding for the past 20 years and this is a question that I asked myself right in the beginning. It has been posed to me time and time again since then. The answer is simple: Passion for what you do.

Courtesy: LFGA

It is the same in any walk of life – and not specific to the Field Guide Industry. If you are not passionate about what you do, then you will achieve mediocre results. So how do we become passionate? Well, that is the great question and the cynic in me says that you cannot “become” passionate – either you are or you are not. But I suspect its actually more complicated than that and I believe that people are actually in control of their passion.

Courtesy: Bwindi

Life is about choice and if we allow ourselves to be sucked into the distractions of modern- day life, we will have no time to be passionate. Yes – be passionate. It is a choice. If you spend all your time on Social Media – chatting about your latest meal or reality TV – you will literally have no time left for anything else.

So if you are serious about being a great Field Guide – ditch the device, get off WhatsApp, BBM, Facebook and Twitter – and start living. Get out into the field – IN YOUR OFF TIME – and learn something new. Learn new birds, tracks, grasses or insects…learn something that will make you a better guide.

Courtesy: Charles Bezuidenhout

I was fortunate in that during my early days as a guide – there were no such distractions. Indeed, we barely had cell phones in Africa (they arrived in 1994) – and baby game rangers certainly had no funds for such luxuries! I was lucky enough to be able to go into the field free of the ball and chain that is a cell phone. The only comms I had was a hand radio – if it worked and only if I was in an area with radio signal…what freedom that was!

I can still spot the passionate guides these days…through the haze of Social Media. They are the ones who either don’t have it (also a choice) – or if they do – they are the ones that “disappear” from Facebook for weeks and months on end…only to reappear again with wonderful updates and pics of the wild and wonderful places that they have either been guiding in or exploring in their OFF TIME! Compare that to “guides” who post constant rubbish on Social Media or sit and troll Field Guiding groups spreading negativity at every opportunity. There are also those who are regularly on Social Media and their constant updates show a true passion for what they do – genuine activities in the field that cannot be fabricated.

So whether you are tracking Gorillas in Uganda, photographing flowers in Namaqualand or guiding in the Mara – keep doing what you are doing…your passion shines through. If you are trolling Facebush or playing games – stop doing what you are doing – you are killing that small flame of passion that once brought you to the bush.

Courtesy: Andrew Conway

Until we chat again – all the best and KEEP THE PASSION ALIVE !

The Student Experience, by Erik Lessing of Netherlands.

I had wanted to experience the African bush for as long as I can remember. Being from Europe I wanted to do something special and decided to do a FGASA Level 1 Field Guiding Course through Limpopo Field Guiding Academy in South Africa.

Having enrolled in a course with the Limpopo Field Guiding Academy, I expected I would learn a lot about the bush and bush life. In reality I got more than I ever expected. Not only did I learn about the bush but I fell in love with it! The course is an intense combination that teaches you about nature, the wonders it has to offer and also about yourself. Course life is mixed with making new friends, learning , experiencing nature, the realities and sometimes the dangers of being in the bush. Insights into animal behaviour teach you to read the things you find while you are in the bush and you learn to interpret these signs., allowing you to recreate the events in your mind .

With 2 game drives per day, lectures in between, tests every week on numerous subjects, the pace is high, but worth it’s weight in gold! Evenings around the campfires allow you to relax and exchange experiences with fellow students and reflect on the day's events. That, coupled with the view of a star filled night sky, is awe inspiring! The instructors offer a wealth of information that I could never have imagined and have made me aware of the new world that has opened up for me. 

All in all the Limpopo Field Guiding Academy has given me a new lease on life and a new love; the African Bush! I have now been offered a position as a Field Guide in South Africa and having gotten the opportunity to show what I have to offer tells me that all the hard work and learning was worth it! Thank you Mark, Linky, Charles  and Janesta for all you have given me!

Blog by Erik Lessing, Limpopo Ranger 2013.

