Bushwise Field Guides
Bushwise Field Guides, founded in 2006 in South Africa, provides vocational safari guide, wildlife conservation, and game management training across seven Big Five campuses, awarding CATHSSETA and exclusive IFGA certifications to school leavers, career switchers, and international students globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersHoedspruit, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Bushwise Field Guides does
Bushwise Field Guides is a South African vocational training institution founded in 2006 that specializes in safari field guide, wildlife conservation, game management, and wildlife tourism education. The company delivers immersive, hands-on training across seven campuses located in Big Five wilderness areas in South Africa — including Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Greater Makalali, Greater Kruger National Park, and Babanango — covering approximately 100,000 hectares of prime wildlife territory. From 2027, programs will expand to include a Botswana rotation at Tswehe Wildlife Reserve. The core curriculum combines classroom theory with practical field experience, awarding CATHSSETA-accredited NQF2 and NQF4 qualifications alongside the International Field Guide Association (IFGA) certification, for which Bushwise holds exclusive Southern African provider status.
The company's revenue model is built on upfront course tuition (ranging from R9,950 for a 6-day Primitive Trails course to R349,500 for a 12-month Practical Game Management course with employment guarantee), complemented by placement and recruitment services offered through its 360-Degree Recruitment Division, which connects graduates with partner lodges and reserves. Bushwise targets five primary customer segments: school leavers seeking alternatives to traditional university education, corporate career switchers pursuing meaningful outdoor work, conservation science graduates needing field credentials, veterinary students requiring observation placements, and existing field guides seeking upskilling. International students from the USA, Europe, Japan, and other regions form a notable share of enrollment, supported by online course offerings and a multi-channel marketing approach across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Bushwise operates as a private subsidiary within the Second Nature global education group portfolio, with no disclosed venture capital funding. The business combines direct-to-consumer tuition sales with a B2B2C placement model, where partner lodges and reserves (including Africa on Foot, Thanda Safari, Greenfire, Kapama, and Sibuya) serve as both work-placement hosts for students and downstream customers of qualified graduates. Operational scale signals include a 97% graduate employment rate since 2012 and the No. 1 TrustPilot rating in field guide training, with headcount in the 11–50 employee range distributed across campus operations, training delivery, recruitment, and administrative functions.
Bushwise Field Guides firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bushwise Field Guides
- Legal name
- Bushwise Field Guides
- Website
- https://bushwise.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bushwise Field Guides, founded in 2006 in South Africa, provides vocational safari guide, wildlife conservation, and game management training across seven Big Five campuses, awarding CATHSSETA and exclusive IFGA certifications to school leavers, career switchers, and international students globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bushwise Field Guides industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Wildlife and Field Guide Training
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Certification & Training Providers (Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, Guide Training) (THAAAOAF), Instructor-Led Skills Academies (Climbing, Paddling, Mountaineering Schools) (THAAAOAI)
Keywords
Where Bushwise Field Guides is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hoedspruit
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices6 records
Markets served
Bushwise Field Guides business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Course Fees: Bushwise generates revenue through course fees for professional programs ranging from 6-12 months and short courses ranging from 6 days to 60 days. Fees vary by program duration and type, from R9,950 for primitive trails to R349,500 for 12-month game management courses.
- Placement and Recruitment Services: The company connects graduates with work placements and job opportunities at partner lodges and reserves, providing ongoing career support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | IFGA Professional Safari Guide - 6 months |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | IFGA Professional Safari Guide - 12 months |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | IFGA Safari & Trails Guide - 3 months |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | IFGA Safari Guide Short Course - 2 months |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | IFGA Trails Guide - 27 days |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Primitive Trails - 6 days |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Practical Game Management - 6 months |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Practical Game Management - 12 months |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Practical Game Management Short - 60 days |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Practical Conservation Management - 6/12 months |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Conservation Short Course - 2-24 weeks |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Practical Wildlife Veterinary - 7/14/28 days |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Bushwise Field Guides product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bushwise Field Guides is a vocational training provider that delivers professional field guide and wildlife conservation education in South Africa's Big Five game reserves. Its portfolio includes 6/12-month flagship professional courses (IFGA Professional Safari Guide, Practical Game Management, Practical Wildlife Tourism, Practical Conservation Management), a range of short courses (2 days to 3 months), three online courses, premium safari experiences and sabbaticals, and a built-in 360-degree recruitment division placing graduates with partner lodges. Training combines classroom theory with hands-on practical experience and produces CATHSSETA NQF2/NQF4 and IFGA certifications.
