FGASA Mentorship Program

FGASA KZN North is proud to announce this region's own mentorship program. Everywhere in South Africa there has always been the need to somehow support those people who would love to be a guide one day, but who don't have the financial means to do a full course. After all, a full 10 week in house training course costs around R30.000, because it will cover all tuition (teacher's salaries), learner materials, food, accommodation, registration, membership and exam fees and a First Aid course.

There are a number of training providers who have taken desperate students in for a course for a reduced fee, or even totally for free. Other options have included letting the learner do it all self study, but having a mentor with whom he/she can meet on a regular basis to ask questions and go over the study material, to optimally prepare the learner for one of the National Exam Sittings.

Past experiences of myself and Bhejane Nature Training has learned us many lessons, and finally now we feel that we have an idea of what is required to make any mentorship successful. Below an outline of criteria:

• The learner must have attained a full matric certificate.
• The learner must be fully literate, and be able to converse without any hassle in English.
• The learner must be passionate about the bush as well as about people, about teaching and about guiding, and not just looking into guiding and a mentorship just for an opportunity 'to find a job'. We have found that it makes no sense to look for any member in a community and offer him a mentorship just so he can get employment. Invariably they have dropped out in the past, simply because they don't have the commitment it takes to work hard in order to get a FGASA qualification. 
• For this reason, the learner must approach a possible member with a request, rather than a mentor 'looking for' a student he can mentor. 
• The learner must pay for his FGASA starter pack (manuals, workbook, registration fee, one year membership fee) him/herself, currently going @ R1035 for Level 1 Nature Guide and R1045 for Level 1 Marine Guide. This to make it an investment of their own as well, spreading the risk of money being wasted evenly over the learner and the mentor. This is also meant to ensure that learner is really committed to achieving this qualification.
• It is then up for the mentor to sponsor additional study books and/or pay for exam sittings (R300) and/or practical assessments (from R500 onwards), and/or the compulsory First Aid course (Prices vary) and the Registration fees with the Dept. Environmental Affairs and Tourism (R240) in order for the learner to become a legal guide.
• The mentor's involvement will mainly be of an academic rather than a financial nature, investing time in helping the learner study, prepare for the exams, and facilitating practical sessions.
• We recommend that the learner and mentor sign a contract or mutual agreement of responsibilities, and a timeframe with deadlines to ensure steady progress of the learner.

We are also proud to announce that the following people have been awarded a mentorship program with myself in conjuction with Bhejane Nature Training.

Agrippa Shange

Simon Mdletshe

Agrippa Shange, Turtle Guide at Bhanga Neck, Kosi Bay has committed to attaining the FGASA Level 1 Marine Guide. He plans to write the theory in March.

Simon Mdletshe, Cook at Munyawaneni Bush Lodge, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park has committed to attaining the FGASA Level 1 Nature Guide. He plans to write the theory in October.

Patrick Mthethwa, FGASA Level 1 Nature Guide at Tembe Elephant Park has committed to attaining the FGASA Level 2 Advanced Nature Guide as well as the FGASA Birding Specialist qualification. He plans to have his practical assessment for the Birding done before June, and the Level 2 theory in October.

Myself and Patrick Mthethwa

All three candidates receive different types of support from us, and we wish them all the best in their endeavours.

Should you want a mentorship, or feel you could be a mentor, please feel free to contact me (nick.vandewiel@gmail.com) or Christa Panos (dpanos@tiscali.co.za) for more information.

Report Conservation Related Crime

Hi all,

A few numbers to save on your mobile phone right now.

Report any conservation Related Crime to 0800-205-005

Or

Marine Related: 083-380-6298

Rhino Related: 082-404 2128

These numbers can be used nation-wide, you can report anonymously. They are from the conservation authorities such as EKZNW and the Endangered Wildlife Trust.

Frogging at Ehlatini.

