Safari Field Guide and Game Ranger nature training, Conservation projects in Namibia

  Namibia

Rural Areas

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: Throughout the year

Description: Experience real Africa in northern Namibia's wild Caprivi region. You can learn to be a professional Safari Field Guide, learn practical Game Ranger wilderness skills, or assist with important conservation and community projects.

Training includes a six-week Field Guide Level 1 course, accredited by the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa, and a two-week Practical Game Ranger Wilderness Skills development course.

Caprivi Bush Experiences enables local communities to benefit from Conservation by giving them the skills to work in tourism and Park management fields. We enable international students to experience one of the last remaining open wilderness areas in Africa, and obtain a professional recognised qualification. And we add value for both local communities and international students by providing an outstanding cross-cultural experience.

The region comprises four national parks in Namibia (Mahango, Bwabwata, Mudumu, Mamili), Chobe National Park in northern Botswana, and South Luanga National Park in Zambia. It also includes several well-managed Conservancies that provide an important buffer zone between people and wildlife. As there are no fences, the wildlife moves freely between countries, national parks and conservancies.

The Caprivi offers a truly unique Real African experience. Local people still live a largely traditional existence. Natural populations of the endangered African Wild Dog and Cheetah still survive. Africas largest concentration of Elephant occurs here in spectacular seasonal migrations.

People living here face age-old problems of living alongside dangerous wildlife: elephants and bush pigs eat their crops, and lion, leopard and hyena hunt their cattle. For subsistence-based communities these threats are very real.

Caprivi Bush Experiences is well established in the Region and provides high quality training, support, and guidance. Join us for a rewarding and memorable experience.

Highlights: * Located in the Kwando wilderness region of northern Namibia, where there are no fences. Wildlife moves freely between Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia and Angola. There are also no fences between national parks in Namibia and the local communities. People and animals are not separated by fences as they are in South Africa. Local communities in the Caprivi are finding solutions to the problems of living next to wild animals, and are assisting with conservation efforts.

* People still live mostly traditional lifestyles. People here build their homes themselves using naturally available materials such as branches, bark, mud and thatching grass. The homes are surprisingly sturdy. Traditional dug-out canoes (mokoro) are used for transport along the many rivers and waterways; hand carved sleds are dragged behind their Nguni cattle to transport materials on land. Traditional tools and musical instruments are still abundant. A cross-cultural experience with these traditional communities is a mind-blowing experience.

* Awesome wildlife: endangered animals such as Africa Wild Dog and Cheetah occur naturally in the region and can still be seen hunting in the Kwando River floodplains and woodlands. Certain species of antelope such as Sitatunga and Puku are found only in the Caprivi region. The Caprivi region is home to over 400 species of birds, including several highly endangered species. Many of the birds are also only found only in the Caprivi region.

Qualifications:
No qualifications are necessary.
A strong interest in either African wilderness, Game Ganger, Field Guiding or local traditional communities is recommended.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: See web site

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Either a school leaver, university student or recent graduate. Looking for an educational wilderness experience that really makes a difference. Interested in wildlife, nature and conservation. Looking to make friends and have fun whilst helping Namibia to conserve it's wildlife and heritage. Possibly interested in entering the field of nature trails guiding in Africa.

Age Range: 18-35

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Namibia Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 15

Application Process Involves:

• Other

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Job and Internship Network

Caprivi Bush Experiences's Mission Statement: Caprivi Bush Experiences provides outstanding Safari Field Guide, Game Ranger nature training courses to both local traditional communities and international students, in northern Namibia's exotic real African wilderness. Caprivi Bush Experiences recognises the importance of conserving one of the last remaining truly wild areas in Africa, together with the wonderful wildlife and cultures it contains. We value the diversity of flora, fauna and traditional cultures in this region, and wish to preserve it. We promote conservation by giving local communities the skills to work in tourism and Park management fields. We enable our international students / volunteers to experience one of the last remaining open wilderness areas in Africa, and obtain a professional recognised qualification. And we add value for both local communities and our international guests by providing an outstanding cross-cultural experience. We also support and promote responsible eco-tourism that will help create a sustainable co-existence of people and wild animals. Caprivi Bush Experiences is located in northern Namibia's wild Caprivi region. As there are no fences, the wildlife moves freely between countries, national parks and conservancies.

Year Founded: 2003