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.