Welcome to the communication platform for the nature guides of Northern KwaZulu-Natal!


Come join us, become part of the enthusiastic and

professional guiding community in KZN North!


We organise excursions, workshops and lectures and

on this page you'll find all information about it as well

as other info that is of relevance to professional field

guides in this area!


Wednesday, March 30, 2011

9th of April: Tree Outing Ehlatini Bush Camp


The Tree Enthusiast Working Group in Hluhluwe is organising tree outings every second Saturday of the month. They are led by Dr Du Randt which is a tree specialist in the area. Every time a different area will be visited and will focus on identifying trees and learning about them. This is of course a great way to learn about the trees in this area which are usually considered so difficult to ID. On the 9th of April 2011 the outing will explore the surroundings of Ehlatini Bush Camp in False Bay, which is famous for its enormous ancient Lebombo Wattles. All FGASA members are welcome to come and participate for free. Start at 11:30 AM, Ehlatini Bush Camp, (on the R22 from Hluhluwe to Sodwana, turn right just before Amarello and follow the signs Ehlatini Bush Camp/Bhejane Nature Training). The outing ends about 2 PM. For more info phone Greg Davies on 0791893996

A Potjiekos will be held at the Bhejane Nature Training camp for the afternoon, all members are welcome to stay for this. Fee for Potjiekos is R60 per person. Contact dpanos@tiscali.co.za to get directions and further details.

News: Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Count 2010


For us as guides it is always interesting and good to know approximately how many of each species of animal actually occur in given parks. The latest figures for game numbers in the 96:000 hectare Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park are listed below.

Species

Estimate

Long Term Trend

Buffalo

4789

+ Increasing

Giraffe

874

+ Increasing

Impala

14054

- Decreasing

Kudu

717

- Decreasing

Nyala

4082

- Decreasing

Waterbuck

136

- Decreasing

Warthog

1531

- Decreasing

White Rhino

2312

+ Increasing

Wildebeest

3002

- Decreasing

Zebra

2749

- Decreasing

Black Rhino

200

- Decreasing

Cheetah

40

Elephant

550 - 600

+ Increasing

Hippo

20

Stable

Leopard

80

Lion

200

+ Increasing

Wild Dog

110

+ Increasing, Stable

Hyena

303

Stable



Sunday, March 27, 2011

News: Suspected Rhino Poacher shot in Ndumo.

EZEMVELO KWAZULU-NATAL WILDLIFE MEDIA RELEASE No: 2011 - 10

25 March 2011 - SUSPECTED POACHER FATALLY WOUNDED IN NDUMO - A suspected rhino poacher was fatally wounded in a shooting incident with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Ezemvelo) field rangers in the Mganu area in the north of central Ndumo Game Reserve at about 18.00 on 24 March 2011.The death of this rhino brings the KZN total of poached rhinos to nine - seven from KZN protected areas and two from private properties, and follows the shooting of another white rhino in Ndumo on 22 March 2011.


For the most recent news concerning rhino poaching check: http://www.stoprhinopoaching.com/

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Did You Know: Why lions live in prides...


New research suggests that lions do not live in prides because it is safer, nicer, easier to catch food or whatsoever. Instead, it suggests the primary reason for lions to have developed a social structure is that only then they can defend and maintain a good hunting ground. Read a summary on http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12806519

or the full story on http://www.cbs.umn.edu/eeb/lionresearch/research/groupliving.shtml


News: Another Rhino poached

Another Rhino got poached in South Africa, this time in the KZN North Region. Bhejane Nature Training students were at Ndumo Game Reserve last week and came across a young rhino calf with a adult bull rhino.The calf was crying and nudging the bull for milk, and it was in a bad condition. They reported this to the section ranger, who told them that the calf's mother had been shot dead and her horn hacked off. The suffering this poacher caused to the calf must be immense. White rhino calfs stay with their mothers for 3 years and form a strong bond. This calf must have stayed by his mothers side suckling from her dead body till hunger drove him away!

