Mentored Trails

About

Our mentored trails programme is designed to create an opportunity for those training to become trails guides to log walking hours and dangerous game encounters required for advancement in their FGASA qualifications, and to receive mentoring from an expert in the industry.

The participants will be mentored by Vaughan Jessnitz, a respected FGASA-endorsed mentor with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Vaughan is a Cybertracker track and sign specialist and has spent thousands of hours on foot in the Southern African bush. He will mentor participants safely through all aspects of conducting a guided trail in a dangerous game environment. Helping participants to sharpen their skills at finding animals as well as, how to safely conduct the encounters themselves. Vaughan is passionate about the art of trails guiding and participants will get the opportunity to learn from Vaughan’s vast knowledge of the wild including access to his unparalleled knowledge of the insect fauna of South Africa.

What to Expect

The reserve is situated close to Mapungubwe National Park, a World Heritage Site, and is home to Lion, Leopard, Elephant and Hippo of the FGASA dangerous game categories and many, many more species besides. Unlike most reserves these animals are not regularly interrupted by commercial safari activities and so participants will get to view truly wild behaviour and responses - an unparalleled training opportunity.

Trails may leave directly from the accommodation or the group might depart via vehicle to better access different areas of the reserve. There is flexibility in the programme to accommodate all day trails, as well as separate morning and afternoon sessions - participants should come prepared for both. Each mentored trail includes a full debrief and discussion of the key points that need to be registered in each participant’s log book.

We like to keep our group sizes small, each programme has a maximum capacity of 8 people - keeping the programmes intimate and giving great scope to personalise the mentoring to the needs and interests of each group.

The accommodation boasts: a private waterhole; stunning vistas over the reserve; communal kitchen; comfortable social space with free Wifi; a lecture area; ablutions and braai areas.

The shared twin rooms are air-conditioned and serviced daily. The programme is fully catered and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for each full day, programme participants will join a rota for meal preparation but are well-cared for by a dedicated housekeeping team who take care of all cleaning up and care of the facilities themselves.

Who Should Join?

FGASA-qualified NQF2 Trails Guides (working towards NQF4 Trails Guide [i.e. Lead Trails])

FGASA-qualified NQF2, or NQF4 Nature Site Guides (working towards NQF2 Trails Guides)

Anyone looking for a trails experience to better understand the training behind trails guide decisions (observer hours). Anyone who loves being on foot in the bush, or who is undecided if they would like to pursue a career as a Trails Guide, is welcome to book a place as an observer on our mentored trails programmes.

Observers will be included in all the training, receiving valuable and fascinating insights into the mechanics behind guiding a walk in a dangerous game environment.

Your course will be run by our team of experienced professionals who are dedicated to ensuring participants receive the highest quality experience available.

Vaughan Jessnitz: a CyberTracker Track and Sign Specialist, and a registered FGASA Trails Mentor with an amazing knowledge of the art of tracking and over 15 years of experience in the guiding industry. Vaughan has spent these years working as a professional field guide, tracker, trails guide mentor and field guide trainer. Vaughan has spent thousands of hours on foot in the Southern African bush and brings great knowledge and passion to the courses. Vaughan is well-known for the humour and fun that he brings to the learning environment.

Sophie Barrett: also a CyberTracker Track and Sign Specialist, she has 9 years of experience in the South African bush as a professional field guide, lead trails guide and field guide trainer. Sophie has spent hundreds of hours on foot in the bush, many of which were spent captivated by the signs left behind by its residents. A passionate student of animal behaviour she brings this knowledge to her interpretation of track and sign, and trailing of animal spoor.

What is Included?

The programme Fee includes:

14 days of fully mentored trails experience
Access to wilderness area Nature Reserve and all associated conservation levies
Great food (breakfast, lunch and dinner) (please note : snacks etc not included)
Shared, air-conditioned accommodation
Secure onsite parking facilities

What to Bring:

Good, comfortable hiking shoes
Camera & binoculars
Good quality head torch
Comfortable day backpack which can hold at least 3L of water
Neutral coloured bush clothing (the days are usually quite warm-hot, evenings can get cool)
Books/pens/laptops etc for taking notes & editing photos etc

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