Nature Guide Course

Arrive in Maun and transfer by road to Kwapa Training Camp in the private NG30 concession. Settle into your Meru‑style tent, meet your instructors and group, and receive a safety briefing and course overview. The remainder of the day is for settling in and preparing for the field‑focused program ahead. (LD)

Introduction to guide ethics, safety and guest care. Overview of Okavango habitats and ecological processes (flood pulse, seasonal dynamics). Morning game drive skills: radio etiquette, positioning, and sighting management. Afternoon bird and mammal ID fundamentals. Evening campfire debrief. (BLD)

Practical spoor identification and substrate reading on foot. Ageing tracks and interpreting behaviour from sign. Afternoon game drive applying tracking to locate wildlife. Optional astronomy orientation after dinner (clear skies permitting). (BLD)

Theory session: Kalahari sands, island formation, soils and how they shape vegetation. Field practical: plant ID, adaptations, and browse/graze indicators. Late‑day drive focusing on habitat‑based wildlife predictions. (BLD)

Delta hydrology and aquatic food webs. Practical: channel edges and floodplains; reading water‑dependent tracks. Short mokoro or boating segment when levels allow; otherwise extended terrestrial practical. (Conditions permitting.) (BLD)

Guest briefings and risk assessment. Building interpretive stories that connect ecology, behaviour and culture. Afternoon game drive led by students with instructor feedback. (BLD)

Bird ID by shape, behaviour and call; waterbirds vs. woodland species. Field practical with focus stops and journaling. Evening recap and call‑recognition drill. (BLD)

Reading body language and pressure; approach/retreat protocols from vehicle and on foot. Practical drive applying viewing ethics and positioning for minimal disturbance. (BLD)

Natural navigation (sun, wind, vegetation cues) and compass basics. Field exercise plotting simple routes on foot/vehicle. Afternoon reflection and skills consolidation. (BLD)

Campcraft, safety, and low‑impact movement in sensitive habitats. Practical walk: pace, spacing, wind use and using cover. Evening stargazing session if conditions are clear. (BLD)

Pre‑drive checks, sand and water crossings (when appropriate), recovery principles and track discipline. Student‑led drive with coaching on smooth, wildlife‑friendly driving. (BLD)

Identification, safety and key ecological roles. Field stops to examine micro‑habitats and invertebrate sign. Afternoon drive focused on lesser‑seen species and interpretation. (BLD)

Human history and culture of the Delta; respectful storytelling, photography etiquette and guest engagement. Scenario practice: handling sensitive sightings and guest expectations. (BLD)

Knowledge review and practical feedback. Short walk for track‑and‑sign consolidation. Afternoon rest/admin and optional study clinic. (BLD)

Focus on riparian zones: plants, fish, amphibians, waterbirds. Short mokoro/boating segment if water allows; alternative: shoreline ecology practical. Evening Q&A. (BLD)

Trophic levels, hunting strategies and anti‑predator behaviour. Field practical linking tracks, kill sites and behavioural clues to real‑time sightings. (BLD)

Weather systems, reading skies and planning activities around conditions. Night‑sky session: constellations relevant to navigation and storytelling (clouds permitting). (BLD)

Students plan and conduct a full morning and afternoon activity (briefing, route choice, interpretation, guest care), with instructor observation and debrief. (BLD)

Woody vs. grass ID; phenology and seasonal diets. Field practical connecting plant communities to herbivore distribution and tracks. (BLD)

On‑foot awareness, spacing and route choice. Prepare minimalist sleep‑out kit and safety protocols. Evening walk to a simple bush sleep‑out (conditions and safety permitting). (BLD)

Pre‑dawn listening and sign interpretation around the sleep‑out site. Return to main camp late morning. Afternoon rest/admin and reflective journaling session. (BLD)

Role‑plays: diverse guest needs, ethical dilemmas, and managing sensitive sightings. Practicals on vehicle positioning for photography and interpretation pacing. (BLD)

Okavango conservation issues, protected‑area mosaics and community partnerships. Field discussion linking theory to observed land‑use edges and wildlife corridors. (BLD)

Advanced birding: behaviours, calls and habitat preferences; raptors and waterbirds emphasis. Afternoon practical with student‑led interpretation stops. (BLD)

Integrated day: tracks and signs, habitats, behaviour, ethics and guest care across a full activity cycle. Students rotate roles (lead guide, spotter, interpreter). (BLD)

Consolidated review of ecology, geology, hydrology, weather, botany, birds and mammals. Short drive/walk to polish interpretation and safety routines. (BLD)

Observed guiding assessments (vehicle‑based and short on‑foot practical where appropriate), followed by one‑on‑one feedback and development planning. Closing campfire debrief. (BLD)

Breakfast in camp. Scheduled road transfer from Kwapa Training Camp to Maun for onward travel. Timing is planned for typical flight connections and may vary by season and operations. (B)