January Intake
A few places have opened up for our January intake. Enquire now to secure your spot before applications close.
Train at Olienhout Game Reserve in the Northern Cape through a 10-week, full-time residential programme combining recognised field guide training with practical experience in the bush.
Full-Time Residential
Small Group Training
Nature Site Guide
CATHSSETA Accredited
3 April – 12 June 2027
Brina – Slovenia 🇸🇮
NQF2 Graduate
Brina travelled from Slovenia to South Africa to pursue her passion for wildlife. Without knowing exactly what to expect.
• International student experience
• Guidance and support before arrival
• Real field training in a working reserve
• Small group, personal environment
This is not just a course. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to live and learn in the African bush.
You will spend your days surrounded by open landscapes, wildlife, and real nature. From early morning fieldwork to quiet sunsets over the reserve, every day offers something different.
• Experience the African bush first-hand
• See iconic wildlife in a real reserve environment
• Learn conservation and habitat management in practice
• Learn in the field and in the classroom, inside a working reserve
We welcome students from around the world who are passionate about wildlife, conservation, and experiencing life in nature.
Our team is here to guide you, answer your questions, and help you feel confident before arriving in South Africa.
Becoming a field guide is about more than time spent in the bush. It requires meeting recognised industry standards, consistent assessment, and the ability to guide professionally under real conditions.
At Kukama, training is built around the recognised NQF2 Nature Site Guide qualification, CATHSSETA Accredited and FGASA Endorsed. It gives you a recognised foundation for entering the guiding industry.
You are assessed continuously on practical field skills, knowledge, and professional conduct — ensuring you are prepared for real guiding work, not just the idea of it.
This course is built around practical, real-world skills you’ll use as a working field guide.
From tracking animals and interpreting ecosystems to guiding guests and ensuring safety, every part of the training prepares you for real conditions in the bush.
• Animal behaviour, tracks, and signs
• Bird identification and basic birding principles
• Plant identification and applied ecology
• Understanding habitats and ecosystems
• Interpreting the bush for guests
• Situational awareness and field safety
• FGASA-endorsed guiding principles
• Ethical conduct and professional responsibility
• Guest interaction and communication
• Working within reserve and lodge environments
• Professional presentation and conduct
This programme is aligned with recognised industry standards and qualifications:
• CATHSSETA Accredited Qualification
• FGASA Endorsed Training Programme
• Structured daily routines and early starts
• Time spent walking, tracking, and observing in the field
• Instructor-led field sessions and briefings
• Small-group training with direct feedback
• Learning through real scenarios, not simulations
Full-time • Fixed duration • Structured daily routine • Physically active
This is a full-time, immersive programme designed to prepare you for real life in the bush.
You will live on site within the reserve and follow a structured routine that includes daily fieldwork, training, and assessment. Expect early mornings, active days, and a consistent rhythm that builds confidence and real experience.
This is a full-time, residential programme — you will live and train on-site for the duration of the course.
Olienhout Game Reserve is a 1,400-hectare Northern Cape property being transformed from a former cattle farm into a growing wildlife landscape. Students learn inside this developing reserve while being exposed to ecosystems, conservation and habitat management in practice.
We take no more than 10 students per intake, so training stays personal and hands-on.
• Small, deliberately limited cohorts
• Real reserve-based training
• Assessed for competence, not attendance
• Recognised professional standards
• Built for people pursuing a career in guiding
• 1,400-hectare reserve in the Northern Cape
• A former cattle farm being rewilded
• Students learn inside a developing reserve
• Conservation and habitat management in practice
If you're looking for a place where you can learn, grow and feel at work, this is the right place. You'll never forget this place
Samuel Gatti from Italy
Just join, don't second guess it, you will enjoy it so much. Kukama has helped me achieve my dream, so it will help you achieve yours.
Cameron Boucher
Being at Kukama has taught me a lot and truly helped me grow. I did not expect to foster as close relationships as I did
Kari-Amalia Borsdorf
You will not regret coming here! It will become your home away from home and everything you'll learn will be priceless
Lizette Smith
Here’s what your course fee covers, and what to budget for separately.
• Kukama uniform items
• Binoculars
• Tactical backpack
• FGASA fees and official material
• Field / reference books
• Accommodation
• Three meals per day
• Weekly laundry and housekeeping
• Accredited First Aid
• Accredited Basic Firefighting
• Approved firearm / rifle handling training
• Snake Awareness Training
• Excursions
• Practical field and guiding experiences
• 7-day Maloba practical experience
Please budget for these separately.
Transfers from Kimberley or Upington are available from R2,500 one way. Speak to a course advisor to arrange a transfer.
As part of your course, you will spend seven days gaining practical experience at Maloba Game Reserve, applying your knowledge through practical assessments and a range of reserve activities.
You will develop your observation, tracking and safety skills in real field conditions. The reserve is home to some of the Big 5, including species such as Rhino and Buffalo, as well as endangered wildlife such as Cheetah.
This is not an excursion or tourist experience. It is a dedicated practical training placement where you learn to work responsibly in varied terrain and active wildlife environments, building adaptability, confidence and field readiness.
This is where your training is tested in real field conditions.
Most students and parents ask these before taking the next step.
Yes. Safety is a top priority.
• The reserve is malaria-free
• Students receive full safety training
• Experienced guides supervise all activities
• Emergency protocols and support systems are in place
You’ll be trained to operate confidently and responsibly in the bush.