 

Minimising the Ecological Footprint - Wilderness living at Limpopo Field Guiding Academy

Pictured above is the "donkey" system at our Wilderness camp at Limpopo Field Guiding Academy. LFGA is committed to a minimal impact philosophy in terms of our interaction with the ecosystems within which we conduct our training. This ethos is integrated into the student experience and we believe that our graduates take away a better understanding of the wilderness concept, ultimately resulting in better custodianship of our natural resources. 

For a full camp of 12 students and two staff, the donkey system is filled with 420 litres of water every second day. Said water is used for showering (in the riverbed below is a shower with hot and cold water on tap) - each person is allowed one quick shower per day. If 14 people use it each day, that is 15 liters available per person per day. The rules are to have the taps one quarter open (that is just enough - the pressure is very good from above) - maximum 5 minute shower. Another strategy is to have the taps open only initially to get wet, then lather at leisure with the taps closed, then rinse off again afterwards - not the ideal approach in winter! Typically individuals use about 10 liters per shower and we normally have some left over - or, with bigger groups, there is enough for 20 people to shower per day - that is with strict management of the procedures. 

In the pic above the vertical tank is the hot water source - a wood fire being lit in the internal cavity visible from frontal view. The horizontal tank is the cold water source. Water is driven in using a tank on a pick-up.

We also have a "long-drop" or pit latrine at our wilderness camp - this instead of a flushing toilet saves an untold amount of water - arguably Africa (and the world's) most precious resource. The lavatory is designed in such a manner as to have an external breather pipe and allows for air-flow through the entire system, thus preventing the build-up of unpleasant odours. Note: this only functions correctly if a number or user protocols are observed and followed!

It is common knowledge that some pit-latrines around the world do extreme damage to the natural system - the reason being the way in which they are managed - common problems being litter thrown down the pit, the use of harmful chemicals to neutralise odours and in extreme cases, killer agents such as "burnt lime" or gasoline being used in the pit to annihilate any organism in and around the pit. 

LFGA employ the most natural processes in our pit latrine - we add an active bacteria to the system once a week in the time that we are there. The bacteria feed on waste items in the pit and decompose organic material back into simple inorganic nutrients or minerals, which feed the natural ecosystem in and around the pit. Used effectively and in combination with the aforementioned user protocols, the bacteria serves as an efficient organic waste and odour management agent. 

LFGA uses the Wilderness camp for 2-week cycles at a time - giving the system a chance to recover from any impact we do have. In a 4-week phase, students would spend 2 weeks at a time at our conventional base-camp and also 2 weeks at a time in the Wilderness camp. Those cycles complete a 4-week "Phase" - allowing for a comfortable balance between academic learning with modern conveniences and our "bush-phase" - camping out and focusing on the fun and practical aspects of nature guiding. 

Our Wilderness camp also utilises other scarce natural resources such as fuelwood and fossil fuels (eg gas, petroleum) in the most minimalist manner possible. For example we are stocked with fuel-wood rations and the bulk of cooking is done over an open fire, using the minimal amount of wood. With clever rotation of coals and correct fire pots - food, hot water for dishes and heat for students (winter) all originate from the same small camp fire - not to mention the romantic ambience of sitting around a flickering camp fire in the heart of the African Wilderness!

In terms of the fossil fuels - we only conduct walking safaris in the wilderness area and vehicles are used for transport in and out only. Two small gas lamps are sparingly used between all all members in camp at night. 

No concrete, cement or any permanent building material has ever been used in our camp and the entire set-up can be dismantled in a few hours - leaving only pristine wilderness behind. 

Wilderness camping - just another way in which you can be a part of the LFGA Legacy - doing our part to save the planet!

LFGA creates opportunities for guides

Limpopo Field Guiding Academy has long been known as a leader in the field guide and tracker training industry in Southern Africa. For the past ten years LFGA has delivered an exceptionally high standard of training to guides at all levels. But what of the employment opportunities thereafter? Our guides are placed all over Southern Africa and indeed further up Africa too. It is no secret that many stakeholders in the industry are very keen to employ Limpopo Rangers as they are assured of high quality field guides.

