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Nature Guide (Elective)

A Nature Guide is a person that interprets the natural wealth of a site or province to a group of international or local visitors and educates and informs them of the different aspects of that particular area. South Africa has a very diverse natural heritage that offers countless tourism destinations where people can experience a variety of tourism attractions from the Fynbos in the Western Cape to the majestic Baobab in the Limpopo, from the wonders of the wetlands at St. Lucia to the striking Gemsbok of the Kalahari. These guides are very well informed about the natural elements of the site or province they guide in and have a wealth of information about the animals and plant life that inhabit it. A Nature Guide can operate in one specific site or qualify to work as a competent guide in a province/s or as a National Guide. A Nature Guide can guide in national parks, conservation areas, mountains, bushveld, different biomes, game reserves, etc. A Nature Guide can also qualify as a specialised guide in an area, province or the whole of South Africa and conduct tours such as botanical tours, biome tours, big 5 tours, birding tours, geology tours, wetlands tours, natural resource tour, etc.

Drum Beat Academy offers a THETA accredited Nature Guide qualification. This course will enhance your skills as a guide and enable you to interpret our natural heritage in an interesting informative way. This course will let you travel throughout South Africa exploring and sharing our country with paying customers both local and international. Once qualified a Nature Guide can move from province to province finding employment with tour operators, working as a free lance guide or working on private game reserves in the provinces he/she is qualified for. This programme is presented twice a year at our head office and can be arranged at other locations should there be a big demand.

Course Content:

Theory:
Conduct a guided experience
Design a tour
Legal requirements
Overview of South Africa
South African heritage
Plan and conduct research
Social issues
Teamwork
Communication
Care for customers
Identify plants and animals
Animal behavior
Astronomy, ecology, taxonomy, geology and climatology
Grass identification
Bird identification
And many more

Practical:
Conducting a guided nature tour
Provide customer service
Demonstrate ability to handle problems

Entrance requirements:
Leaner should have a basic comprehension of English
Basic reading, writing and mathematical skills are required
Culture Guide qualification

Duration:
10 full days theory, 4 full days practical, own time for preparation and completion of assignments and questionnaires

Assessment:
Practical assessment on Conducting a Guided Experience
Questionnaire on theory and information cards
Designed itinerary

Award:
Drum Beat Academy and THETA Certificate