South Africa Expedition: Tracking & Field Guiding
Embark on an incredible adventure as you immerse yourself in the world of South African wildlife reserves. During your trip, you will learn all about the Big 5, the Little 5 (and not forgetting the ugly 5), but you will also be gaining invaluable experience and knowledge of conservation, human-animal conflict, animal management, animal behaviour and ecology.
You will be staying in one of the few reserves that have the big 5 roaming together, and you will learn all about what makes these species – and other keystone species – invaluable to their ecosystem. The knowledgeable field guides will be with you every step of the way, teaching all about the ecological principles of abundance, distribution and diversity of species, important for the management of any wildlife reserve, as well as ecosystem resilience and resistance. Plus, you’ll further your knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals that align with this project, as well as gain a deeper understanding of your own social and environmental impact.
“It was the best experience of my entire life and incredibly useful. I learnt so much and it was so fun throughout! The team were very helpful answering any questions we had very quickly, the way the trip was planned out was perfect, everything in the itinerary was met on the trip and was a really well-organised trip. I would defiantly use Flooglebinder again in the future. Hopefully, very soon I loved the entire experience so much :) ”
Across 20 days, you’ll get to immerse yourself in South African culture as well as experience the realities of tracking and field guiding.
If you're looking for a hands-on and incredibly informative experience in which you can gain a qualification from the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA), look no further!
ITINERARY OVERVIEW:
Day 1: Arrive in Johannesburg
Day 2: SOWETO township tour
Days 3–19: Tracking and Field Guiding which includes: cyber tracking; remote first aid training; avian, mammal and entomology studies; wildlife management and conservation.
Day 20: Depart
About your adventure
Starting in Johannesburg, you’ll be experiencing South Africa like a local, with traditional cuisine and local guides to give you a real taste of South African culture – even exploring the township of SOWETO by bicycle.
After two days of exploring, you will head out to the province of Limpopo. You will spend your days out in the Land Rovers (or on foot!) exploring the seemingly endless expanse of the South African bush, at the lodges receiving practical and theory sessions all about the native species you’ve encountered, and sitting around the fire, getting to know your fellow students and discussing the memorable experience you have had so far.
No two days are the same in this dynamic and vibrant landscape, and you never know what you might witness. However, each day is bound to surprise you, challenge you and teach you something new. Your expedition will touch on a vast range of topics including ecology, taxonomy and classification, biomes and ecosystems, reptiles and amphibians, birds, mammals, fish, invertebrates, flora, behaviour, animal health, tracking and signs, conservation management, human-animal conflict, and, of course, guiding. Free time will be spent braaiing, socialising, and singing around the fire, and you will even get the chance to drive the guide vehicles around the reserve.
You will return home from this experience with irreplaceable knowledge, increased self-confidence and social skills, and even the ability to point at a hoof print and identify the species that made it, which foot and how fast they were moving! The experience and self-development you will gain on this trip are immeasurable. It will provide you with priceless memories and will leave a lasting, positive impact on your life.
Our trips are designed to help you develop a wide range of life skills and a deeper understanding of how you can help us work towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Learn more ⟶
“It was awesome and I’m never going to forget it especially the part where we got to be a part of the darting of the rhino and being able to get so close to her. Learning about how a game reserve works was very interesting and learning about all the different ecologists has made me think about maybe going down that route. I mean I could go on but yeah it has honestly been one of the best trips I’ve been on and I didn’t want to come home! ”
Tracking & Field Guiding itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in South Africa
Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you’ll be taken by private transfer to check in to your hotel. Then, after some rest and recuperation (or exploring the local markets of Johannesburg if you want!), you’ll head off to visit the township of SOWETO. For dinner, you’ll get your first taste of traditional cuisine and the incredible local culture.
Meals: D
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2
SOWETO Bicycle Tour
On day 2, you’ll enjoy breakfast in Johannesburg before heading back to SOWETO for more exploration – this time by bike! Here, you’ll learn about the local communities, the socio-economic issues they face, and the disturbing recent history of the Apartheid, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and Hector Peterson. After a jam-packed day, you’ll head out to the reserve to settle in.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Lodge
Days 3-19
Tracking and Field Guiding
This is your chance to get fully immersed in the world of wildlife conservation through hands-on and practical lessons.
Monday to Friday
— 6 am: hot drink and rusks followed by a morning game drive/walk
— 9 am: breakfast
— 10 am: theory session
— 12:30 pm: lunch, relax and study
— 4 pm: practical session
— 7 pm: dinner & campfire under the stars
Saturday: A single practical session and study time
Sunday: Theory exam in the morning, then free time in the afternoon
Note: This is subject to the whims and needs of the wildlife! Sometimes, plans will need to be adjusted for a potential darting or a radio collar that needs recharging – your work fits around the wildlife!
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Lodge and tents
Day 20
Depart from Johannesburg
On your final day, you’ll head from the reserve to Johannesburg Airport by private transfer. You’ll have one last drive out and still have the opportunity to see The Big 5 roaming free. This trip will be a life-changing experience, whether it’s the skills and knowledge you’ll use for a future career path or simply the unforgettable memories and nature immersion that will change you as a person.
Meals: B
What’s included
NOTE:
Flights will be secured once final numbers have been confirmed, with options presented for direct and non-direct returns to Johannesburg. Personal insurance, visas, vaccinations, personal expenditure, tips for leaders, guides and drivers and any other services not listed above are not included.
Important notes
Once you’ve booked your South African Expedition you will be sent a kit list specifically for your trip. You will also receive further information about the adventure itself and the daily activities as well as further detail around what you can expect to learn. This includes your pre-departure conservation and sustainability workshops, as well as your impact surveys and reports. If you have any questions about the trip please get in touch. If you have any questions about Flooglebinder’s educational adventures please take a look at our FAQs page.
VACCINATIONS
For this particular trip, please see details below.
Please check with your local GP to find out which vaccinations you require for any adventure that you decide to book. These are a guide; a full consultation is necessary to establish individual risk and suitability of vaccines. There may be instances where more than one appointment is required to assess whether a vaccine can be offered.
Recommended vaccinations:
• Diphtheria
• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid Fever
Vaccinations to be considered:
• Tetanus
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Cholera
• Tuberculosis (TB)
South Africa is a malaria-Infected Country.
INSURANCE
Please check if your school/college provides insurance and if not we will require your policy number and details 8 weeks before departure. Flooglebinder has public liability cover of £5million but participants must arrange their own travel insurance for all other levels of cover (e.g. cancellation, curtailment, loss of personal belongings etc.). Please feel free to contact us for any advice or recommendations.
Your safety is our number one priority on all of our educational adventures. All of your finances are protected through our Financial Failure Insurance and each programme adheres to British Standards (BS8848). If you have any questions about our safety and security measures, please do get in touch.
VISAS
Please check with the FCDO.
See what life is like on tour