While we cannot guarantee employment to anybody (unless we employ them ourselves), we are comfortable with the fact that we use only the best placement agencies in our industry; these agents ensuring the very best interview opportunities for our students. 

One area that we have direct control over is our own Intern Programme. Over the past 10 years LFGA has offered internships to our top graduates. This is a much sought after position among students as not only do they have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, but they also have access to higher training, typically coming away from the intern period with qualifications such as FGASA Trails Guide, FGASA Level 2 Field Guide and CyberTracker Tracker levels. Added to this they may pick up qualifications such as Birding Specialist and more.

Pictured above is Tiziano Allegretti, our current intern field guide. Tiz graduated from LFGA in November 2011 with FGASA Level 1, CyberTracker Track and Sign 2, Basic Dangerous Game and Basic Birding. Tiz grew up in Kenya and had already gained exposure to the bush and guiding up there, his family being involved in the same industry. He chose to remain in SA and gain experience here, quickly taking up a temporary guiding position at a Big 5 game lodge near Bela Bela, Limpopo. 

When the intern position became available at LFGA in 2012, we offered it to Tiz who promptly accepted. He completed the FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling (ARH) and Trails Guide theory exam in the same year. Tiz is Italian speaking and was required through the Association of Italian Experts Africa (AIEA) to fill a temporary guiding post as Italian language guide at Thornybush Game Reserve, Lowveld during the festive season at the end of 2012 / early 2013. This, coupled with a month-long stint as field guide at Lions Valley Lodge, Nambiti GR, KZN, allowed Tiz to pick up invaluable guiding experience in various parts of South Africa. 

In March 2013 Tiz returned to LFGA to resume his guiding duties and internship. Tiz is currently studying towards the FGASA Level 2 exams and also picking up valuable mentorship hours in the Trails Guide process. He will undergo his Trails Back up assessment in April this year and sit Level 2 theory in July. Towards the end of the year he will be able to undergo the practicals for Lead Trails Guide and also the Level 2 practical evaluations. All going well, Tiz will graduate at the end of 2013 as FGASA Level 2 Trails Guide, with 2 years guiding experience in Big 5 game reserves in 3 different regions of South Africa. Added to this he will still undergo several CyberTracker Track and Sign evaluations and has the opportunity to upgrade his current Level 2 to that of Level 3 or even Level 4. 

Tiziano Allegretti is a great example of the excellent opportunities afforded to LFGA student graduates, thanks to the wide network we have established throughout Africa with the help of AFGA (African Field Guides Association) and AIEA. 

Please note: Intern positions are limited and are only offered to the top graduates of Limpopo Field Guiding Academy. Other LFGA students however, have a multitude of work opportunities to choose from, provided they put in the hard work and pass their course!!

Dont delay - join LFGA today!!!

Enquiries info@limpopotraining.co.za

+27(0)72 625 4709

+27(0)14 740 0153

Limpopo Field Guiding Academy Wages War on Recession!

Are you struggling to pay the bills? Feeling the crunch? No spare cash for that Field Guiding course you wanted to do...or to send your loved one on?

Well enough is enough! Fuel price hikes, inflation, the cost of living going through the roof have all had a knock-on effect - to the point that very few people have spare cash lying around. Limpopo Field Guiding Academy (LFGA) have taken it upon themselves to stand up and fight this vicious cycle. Something had to give, and we have decided to slash our rates - that's right - we are going back two years in time and offering industry rates from 2010.

Its common knowledge in the field guide training industry that prices go up each year in line with inflation. Its unavoidable if we as service providers are to survive in the industry. Its also common knowledge in the industry that Limpopo Field Guiding Academy are industry leaders in field guide and game ranger training. Our special mix of products and services have set the tone in the training world for the past 10 years. Nowhere else can learner field guides get the same exposure to various guiding and tracking applications such as nature guiding, track and sign interpretation, birding skills, basic dangerous game training and first aid - all within your FGASA endorsed Level 1 training course!