Monday, March 21, 2011

In The Picture: The Eastern Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park


Todays 'In The Picture' features one of the gems of the KZN North Region: the iSimangaliso Wetland Park! The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is the ‘new’ name for the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, and is considered the oldest game reserve in South Africa, being established in 1895. In December 1999 it became South Africa’s first Natural World Heritage Site. It got this title for a reason: The 332.000 hectare park, stretching from just South of the town of St. Lucia all the way up to Mozambique, contains three major lake systems, 8 interlinking ecosystems, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, 526 bird species and 25.000 year old coastal dunes – amongst the highest in the world. It is a park where one can see elephants and whales or turtles in one day, where one can dive in the morning, go on game drive in the afternoon, and go on a turtle walk on the beach in the evening.

That might sound all nice and well, but in reality it is still very much a park in development. But in this fact lies the beauty in my opinion. We can see this development, we can be a part of it. Only 18 years ago they started to remove all 14.000 hectare of alien pine trees, the stumps of which can still be seen in some places. We can see them rotting away, and we can see new vegetation over successive generations. Elephants, cheetah, wild dog etc have been reintroduced again to different sections of the park, and new tourist roads are continuously being built to make it more accessible for tourists. And although it is officially a 332.000 hectare big single protected area, it is currently still ‘divided’ by wilderness areas, inaccessible areas, and stretches of disputed community land, resulting in the fact that it has multiple sections with different entrance gates. What it comes down to: If you enter the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in Mkhuze, don’t think you’re gonna be able to drive to the beach and see whales, but you have a good chance of seeing cheetah and elephant. If you enter the park at Kosi Bay, you might not see any mammals but in the right season you might see loggerhead and leatherback turtles. So if you plan a visit, think about what you would like to do and see, and then see which section of the park can meet your needs and deliver your wishes. Because of this we have decide to make this blog post a bit of a sequel. In various weeks I would like to show you the different sections in a photo essay, which will allow you to make an informed decision as to which section of the park you would like to visit, if not all ;-)
For today, I would like to show you the ‘Eastern Shores’ of the Park. This section lies to the East of the Lake St. Lucia (hence the name), and in turn has the Indian Ocean on its East side. The Eastern Shores is the most popular section for bush & beach lovers, as a typical day here includes a game drive in the morning, lunch and a few hours on the beach at Cape Vidal, and then a afternoon game drive back to St. Lucia town. Highlights include:

Superb landscapes & sweeping vistas of the wetland savanna, which looks like no other savanna in South Africa. In fact, the openness of vast grasslands with only here and there a tree looks more like the classic East African Savanna, than like the usual ‘more bushy’ South African savanna.


[Typical Landscape]

Catalina Bay is a section of the St. Lucia lake, and is always worth a visit for bird lovers. Plenty of crocodile and hippo can be seen there too.


[Catalina Bay]

Chances of seeing elephant, cheetah, wild dog and lions here are remote to zero, as the latter three don’t occur here yet, and the elephants only cross the lake a couple of times a year to explore the Eastern Shores. The other days of the year one can find them on the Western Shores. However, the Eastern Shores has a large population of disease free buffalo which are often encountered, as are the rhino’s. For me one of the greatest assets are the magnificent kudu often found here out in the open. They have huge horns, and also the waterbuck are very impressive. The smaller relative of the Waterbuck, the Southern Reedbuck is very common here and easily observed. With a bit of luck one might encounter one of the many leopards in the area.



[Greater Kudu]



[Southern Reedbuck]



[Leopard]

The narrow strip of coastal forest running along the coastal dunes are home to the Sykes’ (or Samango) Monkey, which are quite habituated to humans (and photographers!).


[Sykes’ Monkey]

Once one drives over the dunes to visit Mission Rocks or Cape Vidal, a complete new world opens up. Beautiful beaches, both sandy and rocky, are great for fishing, snorkeling, surfing, swimming, sunbathing and of course photography. It is amazing how much colourful life lives on those rocks, and for the photographer patient enough hermit crabs come out of their shell, and ghost crabs out of their burrows. It can be really rewarding to sit dead still for a while.






Talking about little critters, the herpetofauna is great here to, thanks to the high diversity of ecosystems, of which most are relatively wet. For the photographer with a keen eye and the right equipment in terms of flashes, softboxes, tripods and remote releases, little frogs and chameleons are happy to pose and can yield really nice photos.






