BEST NATURE COURSES
Getting to grips with the sights & sounds of nature is one of the most rewarding outcomes our course offers.
- BEST will leave you with an advanced knowledge of the South African bushveld as well as some of the best experiences of your life to share with new friends.
- This course is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts who want to increase their understanding and enjoyment of nature, as well as those who wish to pursue a nature related career.
- The format of evening lectures and weekend practicals is perfect for busy working professionals with limited free time.
- Our emphasis is on practical training in a professional and stimulating, yet relaxed, environment, facilitated by the subject experts and our qualified BEST team, who guide and mentor students throughout the course.
BEST NATURE COURSE CONTENT
Bushveld Experience Skills & Training is a FGASA accredited training pro- vider and we follow the FGASA NQF2 (Field Guide) syllabus. The course covers all the elements of South Africa’s beautiful natural heritage in the savannah and grassland biomes.
- Training is part-time and is a combination of evening lectures and practical weekends or day trips at a variety of venues. The course can be done in modules; however, the greatest benefit will be gained by enrolling for the full course as the modules build on each other.
- The BEST Nature Course is divided into two major components, Earth & Plants and Animals. During the first part of the course, from February to mid-May, we concentrate on Earth & Plants, linking these subjects to the different animals in an area. Knowing an animal’s preferred habitat and food source is essential to understanding the animal better.
- The Animal component, from May to November, logically follows on from and builds upon the Earth & Plant modules. Ecology is emphasized throughout the course and provides the common thread which links the flora and fauna of an ecosystem together.
- Guiding principles are followed during field exercises and bush walks. Students practice their guiding skills on bush walks over the weekends.
- Earth & Plants, from the foundation of life on Earth, astronomy, weather, geology to grasses, trees & wildflowers.
LECTURES & PRACTICALS
The evening lectures at St. Stithians are presented by well-known experts – specialists in their own field and the authors of the books. The highlight of the course are the weekend practicals and day excursions, also presented by the subject experts.
- Putting theory into practice is what this course is all about. Each practical weekend concentrates on a particular subject, with field exercises which are designed to enhance students’ identification and interpretation skills. The students are divided into smaller groups for these practical exercises.
- The BEST experience of the weekends is the Saturday afternoon interpretive bush walks followed by sundowners at a beautiful location.These walks not only cover the main subject of the weekend but also all the other modules, with the aim of highlighting how all elements are interlinked.
- Lectures are held on Tuesday evenings at St. Stithians’ College. Weekend field trips take place at a variety of different venues with diverse habitats, geology, flora and fauna. This not only allows for a change of scenery but also enhances students’ diversity of knowledge.
- During August, the students spend a memorable weekend in the wilderness area of the Pilanesberg.The groups sleep under the stars, enjoy daily trails and immerse themselves in the bush
- This experience is undoubtedly the pinnacle of an exciting and challenging year. Skills learnt on this weekend are invaluable for the final guided walk assessments in November.