We from the Bhejane Nature Training team all followed the Emotional Intelligence Workshop that I wrote about on the 29th of November. It was actually very interesting as we learned effective means for dealing with conflict, being assertive, having balanced professional and personal relationships, and, very important: how to deal with difficult students!
   That same evening we organised a spontaneous frogging excursion at the Ehlatini Bush Camp. This place is phenomenal for frogging as on its 80 hectares, 32 species of frogs have been recorded. Given that the whole iSimangaliso Wetland Park contains a total of 52 species of frogs within its 332.000 hectares, this is quite something! This particular night, led by FGASA Level 3 Expert Nature Guide Ryan Tippet, we found about 15 species, a very good score. We'll do another frogging night soon, before the season ends, and we'll announce it in advance on this site. So watch this space! Below some pics from the evening (click on the image for an enlargement):

Mottled Shovel-nosed Frog

Juvenile Greater Leaf-folding Frog about to lose its tail

Grass frogs are often only identifiable by looking at the pattern on the hind limps. This individual is a Sharp-nosed Grass Frog

Red-legged Kassina

Painted Reed Frog

New Year's Resolutions...

Hi all,

Compliments of the season, even though the season is already a good 2.5 weeks behind us! Yeah yeah, I know, this blog has been pretty quiet the last few months. It was busy season after all! For this reason I am sure most of you haven't even noticed, being busy with doing game drives, hosting, guiding, dealing with clients etc. For example, I have been doing tours back to back the last 4-5 months. But now, quiet season has arrived. Most tourists have left again, and January and February are for many tour operators and lodges the quieter months of the year. Time to take it easy, right?
   I don't think so! Okay, admittedly we all need to take it easy, catch our breath after working hard last season but it doesn't mean we can sit on our bum and do nothing. Many operators and lodges will have to catch up on admin and marketing, perhaps maintenance as well. But guides, if not involved too much with the maintenance, have perhaps a little more time on their hands. And this brings us exactly to the title of this post: New Year's Resolutions...
   From FGASA KZN North we would like to encourage all guides to take this opportunity to consider furthering their career and improving on their knowledge. Make a late New Year's Resolution. Who says you can only make them on the 31st of December? Do it now. Look back at the past few years. You must have gained in experience and knowledge. If you have been guiding for 15 years and are still a Level 1 guide, isn't it time to up your game a bit and do your Level 2? You've got the experience, you've got the knowledge, so you know you can do it.
   And here some reply with the same old story: "Why would I do such a thing? They won't pay me more in any case...". Not true... The better and more professional lodges and operators do pay more for better qualifications. For example, Sabi Sabi pays their guides 500 per month extra for each extra qualification they have. This allows them to earn up to 7500 rand a month, and that is excluding tips! And it is logic that they pay their guides more for better qualifications, after all, now the guides are better able to give the clients a better experience which will reflect good on the lodge or operator. If you believe your employer is not willing to pay more if you get an extra qualification, talk them them, explain the above or even refer them to this blog.
  But more importantly than making more money is the fact that with studying for an extra qualification, you get to enjoy the bush a lot more and can even revive your interest in a park and in your work. I speak out of experience here, and I know many guides who have experienced it as well. Basically all guides get bored to some degree if guiding in the same area every day for 10 years. Especially if you repeat the same story to your guests and share the same knowledge all the time. Regardless how beautiful or awesome a given park is, you're bound to lose interest to some degree. When you feel that way, all you've got to do is go and study for another qualification. The new knowledge you get, you can start to use, and suddenly you will start to talk about diferrent things with your guests, and suddenly you even start to see whole new things in the park you have been working in for 10 years. Really, it is true! In the months practising for my Level 2, and in the months afterwards, I had a whole renewed interest in the park I was guiding in. And since I did my Level 3 recently I got another burst of 'energy and interest' in guiding in my area of operation. I also started working towards the Birding Specialist qualification now, and I assure you I suddenly look more at birds, talk more about them on my game drives and enjoy them a lot more than previously. In summary, getting a new qualification can indeed give you an odd 500 rand a month extra, but will surely give you a lot more enjoyment and a renewed interest in your work. And who wouldn't enjoy that?
   So now is the time... Have a look at the FGASA website, look at what qualifications they have (http://www.fgasa.co.za/qualifications.asp ) and which ones you are eligible to write, and choose one. Book the exam right away, and start studying. Especially now, when you have a little more time on your hands. It is worth it, trust me. It trains your brain, it keeps you young. A new year, a new challenge. Never stop learning.
   Watch this space, we will post a little more about the possible qualifications you can attain at FGASA over the course of the next couple of weeks. For now also look at http://fgasakznnorth.blogspot.com/2011/06/kzn-north-new-fgasa-marine-guiding.html
   New Year's resolutions from our side? Yes indeed. One, we would like to grow this region a lot more. Two, we want to have more regular posts. Three, we want to organise more activities that bring guides in the region together. Four, this year the mentor ship program will kick off (I myself have two recruits already. More info in a post in the next weeks).