Enough for today, next month more about the Western Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Kind Regards,

Nick van de Wiel

Friday, March 18, 2011

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is FGASA?
FGASA is the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa, in the industry known as FGASA. It was established in 1990 to raise and safeguard professional guiding standards in Southern Africa, as well as to represent guides in the tourism industry.
FGASA is a THETA accredited Training Provider – they provide you with an opportunity to get a recognised qualification that will give you a competitive advantage in the job-market.  They further support you as a guide by ensuring that your qualifications retain their value by constantly monitoring the relevance and quality of training and assessment offered by FGASA.  FGASA guides can therefore proudly advertise their association with FGASA, knowing that they are amongst a community of sought after guides.

2) Why should I become a member of FGASA?
Being a member of FGASA has several benefits:
1. You can write FGASA exams and so further your career by attaining new qualifications
2. In the Game Lodge and Safari Industry, FGASA is recognised as a training provider that provides a high standard of training. The benefit of this to the guide is that your training is better recognised, making you more employable and potentially increasing your chances of negotiating a better salary. FGASA qualifications also provide you with the opportunity to advance your level of training, and to get recognition for your additional or specialist training such as Specialist Birding, Trails Guiding, Advanced Rifle Handling or Marine Guiding.
3. You can order books at a discounted price at the FGASA bookshop
4. You will have free or discounted access to many lectures, activities, excursions or workshops organised by FGASA regional committees, where non-FGASA members will be required to pay the premium
5. FGASA is always working towards promoting FGASA guides in the industry, and to create new opportunities for their members, thus your membership is also a marketing tool for yourself
6. You will receive the quarterly Field News Magazine, with interesting articles, news and relevant advertisements or career opportunities

3) Does FGASA want as many members as possible?
It is important to remember that FGASA’s aim is not to sell itself to members and to get as many members as possible. The aim is to get all professional and good guides to join the organisation, those that do not meet the standard should not be members to start with – this is the only way that you as a professional guide can differentiate yourself. So come and lets outcompete the non-professional guys until they wake up!

4) How much does becoming a member cost?
There is a once off registration fee of R240 for new members, and an annual fee of R380.

5) Do I need FGASA to become a legal guide?
No, the minimum requirement to register as a legal guide in South Africa, is proof of competence against the THETA Nature Site Guide Skills Programme. This can be attained from any THETA accredited training provider.  FGASA is not the only THETA accredited training provider for this skills programme, but pride themselves in a long association with Game Lodge and Safari operators, leading to a standard of training that is relevant to the current guiding industry and well recognized by the majority of Game Lodge and Safari operators.  Many vacancies for guides are advertised with a FGASA qualification as a requirement for the applicant. This simply means that the lodge or operator in question prefers guides that have been trained by FGASA to guides that have been trained by other THETA accredited training providers.

The THETA Nature Site Guide Skills Programme, is contained in the FGASA Level 1 qualification, and therefore attaining the FGASA Level 1 certificate would make you eligible to register as a legal guide. In other words: If you qualify with FGASA, you get two certificates, one FGASA Level 1 certificate, and one THETA Nature Site Guide (NQF 2) certificate. Also see question 11, 12 and 13

6) What else do I need to become a legal guide?
In addition to your THETA Site Guide Certificate (ie FGASA Level 1) you also need a valid First Aid Certificate that is recognised by the Department of Labour.  Make sure that you use an accredited training provider when you do your first aid training and remember to ask if the training will be recognised by the Department of Labour.

If you are a driving guide, you will also need to submit proof of your driver’s licence and your PDP (Professional Driver’s Permit).

With all of this in hand you can complete your registration with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). This you can do at Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) at http://www.kzn.org.za/index.php?view_page+58071
Only after you have done this you are a legal guide. It is interesting and good to note that TKZN also accepts FGASA certificates as proof that you also have the equivalent THETA certificate, as it can take a while before THETA actually sends you the certificate after you have done the training and passed the assessment. Also see question 11, 12 and 13

7) I have qualified with FGASA Level 1 but have not yet received my THETA certificate, can I use my FGASA certificate instead to become a legal guide?
Yes, as a THETA accredited training provider, DEAT will accept your FGASA Level 1 certificate as proof of your training. The certificate must however be accompanied by a letter from FGASA which will state your areas of competence. This letter is always issued together with a Level 1 certificate, so make sure that you keep this in a safe place as you will need it for DEAT registration.

