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
The key facts in one place. The full details follow further down the page.
An intensive, structured programme that gives you a recognised foundation for entering the guiding industry.
You live and train on site for 10 weeks, combining classroom learning with practical field training in the bush.
A maximum of 10 students per intake, so you get personal attention, accountability and consistent feedback throughout the course.
This programme is designed for individuals serious about building a career in wildlife guiding
Training at Kukama is practical, structured, and rooted in real field conditions — not classroom theory. You’ll gain the skills, confidence, and recognised qualifications needed to begin your journey in the guiding and conservation industry.
Full-time • Fixed duration • Structured daily routine • Physically active
This course is built for people who are serious about working in the guiding industry and want recognised training in a real reserve environment.
It is a 10-week, full-time residential programme. You live on site, start early, spend long days outdoors, and learn in the classroom and in the field.
It suits you if:
• You want a recognised NQF2 Nature Site Guide qualification
• You are ready for a full-time, physically active programme
• You want to learn in the field, not from classroom theory alone
• You prefer a small group of no more than 10 students
• You want practical preparation for a career in guiding
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
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 learn in the classroom and in the field, and you are assessed continuously on practical field skills, knowledge and professional conduct. The syllabus goes far beyond basic animal identification.
This course is built around practical, real-world skills you’ll use as a 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
• Guiding in the Natural Environment
• Geology
• Climate & Weather
• Astronomy
• Ecology
• Taxonomy
• Plants
• Historic Human Habitation
• Arthropods
• Fish
• Amphibians
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Mammals
• Ethology
• Conservation & Habitat Management
• Biomes of Southern Africa
• Accredited First Aid Training
• Accredited Basic Fire Fighting
• Accredited Rifle training (PFTC Training)
• 4×4 driving and vehicle awareness
• Basic mechanics
• Track and sign
• Birding
• Snake Awareness Training
• Basic maintenance
• Wildlife photography opportunities
• Sleep-outs, bushcraft, bush cooking and stargazing
• Nocturnal wildlife viewing
• Hospitality and guest service
• Teamwork and camp operations
• Communication, emotional intelligence and conflict management
• Professionalism, CV guidance and interview preparation
• Wildlife management and monitoring exposure
• Industry excursions
Optional extra: 6-day CyberTracker Track & Sign certification after the course, at additional cost.
• FGASA-endorsed guiding principles
• Ethical conduct and professional responsibility
• Guest interaction and communication
• Working within reserve and lodge environments
• Professional presentation and conduct
You are assessed continuously on practical field skills, knowledge and professional conduct, working towards:
• Recognised NQF2 Nature Site Guide qualification
• CATHSSETA Accredited
• FGASA Endorsed
• Classroom sessions combined with practical field training
• 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
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.
Here’s what the 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. See Getting to Kukama below.
You live on site at Olienhout Game Reserve and follow a structured routine of classroom sessions, fieldwork, training and assessment. Expect early mornings, active days and a consistent rhythm that builds confidence and real experience.
Accommodation, three meals a day and weekly laundry and housekeeping are included. Along the way there are sleep-outs, bush cooking, stargazing and nocturnal wildlife viewing.
Anlea du Plesis
NQF2 Graduate
Anlea du Plessis arrived at Kukama unsure of what to expect. Watch her share her journey after completing her NQF2 Nature Site Guide training.
The qualification gives you a recognised foundation for entering the guiding industry. Throughout the course, we also prepare you for the working world.
• CV workshops
• Interview preparation
• Job-application guidance
• Professionalism, communication and guest service
• Connections with our lodge and reserve partners
Completing the course does not guarantee employment, an internship or a placement.
The course fee is R94,999. If you need help funding it, you can explore education finance through Capitec or Student Hero.
All finance is subject to each provider’s assessment and current lending criteria.
