Student of the African Bush Experience course in South Africa observing an elephant in the wild

Nature Travel Southern Africa: African Bush Experience

South Africa Botswana 7 to 14 days From 1,050 €

Explore the African wild! You are a true nature lover, eager to dive into the African wilderness and curious about living the life of a safari guide? Then join our introductory bush adventure and be more than a mere spectator in Southern Africa’s unspoilt nature!

During your 7- to 14-day bush experience in either South Africa or Botswana, nature will turn into your classroom: An highly experienced guide will lead you and your team through the wild landscapes of KwaZulu-Natal or the awe-inspiring Okavango Delta, teaching you fundamental field guide knowledge about animal behaviour, wildlife tracking and intricate ecosystems. At least one night will be spent under Africa’s breathtaking night sky, under the stars in your sleeping bag and surrounded by the sounds of the bush.

Take the chance to experience Southern Africa’s nature in an in-depth way, witness stunning Big Five encounters and enjoy an educational and unforgettable wilderness adventure.

Your trip at a glance

Highlights

Experience the life of a safari guide
Immerse yourself into Southern Africa’s incomparable wilderness
Get to know beautiful KwaZulu-Natal or the breathtaking Okavango Delta
Roam the depths of a Big Five game reserve
Observe wild animals in their natural habitat
Acquire knowledge about the African flora and fauna
Learn from highly experienced guides and safari guide trainers
Enjoy an unforgettable wilderness sleep-out

Locations

KwaZulu-Natal

Okavango Delta

Course students of the game ranger short course on a bush walk in Southern Africa

Large herd of elephants in Southern Africa

Guide students in Southern Africa learning to read animal tracks

Image of a giraffe, looking over some bushes in Southern Africa

View from a mokoro in the Okavango Delta, a herd of elephants in the background

Water lilies in Botswana's beautiful Okavango Delta

Two lionesses in Southern Africa cuddling up

Course students of the game ranger short course in Southern Africa making a fire

Leopard walking in a game reserve in South Africa

Sunset in Botswana's magical Okavango Delta

Wilderness sleep-out in Africa: Student of the African Bush Experience course in South Africa on a sleeping mat enjoying the sunset

Introductory field guide course in Africa

Join this 7- or 14-day bush adventure course in South Africa or Botswana, enjoy daily game walks and drives together with our experienced field and trails guides and get a taste of Southern Africa’s fascinating wildlife and ecosystems.

Team of students and guides of the African Bush Experience in Southern Africa

Arrival and orientation in Southern Africa

Depending on your course destination, you should book a flight to Richards Bay Airport (South Africa) or Maun Airport (Botswana) which arrives on the day the course starts. Before your departure to Southern Africa we help you organise a transfer service that will pick you up from the airport and take you to your base, a private lodge in KwaZulu-Natal or a camp in the Okavango Delta. Here you can settle in, get to know your team members and learn more about the course and important safety rules.

Course students of the game ranger short course on a game walk in Southern Africa

Activities as a course participant

The course aims at familiarising you with Southern Africa’s ecosystems in manifold ways and enriching you with essential bush knowledge.

Usually, you will get up early in the morning on your first game drive or walk of the day. Together with your international group and your excellent guide you will head out into the wilderness of KwaZulu-Natal or the Okavango Delta.

Students of the African Bush Experience course in South Africa observing an elephant in the wild

In Botswana, you will also be able to enjoy a mokoro trip on the delta’s countless waterways. In the field as well as during short lectures you will learn about the environment. At the end of your bush adventure, you will be equipped with in-depth knowledge about tracking, birding, mammals, plants and animal behaviour. In order to enhance your overall experience, topics that are discussed can be customised to the interests of your group.

During your time in the course, you will take part in a wilderness sleep-out. This means: sleeping in the open, no tents, just you, the star-struck sky and the captivating sounds of the African bush.

Dive into the life of a Safari Guide and experience the untamed nature of Southern Africa!

Looking into a bedroom of a lodge in South Africa which serves as accommodation for the game ranger short course

Accommodation in Southern Africa

During your wilderness adventure in KwaZulu-Natal, you will be accommodated in a beautiful lodge, situated in a Big Five private conservancy of almost 30,000 ha. Here, you will sleep in a shared bedroom, equipped with towels, linen, electricity and with access to a modern bathroom. In the lodge you can also find a lounge, a bar, a swimming pool as well as an inside and outside dining area. Free WiFi and phone signal are available in communal areas. You will be provided with three daily meals, drinking water, coffee and tea.

Course student of the game ranger short course taking a picture of an elephant in Southern Africa

When joining the Botswana course, you will be accommodated in a tented camp in the southern part of the Okavango Delta. Located at the banks of a river, it overlooks a beautiful lagoon which is regularly visited by elephants or hippos. You will sleep in a shared 3x3m dome tent, situated on wooden decks and equipped with twin beds, mattresses and solar lights. You will also have access to a shower, a hand basin and a chemical toilet. Furthermore, the camp consists of a dining area, a classroom and a braai area. Phone signal is extremely weak, and sometimes unavailable. You will be provided with three daily meals, drinking water, coffee and tea.

Looking over the swimming pool of a lodge in South Africa which serves as accommodation for the game ranger short course

Leisure time during the wilderness course

In general, you will have free time after lunch and in the evening after dinner. You can take a nap, read a book, jump in the pool (South Africa) or simply spend time with the other participants. The evenings will usually be spent around the campfire before going to sleep.

