A fantastic one week bush skills course set in the Okavango Delta, delivered by the African Guide Academy who train most of the safari guides in the Okavango. This short course has been specially designed for adventurous travellers keen to have a deeper understanding of the wilderness both in theory and practise. Ideal for intrepid and curious travellers who are more interested in understanding the wilderness than luxurious accommodation, and a great introduction for self-drivers. Lectures take place on 4×4 game drives and during walking, mokoro, boating as well as in camp.
As the courses are modular and include some self-study, the days are more flexible and do not follow a strict schedule. This allows the trainer to create a weekly training programme based on local conditions, wildlife movements and water levels. Lessons given in camp but the practical application is stressed and therefore often lessons are given out in the bush.
Lectures are informal and are based on subjects of particular interest where students on the training course feel they would like further explanation of topics they have studied in the manual. The approach on this course is to facilitate discussions rather than conduct long theoretical lectures.
The trainer will always try to ensure that every student who joins our programmes has exposure to all our training. This means that every week students will do at least 1 mokoro excursions, some boating, game-drives, game walks, a sleep out on an island, tracking, navigation, survival skills, hydrology, ecology etc.
During the week at Kwapa Camp you will do a sleep-out where we load the bare minimum and head out to a remote location and set up an overnight camp, sleeping under the stars for the night. We return to camp before lunch the following day.
Based at Kwapa Camp in the southern Okavango. This is a simple but comfortable camp, consisting of nine tents, each 3×4 meru-style tent has an en-suite bathroom with a flush toilet and bucket shower. The tents are furnished with camp beds, duvets, pillows, sheets and towels and lighting is provided by an LED battery powered light.
Please note that the flood waters of the Okavango are seasonal. Water based activities on our guide training courses are dependent on water levels. Our peak flood is typically middle to end of August.
Course fees include:
Shared tented accommodation – unless a 15% single supplement is paid
• All meals at Kwapa Training Camp
• Well-point water, tea and coffee
• All training and activities
• Scheduled transfer from Maun to Kwapa Camp return (1 transfer in and out per student)
The course will run from as few as just 4 students to a maximum of 8.
