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Course: Nature Guide Course

Prior qualifications:

No prior experience is required.

Duration:

28 Days (can be done in two-weeks modules)

Group size:

Minimum 4, maximum 8 participants

Locations:

Nxai Pan, Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai community concession, Savuti, Chobe National Park

Who is it for?

People join our courses for various reasons, both local and international. Some are driven by curiosity about nature and ecology, while others are taking their first steps toward a professional guiding career. We also welcome experienced guides who wish to refresh their field skills or gain new perspectives.
While a few participants prefer an informal, experience-based approach to learning, most choose to complete an accredited program. The course provides the opportunity to earn both the BQA Nature Guide certification and the FGASA NQF2 Nature Guide qualification, which can be achieved together within the same training period.

Course description

The Nature Guide Course prepares students for professional vehicle-based guiding in Botswana’s diverse ecosystems. The training focuses on developing the ecological knowledge, practical skills, and situational awareness required to safely and confidently conduct game drives.

Learners gain a solid grounding in animal behavior, ecology, and conservation principles, while also mastering navigation, guest interaction, and ethical guiding practices. Field sessions take place across key wildlife areas, offering real-world exposure to varied habitats and species.

By the end of the course, graduates are able to plan and lead interpretive safaris that combine scientific insight with a genuine appreciation for nature — ensuring guests experience both the excitement and the depth of the wilderness.

Course Components

1. Wildlife Identification & Behavior

Identify mammals, birds, reptiles, and other fauna
Interpret animal behavior and interactions in the wild

2. Game Drive Techniques, Vehicle Navigation and Mokoro/boat-based guiding

Safe and effective vehicle operation in safari environments
Approaching wildlife for optimal viewing while ensuring safety
Driving across varied terrains (savanna, floodplains, woodlands)
Mokoro/boat based guiding technics

3. Conservation & Ethics

Principles of responsible guiding
Sustainable tourism and habitat preservation

4. Client Engagement & Interpretation

Storytelling and educational guiding techniques
Ensuring a safe and memorable safari experience

5. Field Practical Sessions

Daily game drives with live practice
Observational exercises and field assessments

Qualifications

Graduates are qualified to work as professional vehicle-based safari guides, delivering safe, educational, and immersive wildlife experiences.

Two formal qualifications are available:

BQA-Level 2

Botswana Training Authority Qualification exam and Nature Guide certificate

FGASA NQF2

Field Guide Association of Southern Africa exam and FGASA certificate.

To achieve this qualification, students must complete all pre-course workbooks and lecture preparations.

For participants not pursuing a formal qualification, Nomad Guide School awards its own certificate upon successful completion of the Nature Guide course.