Guiding, Game Ranger & Wildlife Rancher It might sound crazy for the average Joe to prefer African sunsets, the night skies and lions roaring to normal luxuries. However, there is a unique group of people that will, and have, given up normal luxuries to live their dream, their passion and their purpose. The people that belong in this unique group are nature guides, game rangers and wildlife ranchers. What about them makes them unique, you might ask? The answer is simple. These humble people are born with a passion to educate and conserve, and to risk their lives for Mother Nature.
With the need for an educational system on par with the rest of the globe, the South African government, with the help of the In the early days of the industry, game Department of Education and Labour, rangers used to fulfil numerous roles in created a branch called the South African national and provincial parks, and private Qualifications Authority (SAQA) to develop, reserves. Apart from the conservation task, implement and regulate qualifications. The one of the roles of the rangers was to take National Qualification Framework (NQF) guests into the African bush on safari. As was also developed and implemented over the ecotourism industry grew and became more popular with foreign tourists coming to the same period to clearly identify different levels of qualification. Guiding was South Africa for the wildlife experience, the role of the game ranger as a guide shifted, and recognised as a profession with a defined career path and the need to establish a it became clear that a minimum of skill was National Certificate for guides was needed to offer tourists an experience in a recognised. The governing body that is safe manner. responsible for issuing certificates and implementing standards to the guiding sector With no formal qualifications or courses is known as the Culture Art Tourism available in those days, the only criterion for guiding was experience, which obviously Hospitality and Sports Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA). varied. The South African Tourism Board (SATOUR) was the first organisation that saw the need for registered guides; however, there They are also the Quality Assurer (ETQA) for all Conservation and Guiding Qualifications. was no syllabus or guidelines for guides in those days. In 1990, an experienced group of The qualifications that a guide can obtain to legally guide in South Africa, can only be guides started an association in order to set issued through CATHSSETA as per the a standard for nature guiding practices. This Tourism Act 70 of 2000. An accredited group contributed greatly with their knowledge and expertise through the likes of CATHSSETA assessor is the only person that can find a guide Competent for any Clive Walker and John Ledger. They were a part of the initial group of guides that started of the National Certificates. Only after a guide receives his or her qualification from the Field Guides Association of Southern CATHSSETA can he or she register as a guide Africa (FGASA). with Department of Environmental Affairs