Capitec Education Finance
• Available to qualifying South African students
• All finance terms are subject to Capitec’s assessment and current lending criteria
Student Hero
• Explore education-finance options as a student or family
• Help with pre-qualification and comparing finance providers
• Guidance through the application
• For full-time students, a sponsor will generally be required
Kimberley Airport: approx. 2 hours / 180 km
Upington Airport: approx. 3 hours / 260 km
Johannesburg: approx. 7 hours by road
Cape Town: approx. 10 hours by road
Transfers are available from Kimberley or Upington, from R2,500 one way. If you’re using the transfer service, please arrive before 14:00.
Kukama is in a malaria-free area. The bush is a natural environment with natural risks, so safety is built into how we train.
• Field-safety procedures for training activities
• Duty management and support on site
• Contingency procedures in place
Personal medical cover (medical aid) is required.
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
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
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
You will not regret coming here! It will become your home away from home and everything you'll learn will be priceless
Lizette Smith
Each intake takes a maximum of 10 students.
Course fee: R94,999
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.
Students graduate with:
• NQF2 Nature Site Guide Qualification
• FGASA-Endorsed Certification
• CATHSSETA Accreditation
Assessment includes:
• Practical field assessments
• Written evaluations
• Continuous instructor review
Graduates leave with nationally recognised credentials required to work legally and professionally as a field guide in South Africa.
Next Intake:
Intake 1 (next intake): 3 April – 12 June 2027
Intake 2: 26 June – 4 September 2027
Intake 3: 13 September – 22 November 2027
Course Fees:
South African Residents: R94,999
Early Bird Offer: Pay a 25% deposit of R22,125 by 31 October 2026 and secure your place at the 2026 course fee of R88,500, saving R6,499.
Group Size:
Maximum 10 students per intake
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)
Schedule a call with a course advisor
Submit an enquiry and we will contact you
Call or email us directly
Option 2: Ready to Apply?
Complete the sign-up form to secure your place
We will confirm availability and send the next steps
Spaces are limited to maintain small-group training standards. Early action is recommended.
Places are limited to a maximum of 10 students per intake. Not sure yet? Speak to a course advisor first.
Email info@kukamacollege.co.za for the application form.
Complete and return the application form.
Receive your invoice and pay the deposit.
Email your proof of payment.
Receive your Welcome Pack.
Most students and parents ask these before taking the next step.
The next intake runs from 3 April to 12 June 2027. The other 2027 intakes are 26 June – 4 September and 13 September – 22 November. Each intake takes a maximum of 10 students.
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.
The demand for qualified field guides continues to grow — particularly in the safari and eco-tourism sector.
Kukama prepares you for real-world opportunities through:
• Practical, hands-on field experience in a working reserve
• CV development and interview preparation
• Exposure to industry standards and expectations
• Connections within the guiding and lodge network
Graduates are valued for their practical experience, professionalism, and readiness to step into real guiding roles.
Success ultimately depends on your commitment, attitude, and work ethic — but this programme is designed to give you a strong and competitive foundation.
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.
The course is designed to be all-inclusive, covering:
• Accommodation (ensuite shared housing)
• 3 meals per day
• Full uniform and field kit (valued at ±R15,000)
• FGASA fees
• Guest speakers and excursions
• Practical training and daily fieldwork
• First aid training and snake handling experience
• Weekly laundry
You only need to budget for personal items and travel.
Kukama does not offer bursaries at this time.
However, a study loan option is available through Capitec Bank, allowing you to:
• Secure your spot without upfront full payment
• Start repayment after completing your course
This makes the programme more accessible for committed students.
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
Each day combines:
• Practical fieldwork
• Guided learning sessions
• Bush drives and observation
• Lectures and discussions
It’s a structured but immersive experience designed to prepare you for real guiding work.
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.
Before applying, we recommend speaking to our team. This gives you clarity on the course structure, intake availability, accommodation and career preparation, 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.
3 April 2027 Intake Applications Now Open
