Establishment Overview

Bush Explorers Africa's primary focus is on service and training excellence, which led to the establishment of our eco-tourism, environmental & adventure training academy in 1994. In an industry with a general lack of practical skills training, Bush Explorers Africa aims at creating opportunities for training and upskilling of a spectrum of individuals to assume leadership roles and positively influence the industry as a whole.

The hallmark of Bush Explorers is based on a compelling desire to achieve the goals and objectives set out by the company, provide service and training excellence and professionalism with an infectious and enthusiastic disposition.

The institute aims to develop a wilderness and adventure ethic, which will become the hallmark of tourism's drive towards professionalising the industry as a whole also providing the corporate with an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to creating environmental awareness in a corporate environment using the bush as the teacher.

The institute exists to provide a valuable and necessary service to a growing industry involved in eco - tourism and adventure tourism requiring motivated and dedicated people with a professional attitude prevailing and an intense desire to be successful in their chosen career.

MISSION STATEMENT:

a. The institute will perpetuate its philosophies, ideals, vision and objectives and nurture them accordingly.
b. The institute will offer a high quality educational facility specifically designed to cater for existing and future tourism opportunities.
c. The institute aims to maintain and improve quality and standards at all times
d. In all dealings with course member's honesty, integrity and trust will be cultured and nurtured.
e. We enjoy our business and will ensure that all who are associated with the institute will support us and promote us enthusiastically and wholeheartedly.
f. The institute will endeavour to assist all students with registration and accreditation with the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa, DEAT, THETA, APA, MDT and with other educational institutions we have an association with, in whatever direction of study they have chosen.

OBJECTIVES:

a. To create and maintain exceptionally high standards of training and professionalism in the dynamic and rapidly expanding tourism and corporate industry.
b. To produce specialist people with a very varied and diverse stock of knowledge.
c. To provide a service to the eco - tourism industry and corporates with the emphasis on maintaining continuity according to the standards set by the institute and the various accredited associations.
d. To ensure that persons trained by the academy will be highly qualified and professional in whatever direction they seek in the tourism industry.
e. To commit to having the very best and most comprehensive courses on offer.

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

What we do our primary focus is on environmental education linked very closely with eco-tourism and the demands for qualified and competent people with a diversity of knowledge and skills required by the industry.

On a Bush Explorer's training program, notebooks, pens and field guides are as vital as rifles, first aid and safety. Every program includes the core curriculum, the skills and knowledge essential to perpetuate a conservation ethic extending well into the future. We teach our students to be professional, ethical, responsible and safe users of the environment.

" What I hear, I forget; what I see, I remember; what I do, I know. " this Chinese proverb mirrors Bush Explorer's teaching philosophy. Education is our primary objective, and we believe that the best environmental awareness education comes through an experiential 'hands-on' approach to learning. We give our students responsibility and espouse the principles of leadership; in the bush, the relationship between action and result is vivid and gratifying. Student successes and mistakes are equally important to learning.

Over the length of a program, students gradually take charge of the day's activities. Individually and as a team, they become increasingly aware of the necessity for inter-dependence rather that independence to achieve mutual success. Experience teaches judgment regarding safety, responsibility and common sense. Out of dealing with the daily challenges grows leadership. We believe that the best leader is the person who exercises the common sense and good judgment to help everyone travel safely and enjoyably through any terrain and in all situations.

A Bush Explorers training program trains leaders who can alter the perceptions of people with regard to their environment and share many experiences and knowledge with those wishing to be enriched by the huge wilderness diversity and cultural heritage abounding in Africa. We hope that our students will carry their knowledge well into the future, spread the word about Bush Explorer's and espouse our vision and mission openly so that others may become enlisted into our progressive way forward and that our students may lead exciting, safe and environmentally sound excursions of their own. Bush Explorer's goal is to provide our students with the tools to make that possible.

Bush Explorer's core curriculum each training program provides the fundamental knowledge, skills and experiences essential for safe, ethical and minimal impact utilisation and enjoyment of our environment.

Safety and judgment basic first aid; safety and accident prevention; hazardous situation evaluations; rescue techniques; emergency procedures; dealing with dangerous game; pre-trail briefing, safari briefing, post safari de-briefing; codes of conduct and ethical field operations; conducting effective and safe mobile and walking safaris and general vehicle safety.