8) What does FGASA do for me?
FGASA works on your behalf to promote professional field guiding in the industry, in doing so promoting you as an individual. In addition: FGASA is an accredited THETA Training Provider – they provide you with an opportunity to get a recognised qualification that will give you a competitive advantage in the job-market.  They further support you as a guide by ensuring that your qualifications retain their value by constantly monitoring the relevance and quality of training and assessment offered by FGASA. FGASA guides can therefore proudly advertise their association with FGASA, knowing that they are amongst a community of sought after guides. See also question 2. But most importantly, maybe you must start asking what you are doing for yourself? Note that FGASA does not run your career for you, it is YOUR responsibility to stand out as a guide. FGASA is there to help you, to give you the tools so to say, but the onus is on you to be a sought after individual guide.

9) For 380 rand a year, all I get is this Field News publication. I can also get a subscription to FHM for that amount of money and then at least I get to see some hotties! How does that work?
True, you get to see some hotties, but how does that help you in your guiding career? It is not true that all you get this Field News publication, you get much more from FGASA for you membership fees. See question 2.

10) I was a member, did my FGASA Level 1, never bothered to renew my membership, but now 2 years down the line I want to write Level 2 and FGASA requires me to pay membership fees for the past two years before I can register again. Why is that?
Ah, good question! This is basically because it is not fair of you to just 'use' FGASA to get qualifications. Like any relationship, a membership with FGASA is a two-way street. FGASA uses your membership fees to ensure that the FGASA learning programmes you want to achieve through them, are up to date and accredited with THETA.  FGASA also spends a lot of time liaising with the guiding industry and all of its stakeholders to ensure that they assist in making it a better industry for guides to work in. They were still busy doing all of this in the two years that you did not pay your membership fees. So, if you want to reap the benefits of all their efforts, it is nothing but fair to request that you pay your overdue membership fees. Especially so for all other members that have paid their memberships every year. In short: FGASA works for you every year, and in doing so creates opportunities for you. You are required to pay your annual membership fee in return, not just only when it 'suits' you or when you suddenly 'need' FGASA.


11) What qualifications can I get through FGASA
For a full and up to date list, see: http://www.fgasa.co.za/qualifications.asp

12) I am a THETA qualified guide with years of experience, I want to become a FGASA guide, must I really do this FGASA Level 1 first?
No you don’t. However it is important to note the following: Although FGASA is a THETA accredited training provider, it is not accredited to ‘RPL’ (Recognition of Prior Learning) someone so they cannot just give you a given FGASA qualification. You will have to do at least one FGASA theory and its equivalent practical assessment to show that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to be worthy of a given FGASA qualification. After an initial interview FGASA might allow you to write the FGASA Level 2 or even Level 3 theory exam directly (without having to do Level 1 and Level 2 respectively), but it will give you only 1 (one) chance! Should you fail that theory exam and still want to become a FGASA member and guide, you will have to start at the bottom with writing the Level 1 theory exam, and carry on with the whole subsequent qualification process. So make sure you don’t overestimate your knowledge and aim too high.

13) What is THETA?
THETA is one of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA’s) and is short for  the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority.  Please note that the name of this SETA will change with effect from the 1st of May 2011 and will from then be known as the CATHSSETA, which is the acronym for Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority.  

THETA (and all other SETA’s) has been established under the Skills Development Act (Nr 97 of 1998) and report to the Minister or Education and the South African Qualifications Authority.  All THETA’s qualifications are registered on the National Qualifications Framework, which ensures that they will be recognised by all employers in South Africa.

THETA’s main responsibility is to ensure the availability and standardisation of training within their sector.  To do this, they oversee the development of new qualifications and provide for the accreditation of training providers to deliver training for these qualifications. THETA must constantly monitor the standard and quality of education and training offered by training providers in their sector to ensure that these goals are met. Students who have completed a training programme with an accredited THETA training provider (such as FGASA), will then receive a THETA certificate with the names of the national qualifications or skills programmes that the student has attained. FGASA is one of the THETA accredited training providers. Thus if you do a FGASA learning programme you also get 'the equivalent' THETA qualification as FGASA lets THETA know that you were found competent.