Best wishes for now,

Nick van de Wiel

Emotional Intelligence workshop

Hi everyone

We are getting a professional Life and Business Coach in January 2012 at Bhejane Nature Training (False Bay, Hluhluwe) to run a 1 day Emotional Intelligence workshop. This is an excellent programme for anyone that regularly deals with guests or staff or want to improve their personal effectiveness and interpersonal relationships. 

Bhejane will cover all additional fees such as the facilitator’s travel, meals and accommodation. You will only pay the individual cost of training.  

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is the ability to be aware of one’s own emotional state and that of others. People with low EQ often struggle with communication. This becomes more evident in an environment where there is no room for miscommunication. In order for a team to function effectively, the channels of communication must be open and allow individuals to express themselves without fear of retaliation or vengeance. Managing one’s own emotions effectively facilitates harmonious interaction with others. This is often because you are more aware of the impact your words and deeds have on others.

Emotional intelligence can also be defined as non-cognitive skills and competencies needed to successfully communicate and interact with people in our daily lives. Emotional intelligence allows you to manage your own and other’s emotions and to guide thinking and actions.

We used to believe that success depended solely on intelligence (IQ - the measure of an individual’s intellectual, analytical, rational and logical abilities.) If you were intellectually superior, the expectation was that you would succeed. This notion has long since changed since the discovery that one’s emotional intelligence (EQ) often plays a larger role than one’s IQ.

We can become more productive and successful at what we do and also help others to be more productive and successful by developing our Emotional Intelligence in the five EQ domains. Emotional Intelligence also helps to decrease conflict; improve relationships and to increase stability, continuity and harmony.

We are looking at having the workshop conducted the 20^th of January 2012.   The company is called Success Factory and the facilitator Elsabe Manning.   You can read more on their website – www.successfactory.co.za 

Their normal rate is R1800 per person, but they are willing to do it for us at R1200 per person.  As stated Bhejane will cover the extras (meals, accommodation and transport for the facilitator)

For more information please email Christa Panos at dpanos@tiscali.co.za or call her on 083-7263826.

Wilderness First Aid Course

Hi all,

We (Bhejane Nature Training, Ehlatini Bush Camp, False Bay) are running a Wilderness First Aid Course next week and have a couple of spaces open if there are any FGASA KZN North members that would like to join. It is conducted by SMART and is recognised by the Dept of Labour. 

Course dates are 8 – 10 November

If anyone wants more info or to join they can just contact me at dpanos@tiscali.co.za

Or phone Jana on 076 6035 868 to book a place.

Prices are R850 (including lunch for all three days but excluding accommodation)

R1250 with accommodation and meals.

FGASA KZN North Workshops seem to work!

Dear all,

We are proud to announce that the last national exam sitting in Hluhluwe had an excellent pass rate! Out of the 11 people that wrote the FGASA terrestrial level 1, 8 passed! Three of those had attended one of our exam workshops. In addition, one person passed its FGASA Marine Level 1, and 4 passed their trails guide. Congratulations to all those learners, and the few that didn't pass this time, good luck next time!

The FGASA KZN North Committee

Wilderness First Aid Course

Hi all,

We (Bhejane Nature Training, Ehlatini Bush Camp, False Bay) are running a Wilderness First Aid Course next week and have a couple of spaces open if there are any FGASA KZN North members that would like to join. It is conducted by SMART and is recognised by the Dept of Labour. 

Course dates are 11 – 13 October

If anyone wants more info or to join they can just contact me at dpanos@tiscali.co.za

Or phone Jana on 076 6035 868 to book a place.

Prices are R850 (including lunch for all three days but excluding accommodation)

R1250 with accommodation and meals.