Yes. The NQF2 Nature Site Guide Course is designed for beginners with a passion for wildlife and the outdoors.
You’ll be guided step-by-step through both theory and practical training, building your confidence and skills from the ground up.
Yes. Kukama offers a CATHSSETA-accredited and FGASA-endorsed qualification.
This means you graduate with a recognised certification that allows you to pursue a career in the wildlife and tourism industry.
Yes. We welcome students from around the world.
The course fee covers:
• Accommodation
• Three meals per day
• Weekly laundry and housekeeping
•Kukama uniform items, binoculars, tactical backpack and field / reference books
• FGASA fees and official material
• Accredited First Aid and Basic Firefighting
• Snake Awareness Training
•Approved firearm / rifle handling training
• Excursions and practical field and guiding experiences
• 7-day Maloba practical experience
Kukama Wildlife College is based on Olienhout Game Reserve in the Northern Cape, near Griekwastad.
It is a private, off-grid reserve offering:
• Immersive bush experience
• Modern accommodation
• A true escape into nature
That’s completely normal.
You can:
Book a call with the Kukama team
• Send a WhatsApp message
• Submit an enquiry
We’ll guide you through everything and help you decide if this is the right step for you.
Everything you need to confidently decide if this course is right for you.
From structure and accreditation to accommodation, safety, and daily life, everything is clearly outlined.
The NQF2 Nature Site Guide course is a 10-week, full-time residential programme based at Olienhout Game Reserve in the Northern Cape.
This accredited course prepares students to enter the guiding industry with recognised qualifications, practical field competence, and professional standards.
Duration: 10 Weeks (Full-Time Residential)
Qualification: NQF2 Nature Site Guide
Accreditation: CATHSSETA Accredited | FGASA Endorsed
Location: Olienhout Game Reserve, Northern Cape
Group Size: Maximum 10 students per intake
This is an intensive, structured programme designed to prepare you for real work in the wildlife and guiding industry.
Training combines accredited theory with daily practical fieldwork, ensuring students develop both knowledge and real-world competence.
The FGASA syllabus includes:
• Ecology & habitat management
• Animal behaviour (ethology)
• Mammals, birds, reptiles & amphibians
• Plants & botany
• Guiding principles & ethics
• Conservation practices
• Snake Awareness Training
• Approved firearm / rifle handling training
In addition to the accredited curriculum, Kukama includes extended practical modules such as:
• 4×4 driving & basic vehicle management
• Fire fighting & safety training
• First aid certification
• Survival skills & bushcraft
• Hospitality & guest communication
• Tracking & field interpretation
The programme is immersive and structured, balancing classroom sessions, field application, assessments, and scheduled downtime.
Life at Kukama is fully residential and based on Olienhout Game Reserve in the Northern Cape.
Students live on-site within the reserve, creating an immersive and focused learning environment.
Accommodation:
• Fully furnished shared cottages
• Ensuite facilities
• Small student community
Daily Living:
• Three meals per day
• Weekly laundry service
• Wi-Fi hotspot access
• Evenings at the boma and structured downtime
Included in the Course Fee:
• Kukama uniform items, binoculars, tactical backpack and field / reference books
• Structured excursions
• First Aid & Fire Fighting certification
Accommodation, meals, laundry and your training gear are included, so you can focus fully on your training.
Next Intakes:
Intake 1 (next intake): 3 April – 12 June 2027
Intake 2: 26 June – 4 September 2027
Intake 3: 13 September – 22 November 2027
Group Size:
How to Enrol:
Most students (and parents) prefer to speak to our team before applying. If you would like clarity on the course structure, accommodation, fees, or intake dates, we encourage you to get in touch.
Option 1: Speak to Our Team (Recommended)
Option 2: Ready to Apply?
Spaces are limited to maintain small-group training standards. Early action is recommended.
Students leave Kukama with practical field experience gained in a real African reserve environment, along with a strong foundation in guiding, conservation, and working in nature.
This programme is designed to give you real exposure to the wildlife and tourism industry through hands-on learning and daily fieldwork.
Graduates are prepared for roles such as:
• Field Guide (Nature Site Guide – NQF2)
• Assistant Guide
• Lodge Support & Hospitality Roles
• Conservation & Reserve Support Positions
Industry Preparation Includes:
• CV writing workshops
• Interview preparation guidance
• Professional conduct and guest communication training
Kukama supports students in preparing for opportunities within the industry and may assist with placement guidance where individual requirements are met.
Kukama is situated in a malaria-free area of the Northern Cape, providing a safe and controlled training environment.
Student safety is prioritised through structured protocols, supervision, and professional training standards.
Health & Safety Measures Include:
• Malaria-free location
• On-site supervision and duty management
• Structured field safety briefings
• Fire safety and first aid training
• Personal medical cover (medical aid) is required.
Students are introduced to risk awareness and responsible conduct in a reserve environment, ensuring both confidence and competence in the field.
Before applying, we recommend speaking to our team. This gives you clarity on the course structure, intake availability, accommodation, and career outcomes, and ensures the programme is the right fit for you.
Choosing the right course is an important decision for both students and parents. Our team will guide you through the process and help you move forward with confidence.
You don’t have to make the decision alone.
Complete the contact form and we will reach out to you.
Stay connected with Kukama Wildlife College.
Join our mailing list and we’ll keep you updated with wildlife sightings, student stories, and what life at Kukama is really like. You’ll also be the first to hear about upcoming course intakes and opportunities to start your journey as a field guide.
