South Africa has incredible biodiversity and stunning landscapes, making it a premier destination for safari enthusiasts. Game drives offer an immersive wildlife experience, but there is something uniquely captivating about venturing on foot during a safari bush walk which is available for guests to indulge in after breakfast at all 4 of Kapama’s luxury lodges. This thrilling and educational activity allows visitors to connect intimately with nature, led by expert safari guides who unlock the secrets of the wilderness.

On your bushwalk, prepare for intimate encounters with magnificent wildlife that roam the 15,000 + hectares of Kapama Private Game Reserve. With the guidance of your expert trails guides, you’ll have the opportunity to witness the grace of antelopes as they graze, catch the flicker of zebras’ vivid stripes against the horizon, and even come face to face with creatures great and small. It’s an up-close and personal experience that will leave you in awe of the natural world.

Your trails guides are not just knowledgeable; they are passionate storytellers who will unravel the mysteries of the bush. Learn how the trees and plants have sustained communities for centuries, discover the intricate relationships between flora and fauna, and gain a deeper understanding of the delicate balance that exists in this remarkable ecosystem. It’s an education that goes beyond textbooks, leaving you with a newfound appreciation for the wonders of nature.

While observing wildlife is undoubtedly thrilling, our trails guide’s expertise goes beyond identification. Often guests are not fully aware of the time, effort and dedication that goes into a guide acquiring their necessary Full trails guiding qualifications, which permits them to be able to take guests on a bush walk in the safest possible way on a Big Five Reserve like Kapama.

So, as you lace up your boots and take that first step, let the anticipation build as the ground beneath your feet becomes a living map, telling stories of the creatures that roam these lands. You can rest assured that your guide is more than qualified to give you an unforgettable immersive encounter with the majestic wildlife.

Did you know….?

 Before a safari guide can qualify as a FULL Trails guide, they first need to acquire the apprentice trails guide qualification – or backup trails. Only once this is valid can a guide enter the process of an FGASA trails guide – Full trails and begin to log the required hours and encounters for this qualification. However, achieving the apprentice level is no easy process. 

This includes,

• • A valid First Aid Level 1 Certificate
  • FGASA Trails Guide Theory Exam
  • Advanced Rifle Handling
  • Rifle Competency
  • Min. of 50 Walking Hrs for Apprentice Trails Guide Qualification – (BACK UP):
    • • 50 hours as an observer led by an FGASA Trails Guide (NQF4)
      • 10 Encounters as an observer led by TWO FGASA Trails Guide (NQF4). The 10  encounters must be from at least 3 of the dangerous game categories:
        • • Elephant Bull
          • Elephant Breeding Herd
          • Buffalo Bull
          • Buffalo Breeding Herd
          • Lion & Leopard
          • Black & White Rhino
          • Hippo

As nature is unpredictable, apprentice guides must wait for the encounter to present itself while out with the 2 FGASA trail guides. So this cannot simply be achieved in a couple of weeks, it can take quite some time to ensure the appropriate encounter is observed by the apprentice to be logged correctly.

Only once the above criteria have been met, can a guide proceed with the criteria needed for Trails Guide Qualification – Full Trails. This once again includes numerous criteria that need to be adhered to.

• • The guide must be in the FGASA apprentice trails guide (trails back up) programme as described above, and the logbook must be signed off for the apprentice trails guide before the guide can start to log hours and encounters for Full Trails
  • FGASA field guide (NQF4) – FGASA level 2 (exam & practical evaluation passed)
  • Valid first aid level 1 certificate
  • Advanced rifle handling
  • Rifle competency
  • Tracker level 1 qualification. This consists of 2 courses: TRACKS & SIGNS + TRAILING
  • 150 Hours Required For Trails Guide Qualification – made up of the below criteria