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Johannesburg - South African banks are now providing loans for students wanting to complete a Field Guiding Association of South Africa (Fgasa) certified course.
These courses provide the minimum qualifications for people aiming to pursue a career professional safari field guides.
The move is welcome news for the country’s game reserves as there is a dearth of qualified South African field guides.
“We’re told time and again that overseas visitors want South African guides, but until now the vast majority of applications we’ve had for our courses are from international students. In fact this year interest from international students is up 50%,” said Richard Walton, co-founder of Bushwise, which runs guiding courses.
“We hope that with the banks now considering certified field guiding courses as a legitimate qualification, offering good prospects both here and abroad, more South Africans will consider it as a career.”
He said access to student loans should make the courses much more accessible to local students wanting a career in the safari and hospitality sector.
“It will also challenge perceptions that safari guiding is a menial job, when it can be hugely rewarding and for many of our students is the first step to a career in lodge and reserve management,” he said.
- Fin24
These courses provide the minimum qualifications for people aiming to pursue a career professional safari field guides.
The move is welcome news for the country’s game reserves as there is a dearth of qualified South African field guides.
“We’re told time and again that overseas visitors want South African guides, but until now the vast majority of applications we’ve had for our courses are from international students. In fact this year interest from international students is up 50%,” said Richard Walton, co-founder of Bushwise, which runs guiding courses.
“We hope that with the banks now considering certified field guiding courses as a legitimate qualification, offering good prospects both here and abroad, more South Africans will consider it as a career.”
He said access to student loans should make the courses much more accessible to local students wanting a career in the safari and hospitality sector.
“It will also challenge perceptions that safari guiding is a menial job, when it can be hugely rewarding and for many of our students is the first step to a career in lodge and reserve management,” he said.
- Fin24