So spread the news you can now do the following courses at 2010 rates:

• FGASA Endorsed 2 Month Course:  R31 500 (was R33 900)
• 3 Week Course  R11 990 (was R13 190)
• 4 Week Course R15 750 (was R17 300)
• Correspondence Course R3 000 (was R3 300)

And many more courses like weapon handling, birding, track and sign and more....all at 2010 rates!

Our courses are the only ones to be both FGASA and AFGA endorsed - The Professional Standard for Africa. 

Visit our website at www.limpopotraining.co.za or email Linky at info@limpopotraining.co.za

or phone us on +27(0)14 740 0153 or +27(0)72 625 4709.

Don't delay - spaces on course are limited. Make the most of our War on Recession now!!

WEBS OF STEEL: The Golden Orb Web Spider is not the largest spider, but makes the largest and strongest web. It gets its name from the golden colour of its silk.

The web can run from the top of a tree 6m high and up to 2m wide. Unlike other spider webs, the Golden Orb Web Spider's web is not dismantled often and can last several years.

Designed to catch large flying insects, the web is slightly angled. It is not a perfect wheel and is usually off-centre. To make its web, the spider releases a thin thread into the wind. When it catches on something, the spider walks along it trailing a stronger non-sticky thread. It repeats the process in the centre of the line to form a strong Y-frame. Around this, it spins the rest of the web out of sticky capture silk. The silk is so strong that it can trap small birds, which the spider doesn't eat. These trapped creatures often destroy the web by thrashing around. To avoid such damage, the spider often leaves a line of insect husks on its web (like the safety strip across glass doors!); or builds smaller barrier webs around the main web. Role in the habitat: Like other predators, the spiders control the population of prey. They are in turn preyed upon by other creatures such as birds. In New Guinea, some tribes consider them a tasty treat. The Golden Orb Web Spider's venom is generally harmless to humans and they rarely bite even if we blunder into and destroy their webs. The bite is just a scratch. They are clumsy on the ground. In modern times, the Golden Orb Web Spider's silk is set to become a major product. The silk is almost as strong as Kevlar, the strongest man-made material which is drawn from concentrated sulphuric acid. In contrast, spider silk is drawn from water. If we could manufacture spider silk, it would have a million uses from parachutes, bullet-proof vests, lightweight clothing, seatbelts, light but strong ropes, as sutures in operations, artificial tendons and ligaments. Studies are now being done to have genetically engineered plants produce fluid polymers which can be processed into silk! Spiders are not used to produce silk fabric because Silkworm Moth caterpillars produce twice as much silk and are easier to manage (for example, they don't eat each other up!!).

School leaver’s camp – Grade 11 and 12

Come and join us for a 1 or 2 week general Field Guiding exposure course at Mabula Game Reserve, Limpopo Province.

Week 1 – Basic Dangerous Game exposure : 24 – 30 June 2012

Price: R 4 395

Week 1 exposes you to the big 5, both on foot and per vehicle.

Pupils will be taken on guided walks into Rhino, Hippo, Buffalo etc. by a professional fully qualified FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) Trails Guide and shown all the different aspects of conducting guided walks in a Big 5 area. Vehicle approaches will also be done on Lion and Elephant.

Week 2 – General Field Guiding exposure week: 1 – 7 July 2012

Price R 4 395

Week 2 offers a chance at experiencing first-hand what it takes to become a field guide.

He/she will be taught general bush knowledge and skills. A Great opportunity to see if you have what it takes to become a Field Guide.

If both weeks are taken we offer a discount. The complete 2 week option price comes to R 7 990.

Prices include all meals and accommodation.

The school leaver’s camp offers pupils a GREAT opportunity to explore Field Guiding as a career.

He/she can then come and join our course immediately after matric in order to complete the full National Qualification in Field Guiding. Once qualified as a FGASA level 1 guide, you are then legal to guide anywhere in Southern Africa.

Field Guiding as a career is a wonderful opportunity for those who have a love for nature and want to live and work in the best possible place on earth!!