We are dedicated to developing and supporting the guiding Industry with highly competent, professional and knowledgeable Nature guides. Ulovane is situated in the malaria free Eastern Cape, set amongst South Africa’s most interesting geological and paleontological history.
We operate mainly on two reserves, Amakhala Game Reserve is a 7500 hectare reserve, which has an amazing variety of fauna and flora as well as being home to the big 5, cheetah and hyena’s and Ulovane Reserve which is a 350 hectare reserve with no dangerous animals bordering Amakhala. The camp is located on the Ulovane Reserve and most practical experiences take part on Amakhala Game Reserve.
“The Worldwide Experience students seem so passionately motivated and it is wonderful to see the contribution they are making to conservation and to the efforts of the Born Free Foundation.”
Virginia McKenna, Founder of the Born Free Foundation
During the 10 week course the following activities can be expected:
Game drives, bush walks, first aid training, team building exercises, sleeping out on Amakhala Game Reserve, night drives, field trip to Addo reptile centre and trips to Kenton on sea or Port Alfred. As well as Rhodes University in Grahamstowm – to the Albany museum, where you will be treated to lectures from some of SA’s top professors on palaeontology, fish and geology. These field trips are designed to broaden your understanding and general knowledge of the theoretical subjects which you will be dealing with during the week.
10 Week FGASA Level 1 course
This 10 week section of the course focuses on coaching and developing the learners with the necessary guiding skills to be competent to enter the guiding industry at an introductory level.
Each week focuses on a specific set of outcomes and subjects which is evaluated at the end of each week.
For example: Week 8
Outcomes for the week:
- Birds – offered by SKS Bird specialist guide Schalk Pretorius
- Fish – offered by Level 3 guide and Botanist Cobus SpiesSmuts
- Amphibians – offered by Level 3 Trails guide Ben Bremer
- Arthropods – offered by Level 3 guide and Botanist Cobus Spies
- Me Time
- Tracker Duties
- Assessment Preparation – offered by Assessors Schalk Pretorius and Cobus Spies
Ulovane is situated in the malaria free Eastern Cape, set amongst South Africa’s most interesting geological and paleontological history. We operate mainly on two reserves, Amakhala Game Reserve is a 7500 hectare reserve, which has an amazing variety of fauna and flora as well as being home to the big 5, cheetah and hyena’s and Ulovane Reserve which is a 350 hectare reserve with no dangerous animals bordering Amakhala. The camp is located on the Ulovane Reserve and most practical experiences take part on Amakhala Game Reserve. Amakhala Game Reserve and the Ulovane reserve are dream come true success stories of reclaiming farmland and rehabilitating the area back to its former beauty. Amakhala is home to the well-known Vets go Wild Project, that is headed up by Dr William Fowlds. Amakhala also has a very successful Conservation Centre which is run by Dr Jennifer Gush, the on site Zoologist. Dr Gush and her team are involved in community projects and upliftment. The conservation centre is also the hub of where all the censuses and monitoring projects information is sorted and documented for reserve records.
Our training facility is ‘GREEN’ – We not only preach the concept of energy saving and zero emission, but we truly live it and make everyone aware that we have to change our lifestyle to save our beautiful planet.
There are 6 stone cottages on site, each sleeping between 2 and 3 people. Each cottage has an en suite shower, a desk, chair and cupboard. There are no plugs in the rooms, all charging and electrical appliances can be used in the lecture room. The rooms do have electricity, all electricity is solar operated. We have a large lecture room, with a library and plenty of space for learning. There is a lounge area with a pool table, for group discussions, relaxation and eating. The kitchen is fully stocked with all kitchen appliances and is a great social open plan area. We have a great barbecue area, where once a week we can get together and share in the week’s news and enjoy a roaring fire and the night skies.
We have a weekly menu and cooking roaster. Each room will get a chance to prepare a meal and assist in cleaning the kitchen. We have a wide variety of cook books and an easy to prepare menu is provided. Sarah is the food and beverage controller and will ensure fresh produce and help is available.
We do have a small shop at the camp that sells sweets, chips, fizzy drinks etc
The following subjects will be covered during the FGASA Level 1, 10 week section:
- An Introduction to the eco tourism industry
- Creating a Guided experience
- Field Guiding as a career
- Astronomy
- Geology
- Climatology
- Biomes
- Taxonomy
- Ecology
- Grasses and Trees
- Arthropods
- Amphibians
- Reptiles
- Fish
- Birds
- Mammals
- Animal Behaviour
- Historical Human Habitation
- Conservation Management
In addition to the FGASA Level 1 curriculum Ulovane added the following subjects to enhance the guiding skills of our learners and to prepare them thoroughly for the eco tourism industry:
- Vehicle skills and 4X4 Driving skills
- Tracking skills
- First Aid Level 1
- Wild Flowers
- Interpretive Skills
Other possible activities you may get involvement with, that take place year round:
Animal relocation (darting of animals take place during different times of the year and we are called in to assist, annual game counts, guest speakers (different ones through the year), snorkelling, deep sea excursions, field trips to Port Alfred and Kenton on sea.
Weekends are designed to give you time to finalize workbook assignments and to study for the Monday morning examinations. Certain weekends are ear marked for lodge experience, where the learner will have the opportunity to operate as the tracker/second guide at lodges on Amakhala Game Reserve. This gives the learner a wonderful opportunity to interact with guests and get first-hand experience of how to create a guided experience.
Weekends off, trips to Port Elizabeth or Grahamstown can be arranged at your own cost. Estimated costs: Transfer – £40 one way, Accommodation – £20 per person per night, Meals – £5 per meal – this is just an estimate. We can also arrange one of the local Tour guides to take you to one of the awesome places in the area, the Karoo, Jeffries Bay, and Wild Coast. However we do suggest just relaxing and catching up with studies on the weekend. 10 Weeks is a very short time and there is plenty to learn, do and see on Ulovane and Amakhala.
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