Reflections of my time at Limpopo Field Guiding Academy

Article by Claudia Bevilacqua

They say that when you enjoy what you do, time goes by faster and you suddenly find yourself at the end of a beautiful path without realising it.

I came to Limpopo Field Guiding Academy with the fear that I would not be able to achieve all the goals I had set. Later I realised that the training they offer is certainly intense but also well-structured and that by following their instruction, you can achieve amazing results. Passion for nature, determination and the desire to learn are essential to become a safari guide, in order to be able to share your knowledge with other people and sensitise them to a more ethical and sustainable vision for the future.

In my first article I recounted my initial feelings of life in the savanna and it was really exciting. Then I got completely absorbed in activities and study, but now at the end of this experience I would like to share more.

The training component that perhaps immersed me the most was that of track and sign, which allowed me to see the messages inherent in the surrounding nature and the animals in a totally different way. We spent entire days inspecting animal tracks, droppings, markings and burrows, studying the animals’ dietary habits and preferences and understanding their direction or gait. Many times I lay completely on the ground to interpret valuable information from the substrate, that would help me to figure out which animal had passed the very spot before us.  This component week completely absorbed me and, despite my fatigue in the evenings, I would join my colleagues around the campfire to review the tracks of the day and do even better the next day.

On the day of the CyberTracker Track and Sign Evaluation, my commitment paid off, with excellent results. Now, a month later, I still feel the intense concentration that focused me on only that scenario. The tracks were never the same and each one told a different story.In my mind, I could project the image of a lone lion or a group of giraffes, I could see a jackal approaching a waterhole to drink or a blue wildebeest marking a tree to define its territory – every little detail is important!

Another unforgettable week was the one focused on approaching Dangerous Game species on foot. The days took place in the bush, as we would enter dense vegetation on trails unknown to vehicles, follow the tracks of the big five and attempt to get close to them without being detected.

The first morning was still cold, we had plenty of food and water supplies with us and before we left our instructor called us in for the pre-trail briefing. He was serious and focused, conveying only professionalism and passion for his work. He explained to us what we had to do, the importance of our behavior during this time and gave us valuable and detailed instructions to firstly ensure our safety and also not disturb the animals. These are two of the fundamental principles on which the academy is based.

Not altering their behaviour, not invading their comfort zone while respecting their wild nature, observing the animals in their deepest and most intimate activities, I assure you it is magical! When you are on foot in front of towering animals, your breath becomes deeper, your heart beats faster, time stands still.Silence is only interrupted when the animal moves away and disappears into the distance or when it is better for us to leave because perhaps the wind is turning and the animal might become aware of us. Once again everything is closely related to nature.

Towards the end of the two-month program, was the birding week, an intense component with over 100 species of birds to be recognised by sight and about 60 bird calls to be identified! We were blessed to be joined by a real professional, who with passion and a lot of joy, guided us on this journey of discovery into the avian world.

I have come to the end of this experience and looking back, not only am I extremely satisfied with the course I took at Limpopo Field Guiding Academy, but also with myself. It was challenging but I did it and become qualified as a FGASA Apprentice Field Guide!

So now, what is the next step? Without a doubt, it is to go back to Africa and find opportunities that will allow me to gain more experience and work as a Safari Guide; to put the skills I have acquired into practice and further deepen my knowledge. Finally, I hope to collaborate someday on some wildlife conservation and study project in Africa to make my contribution in the scientific world.