Arrival

Arrival in Southern Africa and transfer to your base

We recommend booking a flight to Richards Bay Airport (South Africa) or Maun Airport (Botswana) which arrives on the day the course starts. Please make sure to arrive no later than 10:00 AM. For an additional fee, you will be transferred from the airport to the lodge or camp. After your arrival at your base, you can settle into your room or tent and get to know the entire team. You will also receive an overview of the upcoming course and learn about important safety rules. Depending on how much time is left, you may go on your first afternoon game walk or drive.
Course

Typical day during the bush adventure

A typical day in the training course starts in the early morning hours – usually around 05:00 AM as the majority of animals is most active during this time. After a light breakfast with some coffee, tea and rusks you and your team will make your way into Southern Africa’s bush with the sunrise. On this 3- to 5-hour morning bush walk, you have the chance to get close up with some of the Big Five, to learn about the habitat they live in and to get a taste of basic guiding skills.

Around noon, you head back to the lodge or camp for lunch, followed by a siesta which can be used for your own activities. Furthermore, an informal lecture may take place in which you discuss any of the morning’s finds or sightings.
In the afternoon, after some tea and coffee, you and your group go out on a game drive to explore the African bush even further. After observing a spectacular sunset somewhere out in the wild, you drive back to the base to enjoy a hearty dinner together. In the evening, your team gathers around the campfire to reflect on the day’s events, accompanied by the sounds of roaring lions and grunting hippos in the distance.

One or more nights will be spent sleeping in the open wild. Participants will take turns at “watch duty” to ensure the group’s safety. Food and equipment is carried in backpacks; water is either found or provided.
Departure

End of course and departure

Your time as a course participant will end in the morning hours on the last course day. After breakfast, a transfer service – either organised by yourself or booked through Natucate – will take you back to Richards Bay Airport (South Africa) or Maun Airport (Botswana). From here, you can fly back home or continue your travels. Your flight should be after 03:00 PM to allow sufficient time for packing, breakfast and transfer.

Learn what others say about their Natucate adventure.

erfahrungsberichte-naturreise-suedafrika-ecoquest-wynne-sleepout-natucate

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Review EcoQuest South Africa – Wynne

“The entire experience had been spectacular and I would even say life-changing. [...] The fact that I could hear the cries of hyenas and incessant calls of birds when sleeping or waking was also something that felt very real and precious, reminding me how authentic an environment I was in.”

Ranger-Schnupperkurs in Südafrika Schildkröte Tiersichtung

erfahrungsberichte-makuleke-rangerausbildung-voegel-natucate

Review EcoQuest South Africa – Anny 1

“To hide out in the bushes while a dozen curious elephants walked past us was a really special experience.”

erfahrungsberichte-naturreise-suedafrika-ecoquest-caroline-aussicht-natucate

erfahrungsberichte-naturreise-suedafrika-ecoquest-caroline-raupe-natucate

Review EcoQuest South Africa – Caroline

“The project exceeded my expectations. I expected the course to be just about the animals and the bush, but the people were super friendly and made us feel very welcome.”

1. KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal is a province in the northeast of South Africa. From the megacity of Durban, situated on the Indian Ocean, to the picturesque Drakensberg Mountains – KwaZulu-Natal is home to many of South Africa's most fascinating sights. Last but not least, there are countless national parks and protected areas in KwaZulu-Natal, all of which are characterized by a diverse flora, a species-rich fauna and varied landscapes.

During your stay in KwaZulu-Natal, you will get a fascinating insight to the wilderness and wildlife of beautiful South Africa.

Learn more
2. Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is without doubt one of the most spectacular natural sites in Southern Africa, if not in the entire world. Covering more than 20,000 km², the fertile oasis in the northwestern part of the country is the largest inland delta of our planet. The mighty UNESCO World Heritage Site is fed by the Okavango River, which once a year floods down from the highlands of Angola into an endless labyrinth of river courses, islands and lagoons. With a visit to the Delta, one of the last natural paradises on earth awaits you, whose awe-inspiring biodiversity will amaze every visitor.

Learn more

KwaZulu-Natal is a province in the northeast of South Africa. From the megacity of Durban, situated on the Indian Ocean, to the picturesque Drakensberg Mountains – KwaZulu-Natal is home to many of South Africa's most fascinating sights. Last but not least, there are countless national parks and protected areas in KwaZulu-Natal, all of which are characterized by a diverse flora, a species-rich fauna and varied landscapes.

During your stay in KwaZulu-Natal, you will get a fascinating insight to the wilderness and wildlife of beautiful South Africa.

Learn more
The Okavango Delta in Botswana is without doubt one of the most spectacular natural sites in Southern Africa, if not in the entire world. Covering more than 20,000 km², the fertile oasis in the northwestern part of the country is the largest inland delta of our planet. The mighty UNESCO World Heritage Site is fed by the Okavango River, which once a year floods down from the highlands of Angola into an endless labyrinth of river courses, islands and lagoons. With a visit to the Delta, one of the last natural paradises on earth awaits you, whose awe-inspiring biodiversity will amaze every visitor.

Learn more

Background of the bush adventure course

This adventurous wilderness course is suitable for all nature and wildlife lovers who would like to get a first glimpse of the life of a real safari guide. But also those who simply want to break away from the daily routine and reconnect with nature will find what they’ve been looking for.

From game drives and bush walks to knowledge transfer and sleep-outs in the wild – this course combines a traditional safari experience with educational elements and pure excitement. Featuring stunning landscapes and all representatives of the Big Five, our wilderness short course will surely be the experience of a lifetime, and maybe the beginning of even further bush adventures in the African wilderness.