Trails guide jobs
If you enjoy walking in nature, observing wildlife, and hosting guests, then a trails guide job might be right for you.
Before you can get a job as a trails guide, there are a few things you’ll need to know (and a few qualifications you’ll need to earn). Trails guides are responsible for safely and responsibly guiding guests on foot in areas with dangerous game in the African bush.
Trails are most commonly guided on foot, but they may also be on horseback or bicycle.
To become a trails guide, you must first be a qualified safari guide. You’ll then be able to apply for the IFGA Trails Guide Course (35 days) and begin your journey to becoming a Backup Trails Guide or even gain experience towards becoming an Advanced Trails Guide if you have sufficient prior experience.
Trails guide
jobs
What is a trails guide?
A trails guide is distinguished from a field guide (or safari guide) by their ability to guide guests on foot in areas with dangerous game.
A safari guide who is not a qualified trails guide is not allowed to carry a rifle or walk in dangerous game areas with guests. However, to become a certified trails guide, you must first be a qualified safari guide. The minimum qualification is the CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide (NQF2) qualification – this ensures that you have a sufficient understanding of the environment to provide a guided experience. Some trails guides also offer guided experiences on horseback or bicycle.
Just as with field guide qualifications, there are different levels, or stages, of trails guide qualification.
The First is the Backup Trails Guide (Second Rifle) and the next is the Advanced Trails Guide (First Rifle). First and Second Rifles refer to the physical position of where the two different Trails Guides are positioned when conducting a trail. The First Rifle is upfront and the Second Rifle is positioned behind the First Rifle.
A Backup Trails Guide (Second Rifle) cannot conduct a walking safari or other trail independently, and must always be accompanied by an Advanced Trails Guide (First Rifle) when conducting a trail. An Advanced Trails Guide (First Rifle) can however lead a trail independently without the need for a Backup Trails Guide Present.
To qualify to be assessed as a Backup Trails Guide or an Advanced Trails Guide, you’ll need to have a certain amount of experience. This means a certain amount of hours you’ve walked on foot, a certain amount of wildlife encounters on foot, and you must have completed a certain amount of scenarios. This process is lengthy because it carries significant responsibilities!
How do I become a trails guide?
To become a Backup Trails Guide, you must first earn your CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide (NQF2) qualification and have a valid First Aid Level 1. This can be done during one of our longer in-person courses.
During the IFGA 35-day Trails Guide course, you will gain hours walking on foot and wildlife encounters in the position of a Backup Trails Guide (Second Rifle). You’ll write a theoretical exam and once you have the necessary experience you’ll be assessed over a minimum of one assessment walk.
From this point, once you are a qualified Backup Trails Guide, you’ll need to start gaining hours walked and wildlife encounters on foot. These hours and encounters will count toward the experience you’ll need to be assessed as an Advanced Trails Guide. These hours and encounters can be attained at your place of employment and will need to be verified by an Advanced Trails Guide through a logbook system.
You can also return to the IFGA 35-day Trails Guide course to help earn the hours and encounters towards your Advanced Trails Guide qualification.
Once you have the required walking hours and wildlife encounters, you may apply to be assessed as an Advanced Trails Guide. This involves a minimum of two assessment walks.
What kind of trails guide jobs are there?
As an apprentice trails guide, you can qualify for many different trails guide jobs. Lodges
As a Backup Trails Guide, you can qualify for various trails guide jobs. Lodges and reserves typically support an entry-level guide as they gain the hours and experience needed to become an Advanced Trails Guide. You can find jobs posted on many field guide social media platforms and directly on lodge and reserve websites. As a Bushwise alumni, you can also speak to our staff about various trails guide jobs – from walking safari guide to horseback trails guide.
Some companies, such as Africa on Foot (a Bushwise placement location), specialise in walking safaris. You could begin your career as a Backup Trails Guide, working with an Advanced Trails Guide, and gain hours and experience. The Advanced Trails Guide will verify your progress. Or you might get a job as a safari guide at a reputable lodge, reserve or protected area. Most of these safari guide jobs also involve walking safaris, so you will gain experience as you work. Many companies encourage their guides to gain additional qualifications and will help you as you grow in your career.
Buswise can also assist you with finding the best job for your specific interests.
Horseback trails guide
A popular type of trails guide job is a horseback trails guide. This career is unique and qualifications for this position are still being developed. Not all reserves offer horseback trails, as this requires guides who are not only skilled with being around dangerous game, but also know about horses and are confident riders.
Although there are currently no specific certifications for horseback trails guides, lodges and reserves do tend to require certain qualifications for their guides. They want candidates who are experienced working with horses and riding trails, either on single-day trips or overnight. Ideally, they also want people who can manage stables and look after their horses.
Depending on the type of reserve (Big Five or not), they may require a trails guide certification, ARH (Advanced Rifle Handling certification), and dangerous game experience. Job requirements vary between lodges.
There are a few places in the Greater Kruger National Park and other protected areas in South Africa that offer horseback trails. Wait a Little is a horseback trails company located in Makalali and Karongwe, near our Bushwise campus and the GVI Karongwe research base. Ants Hill and Ants Nest in the Waterberg, specialise in horseback safaris. Horseback trails are also popular in places like Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya, with companies such as African Horse Safaris offering experiences around the continent.
Bushwise students have even worked for some of these tour operators, so it’s possible to become a horseback trails guide if that’s where your passion lies.
