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Tourist Guide: Nature

What is a Nature Tourist Guide?

A Nature Tourist Guide is passionate about nature and usually specialises in a particular field like birds, trees or rock formations etc. 

Some Nature Tourist Guides will have in-depth knowledge of all aspects of South Africa’s natural resources.

A Nature Tourist Guide may operate in a given area like the Western Cape or be stationery at a site, for example The Addo Elephant Park.

What does a Nature Tourist Guide do?

Nature Tourist Guide (area):

  • meeting and greeting members of their tour
  • being enthusiastic and helpful at all times
  • dealing with enquiries and complaints from their tour group
  • making sure that tour members are comfortable and safe
  • being able to deal calmly with emergencies (eg heart attacks, car accidents, etc)
  • making themselves available to their group at all times (24-7)
  • keeping up to date with information which would make their tour more interesting

Nature Tourist Guide (site):

  • meeting and greeting their tour
  • receiving of paid tickets
  • giving an interesting talk while guiding the group safely through the site
  • answering questions
  • monitoring the group at all times that they don’t wander off or damage property
  • making sure all members of the group are accounted for at the end of the tour
  • being punctual for the next group

Are you … ?

  • passionate about the outdoors?
  • adventurous?
  • a person with good communication skills?
  • extremely knowledgeable and skilled about your subject?
  • organised?
  • a peoples’ person?
  • friendly, patient and easy going?
  • calm under pressure?
  • able to control groups of people?
  • physically strong and fit?
  • responsible?

How do I become a Nature Tourist Guide?

To become a Tourist Guide a person must complete one (or more) Tourist Guide qualifications registered with CATHSSETA.  They must be registered with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

NOTE: It is illegal to conduct guided tours without the proper qualification or registration.

See under ‘Tourist Guide’ and ‘Field Guide’ on our website for more details.

 

  • ENTABENI NATURE GUIDING TRAINING

Offers a variety of courses: 

http://www.natureguidetraining.com/courses/

  • THE NATURE COLLEGE:

http://www.naturecollege.co.za/Nature Guide.htm

  • FIELD GUIDING ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA:  FGASA

Offers various adventure courses/training in nature guiding 

http://www.fgasa.co.za/default.asp?CPH_ID=95

  • BUSHVELD TRAINING ADVENTURES

Offers a variety of courses and specialisations:

http://bushveldtrainingadventures.co.za/

  • DRUMBEAT ACADEMY

http://www.drumbeatacademy.co.za/Courses-TouristGuiding-NatureSiteGuide.html

 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Agricultural Technician and Tour Bus Driver

Is becoming a Nature Tourist Guide the right career choice for me?

See below for more info.

Qualification Required Work Outdoors