14) What is the difference between FGASA and THETA?
THETA conducts no training themselves; they have accredited training providers for this purpose, of which FGASA is one.
FGASA is one of THETA’s accredited training providers, and can provide training and assessment against the Nature Site Guide Skills Programmes that has been registered by THETA. In addition to being a THETA accredited provider, FGASA is also a non-profit organization that has been established to support and develop nature guides in Southern Africa.  In line with this, FGASA not only trains the national skills programmes of THETA, but have also developed their own additional programmes to further enhance the knowledge and skills of nature guides that are associated with FGASA. The benefit of this to the FGASA guide, is a value added qualification that is relevant, recognised and in demand by the safari industry.  Also see question 2 above.

15) Must I register myself with THETA in order to get my certificate?
No, your accredited training provider does this on your behalf in accordance with their administrative requirements as a training provider.


16) What is this FGASA KZN North thing?
In 2010 it was established that FGASA members in the region felt that their relationship/membership with FGASA was 'distant' and that FGASA should reach out more to its members in this region, and making the relationship/membership more relevant. As a result: a regional committee was formed by FGASA members in the region which report to and are supported by the FGASA head office, in order to 'bridge' the felt gap.  



17) What is the aim of the FGASA KZN North Committee?
The aim of the committee is two-fold: The committee aims to improve the standard of guiding in the region, as FGASA has been doing nation wide. In addition, it wants to reach out, on behalf of FGASA, to its members and help them improve their knowledge, speed up their career, and to make their guiding an even more enjoyable profession.



18) What does the FGASA KZN North Committee do?
In line with its aims, it does various things:
- It informs you about any news (game counts, poaching, change in legislation, job opportunities etc.) that is of relevance for guides (and tour operators).
- It organises activities, excursions and lectures that are available for free or for discounted rates for FGASA members (although Non-FGASA members are also welcome to attend/participate).
- It reminds you of dates and deadlines of FGASA exams.
- It informs you of available First Aid and Firearm training dates
- It is open for any questions and will make an effort to answer all your questions about FGASA as comprehensively and as soon as possible.
- It submits interesting articles about guiding or guiding areas in the region, to improve your knowledge.



19) Who serves on the committee?
The FGASA KZN North committee is run by guides and other interested people who are committed to supporting FGASA in the KZN North Region. They do this voluntarily and are elected by FGASA and the guides of the region during quarterly regional meetings. Make sure you attend the next meeting if you are interested in becoming involved or would like to recommend anyone to serve on the committee. Currently the committee is headed by Christa Panos, who is supported by Warwick Nielsen who represents the Zululand Rhino Reserve, Greg Davies who represents the Bushlands and Hluhluwe area, and Nick van de Wiel who represents the St. Lucia area. The latter is also the administrator of the FGASA KZN North website/blogspot.



20) I want to be involved! What can I do?
As stated above, it would be a good idea to attend a regional meeting to get into touch with other active FGASA members of the region. If you are for some reason unable to attend regional meetings, either due to working conditions, distance or other factors, you can always take the initiative to organise a local meeting. Please contact nick.vandewiel@gmail.com to get some more information about this.



21) Are the activities, excursions and lectures that the FGASA KZN North Region organises also available for non-FGASA members?
Yes, as the FGASA KZN North committee strives to improve the standard of guiding in the region, they want to reach out to all guides in the region, FGASA members or not. However, non-FGASA members are often required to pay a little more for the activities, excursions and lectures. In acting so, the committee hopes to persuade the non-FGASA member to become a FGASA member. Remember: One of FGASA's aims is to get all professional and good guides to join the organisation, while the guides that do not meet those criteria should not be members at all (See question 3). By showing an interest in the organised activities, excursions and lectures you are showing a professional attitude and hence FGASA would like to welcome you.

22) My question is not listed above. What must I do?
Please email the administrator of the FGASA KZN North committee on nick.vandewiel@gmail.com with your question, and he will get back to you as soon as possible.