Dear all,

We would like to draw your attention to the following. The 2011 Tourism Bill (Draft) has been published on the 5th of August 2011 and is open for comment for 60 days. There are a few changes made compared to the current Tourism Act of 2000, which will affect all of us. For example, as things currently stand, it is illegal for a guide to be the driver and the guide at the same time in a vehicle that has a seating capacity of more than 10 people. Most game viewers have a seating capacity of 11, therefore, by law those vehicles are supposed to have a driver and a separate guide. The Federation of South African Tourist Guide Associations (of which FGASA is a member) has identified a few 'problems' with the new bill and needs your feedback as well so they can have a really strong collective reply. In order to professionalise the guiding industry, they want to suggest some amendments. They have created a convenient discussion document for you to comment in, making it very little work for you to add your comments, if any. Please have a look at http://www.fsatga.org/?q=node/42 or email Nick.vandewiel@gmail.com for the discussion document. Many thanks for your contribution.

KZN Regional Meeting

Hi all,

FGASA would like to invite all members and aspirant-members to attend the FGASA KZN Regional meeting as per the details below. Brian Serrao, the operations director from FGASA will attend as well, and it will be a great opportunity for all members to express their opinion about guiding in the region and the role FGASA plays and/or should play in this region. Please come prepared with questions and suggestions, and we are looking forward to discuss those. Let KZN become the most active guiding region!

Best Regards,

The FGASA KZN North Committee.

KZN Regional Meeting
Date: Saturday, 1 October 2011
Venue: Protea Hotel, Hluhluwe
Time: 13h00
Contact Christa Panos for more info on 083 726 3826

KZN North: FGASA Exam workshop

Dear FGASA members,

The KZN North Committee wishes everyone writing the national exam the 1st of October good luck! For the people writing in Hluhluwe, we do offer an 'exam workshop' for learners writing the FGASA Level 1 exam, where you can come and ask questions about the topics you still might struggle with. The KZN North facilitators will then try to help you by answering your questions and explaining things where necessary, hopefully helping you passing your exam. This service is for free. These workshops will be held in St. Lucia (location to be announced), as well as in the Hluhluwe Hotel on the 23th of September from 6 PM till 9 PM.

Should you wish to make use of this service, please ensure that you make a reservation with the facilitators, to avoid finding them too busy with other students, and to avoid them sitting there for nothing. For the St. Lucia workshops, please text Nick van de Wiel on 072-7055124, for Hluhluwe please text Christa Panos on 083-7263826. Make sure you mention your name, and the time you wish to meet. Also ensure that you actually go to the workshop on the specified time, and should you not be able to, make sure you cancel your appointment with your facilitator in time.

Once again: Make a reservation with your facilitator! No reservation might mean the facilitator has no time for you that evening. And: If you have a reservation, make sure you come: No show (without cancellation) is no more future exam workshops for you... And please come prepared with your questions. If you have no questions, your facilitator unfortunately cannot help you. 

We hope this free service will ensure a higher pass rate amongst learners in this region.

Sincerely yours,

The FGASA KZN North committee

Summary of Tourist Guides Workshop

On the 24th of August the KZN Department of Economic Development and Tourism in collaboration with the National Department of Tourism held a Tourists Guides Workshop in Hluhluwe, and from FGASA we were attending. The post below briefly summarises the outcome of the workshop. As it was a workshop, it was not a straightforward presentation of facts which could simply be mentioned below, but it was rather an interactive process in which attending tourist guides could put their opinion forward. 


First of all it was good to hear that behind the scenes, many steps have been taken by the National Department of Tourism (NDT) to update and progress on the tourist guide act and the professionalisation of the tourism sector. Compliance and importance of registration by Department of Economic Development &Tourism (DEDT) is now also going to be checked more regularly by means of spot checks to combat 'illegal guiding'. People to be found guiding illegally can be fined 1000 rand and the company they are guiding for 10.000 rand on top of that. They have also proposed/initiated a change in the 'badge', to give experienced guides recognition for their years of experience. For this purpose they propose that guides get a green badge if they have been guiding less than 5 years, a bronze badge for guides operating for 6-9 years, a silver badge for 10-12 years of guiding and after 12 years guides would get a gold badge. Guides would be able to get recognition of prior learning/experience for this, so it makes sense to fill in your FGASA Logbooks and ask your clients to sign you off after each game drive or tour. Such a logbook would be deemed 'proof of experience'.