Leadership, teamwork and interpersonal skills group dynamics; personality profiles; leadership styles; expedition and camp planning; "leader of the day" opportunities; conflict handling and resolution; communication; listening skills and behaviour; the art of effective hosting; the correct use of humour; guest empathy; service etiquette and skills; team building and motivational techniques and the techniques associated with facilitation, interpretation and deduction in the field. Environmental studies, the basic principles of ecology; taxonomy and classification; mammals; birds; reptiles including snakes, tortoises, crocodiles, terrapins and turtles, lizards; insects; amphibians; scorpions; spiders; millipedes and centipedes; basic botany; trees; grasses; specialised plant communities; basic geology and soil studies; astronomy; basic climatology and weather; multiple land use strategies; game ranch and veld management and cultural issues including resource utilisation on a sustainable basis .

"Tool of the trade" skills campsite selection; basic bush craft and survival techniques including finding food, water and shelter; navigation, map reading and orienteering skills; the art of tracking; understanding the behaviour of dangerous game and dealing with hazardous situations; rifle handling and safety techniques; vehicle maintenance and repairs; the principles of conducting a safe and enjoyable mobile or walking safari; basic bush culinary skills; photographic skills; planning and organising a safari or outdoor excursion and tourism/guest enhancement techniques.

Adventure related 'tool of the trade' skills include all safety and operational skills associated with river rafting, canoeing, canyoneering/kloofing, sea kayaking, abseiling, mountain walking, snorkelling, rock climbing, mountain biking, horse riding, 4x4 handling, etc.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM BUSH EXPLORERS.

We teach people how to enjoy and conserve our environment and our wilderness diversity. We teach people how to become effective leaders and educators of the environment. We provide our students with enough practical and theoretical exposure that, upon completing the programs, they will feel confident enough to teach others.

Our student/instructor ratio is low: a maximum of ten students per instructor. Our instructors are some of the most highly qualified in southern Africa and more importantly are accredited and recognised by any of the educational institutions and associations guiding the industry and the standards thereof. Instructors directly supervise program activities and offer individually tailor-made instruction. Safety is a fundamental pillar of our curriculum. We teach how to evaluate risks and make intelligent decisions and utilise common sense. Our concentration on the " tool of the trade " skills and judgment is intended to ensure that visitors to conservation and wilderness areas do not have their safety compromised at all.

Throughout the programs instructors evaluate performance. Evaluations are written and oral, informal and formal. We offer them as tools for becoming better leaders and educators of the environment. At the end of a program, Bush Explorers graduates receive a written evaluation in addition to a certificate or diploma depending on the type of program attended.

We provide a comprehensive prospectus detailing each of the programs presented by Bush Explorers Africa. Also attached with the prospectus, is an enrolment form and a schedule of dates for each program. Programs have a limited enrolment. It is for this reason that students should apply as early as possible to be assured of enrolment on their preferred program.

Once an application has been received with the details of payment, we send a note of confirmation detailing travel arrangements and /or directions to the training base and a comprehensive kit list detailing all the items you would require for each practical component of the program. Call or write to our offices if you would require further information. Our office staff can give you accurate guidance in selecting a course and answer any questions you might have.

WHAT BUSH EXPLORERS EXPECTS OF YOU:

Bush Explorer programs are exciting and demanding. We are teachers, leaders, adventurers and guides. People who do best on programs are prepared for rigorous activity and are excited about learning what we have to teach. Our best students have positive attitudes and are conservation / environment aware. They care about learning and apply new skills and ideas at the first opportunity. They come to us motivated to work hard with people they have never seen before. They care about others and put the welfare of the group before their own.

Before you arrive, it's a good idea to think about your reasons for selecting or coming to Bush Explorers. Having a clear set of goals for yourself - educational as well as personal - will help you get the most out of your experience.

Bush Explorers uses certain guidelines and procedures to protect our students and the environment. All instructors have extensive first aid and emergency training. Accidents are infrequent, but in the event of injury we have emergency procedures in place at our training base. We are also in possession of public liability insurance cover should an incident occur.

Drugs (other than those prescribed by a physician) and alcohol are prohibited on any of our programs. Bringing them on a Bush Explorers program will result in a student's immediate removal.

HOW TO CHOOSE A PROGRAM

Bush Explorers offers a variety of options. Terrain, program length and specialised skills vary, but every course includes the core curriculum and a focus on leadership through the development of sound judgment and decision- making. Your choice will depend on your interests, experience and time constraints.

WHO CAN APPLY

Bush Explorers admits students of any race, gender, religion or creed to all programs and activities and does not discriminate in the administration of this policy.

Some programs have a prerequisite, such as being a Bush Explorers Africa graduate, or require previous experience or training, such as in environmental education. Students will be admitted to these programs based on our review of their Bush Explorers program evaluations and on additional information provided by the student upon request.

Our enrolment form and method of payment and a signed indemnity must be completed and returned to our offices prior to you being permitted to begin your course.