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EcoJobs Directory: A searchable directory of current employment opportunities in the EcoTravel Industry. Full search function available by January 2004.

• Field guide: offers interpretation of the ecosystem, protection, and keeps discipline in the group (additionally sometimes teaching basic bushcraft and safari skills); often uses a vehicle on excursions - Field Guide Levels 1, 2 and 3.
  • Special Knowledge Skills (SKS): the minimum FGASA requirement for a field guide to lead a party on foot in dangerous game country.
  • Tracker, and Master Tracker: a category created for guides with a high proficiency in interpretative skills, but whose level of formal education precludes them from sitting for a field guide exam.
• Wilderness guide: offers interpretation of the ecosystem, protection to the group and keeps discipline in the group, often using "soft" or "people" skills as an integral part of the job; never uses a vehicle when facilitating a wilderness experience.
  • Trail Leader and Trail Assistant: a category created to accommodate what used to be called "game guides", who may have a high proficiency in "hard" bush skills, but is yet to acquire the "soft" skills of managing a trail group, and using the holistic wilderness experience to inculcate among trailists an understanding of sustainability issues.

• "Field ranger": manages protected areas
• "Ranger": used typically in lodge environments to refer to the guide who takes guests out in a game drive vehicle (sometimes on foot); seen in some quarters as being closer to a tour guide than a field or wilderness guide.
• "Tracker": used both in lodge environments, but also by FGASA, as the individual who identifies spoor or animals on trail.
• "Safari guide": originally used in the context of hunting safaris, but in the age of ecotourism more commonly to refer to the person in charge of clients on a photographic safari.
• "Professional Hunter": accompanies hunting clients, usually into areas containing dangerous game.
  

There are three associations that accredit courses for trainers of guides who would like to make a career in the bush (sometimes also operating in other biomes, such as desert or mountain regions). All of these associations subscribe to the need for setting high standards - to deliver a quality product to tourists, and to rid the industry of "fly-by-nights".

Students on a  Enviro Training Africa course.

The Field Guides Association of South Africa (FGASA)
>> FGASA web site
Established in the late 1980's to set standards in the industry, it accredits trainers and is recognised by Satour.

Courses:

• Field Guide Levels 1, 2 and 3
• Special Knowledge Skills (SKS)
• Tracker and Master Tracker

• The Trails Section of Kruger National Park.
• KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service (the former Natal Parks Board and KwaZulu-Natal Department of Nature Conservation).
• The Wilderness Leadership School.
• Individuals trained by any one of these bodies, but who are now operating on their own.

• Trail Leader
• Trail Assistant

Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA)

Its main objectives include "to foster the conservation of South Africa's wildlife, to assist and promote ethical hunting and to promote high quality service…" Established in 1978, PHASA works closely with provincial nature conservation authorities and is internationally affiliated. The Proffessional Hunters Qualification (PH) is necesary for anyone wishing to lead hunting parties.

I hope you enjoyed the article. We will be featuring career articles written by top EcoTravel Industry personalities during the coming months so if you need more information please feel free to come back!

Quality eco-staff are essential for our EcoTravel Industry:

The quality of many our eco-guides in Africa is not up to the standards expected by the international tourist / Eco Traveller. International Eco Travellers are normally well Traveled and accustomed to quality eco-destinations with extremely knowledgeable eco-guides. In this article we focus on ways to improve the standard of Southern African eco-guides. Also included is a resource listing of ways, schools and opportunities to help eco-guides improve their practical and theoretical knowledge. Once better qualified, how do eco-guides get placed in the appropriate jobs that will further their careers.

First and foremost; Do you really want to be an Eco-Guide? The hours are often before sunrise to well after sunset with 6 weeks on duty and two weeks off being the norm. To make matters worse; you'll need to work this hard for very little monetary compensation! Also; unless your boyfriend / girlfriend is working with you, you might as well call off now! Who wants to date a lowly paid person they never see!

Now that I have frightend off the not so serious contenders for the Eco-Guide of the year award, lets get to basics.

Coming soon!

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