Another interesting point of discussion was the definition of 'site guide', 'regional guide', 'provincial guide' and 'national guide'. As FGASA guides, or any nature site guide trained and assessed by another THETA/CATHSSETA accredited training provider, we are 'site guides' and legally can only operate in  one 'site', for example Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and surrounding game reserves. The reality is however that many guides are trained/assessed in other 'sites' than the 'site' they end up working in. At the moment this is a grey area, but it was suggested at the workshop that assessors and training providers should be able to specify more than one site if they feel that the learner is competent. E.g.: learners that do a one month course in Mkhuze game reserve should only be allowed to guide in that particular park. Learners that do a longer course, lets say 6 months and that are trained in Mkhuze as well as Tembe, Ndumo, Kosi Bay, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, St. Lucia etc. should be allowed to guide in all these parks. Currently they do only one assessment, and get only one 'site' to be allowed to guide in. The Department of Tourism would take these points into account while discussing and drafting the new legislation.

As discussed in a previous post on this site, THETA has changed it name to CATHSSETA, to include arts and culture.

Guides must now no longer register with Tourism KZN (TKZN), but with the KZN Department of Economic Development & Tourism. (See: http://fgasakznnorth.blogspot.com/2011/05/kzn-north-important-news-for-all-guides.html)

These were the most important things covered for us guides. I would recommend anyone to participate in any next one of such workshops, as they are very relevant to all of us. Dates of such events will be posted on this site, so make sure you subscribe on the right of this page.

News: Lion released in Zululand Rhino Reserve

News:

The Zululand Rhino Reserve was established on 1st July 2004. The Reserve consists of 15 landowners which have removed their internal fences in order to create a 20 000 hectare endangered species reserve and in particular to actively promote the conservation of Black Rhino. The reserve lies within the Msunduze valley in north-western Zululand in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. On the 1st of July 2011, Zululand Rhino Reserve officially became a Big 5 reserve with the introduction of 3 male lions. An historical day for conservation, returning lions to an area that they previously inhabited. 

The 3 young males have been in a boma at Phinda Game Reserve for the last couple of weeks, until finally the go-ahead was given and they could be bought over to their new home. A few days before they were bought over to ZRR, they were fitted with telemetry collars so that they can keep track of their movements and whereabouts. Once the lions have settled in, and the researchers have an idea of their range, the collars will be removed. 

Right now the lions are in a boma here at ZRR, and they will spend a few more weeks in the boma so that they can acclimatise and monitored for any disease that they may have contracted. If they do need any medical assistance, it is much easier for them to be treated in a boma than if they were out roaming around.

If all goes to plan, the females which are from a completely different reserve, and therefore completely new bloodlines, will be joining the males in the boma soon so that they can form bonds and create a cohesive pride, after which they will be released into the reserve.

KZN North Tree Outings

The Tree Enthusiast Working Group in Hluhluwe is organising tree outings usually every second Saturday of the month, and it has recently been decided to make them more accessible for 'beginners' as well. Hence, some of the next three outings will include a lecture on how to actually identify the tree families and individual trees in KZN. They are given 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. The dates for the next few months are mentioned below, so make sure you diarise these! Participation is for free for both FGASA and non-FGASA members! The full information can be found below. For more info phone Greg Davies on 0791893996

Make sure you come, it is an awesome way to learn more trees in KZN, which will make you a better guide! 

Click here for a summary of the previous outing in April http://fgasakznnorth.blogspot.com/2011/04/report-on-great-tree-outing-at-ehlatini.html

SATURDAY, 23 JULY 2011:

Beginners power-point presentation on Tree Identification, etc, combined with a short walk in bushveld, on SAND FOREST LODGE, near False Bay Park. The presentation will be at the LAPA of Sand Forest Lodge. 

Time:  12h00 - 14h00

WEEKEND OF 12 - 14 AUGUST 2011:

Please join the Zululand Dendrological (Tree) Society for a weekend camp at NDUMO GAME RESERVE. Please do your own booking at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for either a campsite or chalet for the Friday and/or Saturday night. (Mine is booked already) There is limited space, but we can combine campsites, if we need too. We want to look at the vegetation and trees of Ndumu Game Reserve and esp Usuthu Gorge, which promise a few rare findings. I will probably go up early on Friday morning. I will also come back on Sunday via Tembe andTsongwe Sand Forest - interested people can join us. This weekend is organised by Denis Oscroft from the Tree Society.

SATURDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2011:

Power-point presentation on Tree Identification, etc, combined with a walk in bushveld and/or sand forest, at SAND FOREST LODGE, near False Bay Park. The presentation will be at the LAPA of Sand Forest Lodge.

Time: 12h00 - 14h00