Product overview
Bushwise Field Guides offers a comprehensive portfolio of wildlife education and training products structured around five career pathways: Field Guiding, Game Management, Conservation, Wildlife Veterinary, and Wildlife Tourism. The core offerings include four flagship 6/12-month professional courses (IFGA Professional Safari Guide, Practical Game Management, Practical Wildlife Tourism, and Practical Conservation Management) that combine on-campus training with work placements. These are complemented by nine short courses (ranging from 6 days to 3 months) covering specialized skills like trails guiding, wildlife veterinary, hospitality, marketing, and conservation. Three online courses provide remote learning options for field guiding, nature appreciation, and introduction to guiding. The company also offers experiences (Bushwise Advanced Safari, Sabbaticals) and unique recruitment services for graduates. The portfolio is tied together by Bushwise's exclusive status as Southern Africa's IFGA certification provider and accreditation by CATHSSETA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IFGA Professional Safari Guide Course Flagship 6 or 12-month immersive professional course in South Africa's Big Five territory, earning CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide (NQF2 and NQF4) qualifications and IFGA certification, with a 6-month work placement and (for the 12-month version) employment guarantee.
- Practical Game Management Course Intensive 6 or 12-month hands-on course covering the skills needed to run a game farm or reserve, including guiding, anti-poaching, wildlife and ecology management, and reserve operations.
- Practical Wildlife Tourism Course 6 or 12-month course combining lodge operations, marketing, and safari guiding training with immersion in African wildlife environments.
- Practical Conservation Management Course 6 or 12-month course launching conservation careers through live-and-learn experiences at a research station, building field skills through real-world projects.
- IFGA Safari & Trails Guide Course Three-month intensive course combining field and trails guiding, earning CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide qualifications with hands-on experience on game drives and walking trails.
- IFGA Safari Guide Short Course Two-month course for career seekers and wildlife enthusiasts covering natural world and animal behaviour, earning CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide qualifications.
- IFGA Trails Guide Course 27-day course for qualified field guides progressing into foot guiding, working toward Foundational Trails Guide certification.
- Practical Wildlife Veterinary Course Course offering front-row access to wildlife veterinary science over 7, 14, or 28 days, shadowing experienced wildlife vets and exploring real conservation challenges.
- Conservation Short Course Flexible 2 to 24-week course introducing conservation work, research methodologies, and practical field skills alongside experienced teams.
- Wildlife Hospitality Short Course Short course covering hospitality skills relevant to wildlife tourism and lodge operations.
- Wildlife Marketing Short Course Short course focusing on marketing skills specific to the wildlife tourism and safari industry.
- Primitive Trails Course 6-day adventure course involving tracking, trailing, and sleeping under the stars in a new camp every night.
- Practical Game Management Short Course 60-day action-packed training course covering essential skills for game management careers from ecology to habitat management and maintenance.
- Bushwise Field Guiding Online Course Online course providing field guiding training accessible from home.
- Nature Enthusiast Online Course Online course for nature enthusiasts to learn from their own home.
- Introduction to Field Guiding Online Course Online introductory course to field guiding for beginners.
- Bushwise Advanced Safari Experience Premium safari experience offered as part of Bushwise's experiences portfolio.
- Sabbaticals with Bushwise Extended safari experience designed for professionals on sabbatical.
- Bushwise Recruitment Services 360-degree recruitment division supporting both guides and lodges, including permanent placements, short-term contracts, seasonal roles, and free 1:1 career advice.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% employment rate since 2012 for graduates of 12-month IFGA course
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bushwise Field Guides
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bushwise Field Guides technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Bushwise Field Guides partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- International Field Guide Association (IFGA)coreBushwise is the exclusive Southern African training provider for IFGA certification and standards. IFGA sets globally transferable standards for wildlife and safari guides, with the letters IFGA indicating a guide has been successfully assessed against the industry's only fully guest-centred criteria. Top students in the 6 or 12-month course can earn IFGA certification at no additional cost.
- CATHSSETAcoreBushwise is a directly accredited CATHSSETA provider offering CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide qualifications (NQF2 and NQF4). CATHSSETA is the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Sector Education and Training Authority.
- Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC)coreBushwise operates a campus (SAWC Campus) in partnership with the Southern African Wildlife College, located in the Greater Kruger National Park near Orpen Gate.
- Africa on FootminorWork placement partner conducting walking safaris in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, a Big Five game reserve within the Greater Kruger. Guests stay in five chalets with guided walks and game drives.
- Thanda SafariminorWork placement partner - private luxury game reserve in South Africa's Kwa-Zulu Natal province with three unique camps from tented to villa. Offers Big Five experiences including game drives, conservation activities, and guided walks.
- Greenfire Game LodgeminorWork placement partner located within the 50,000 hectare Balule Nature Reserve, open to the Greater Kruger landscape with Big Five regularly on their doorstep. Committed to conservation and enhancing guest experience.
- SiyafundaminorWork placement partner - research, volunteer, and wildlife monitoring organisation established in 2004 to assist the Greater Makalali Game Reserve with wildlife monitoring. Hosts researchers and supports local communities.
- KapamaminorWork placement partner - network of four luxury lodges within 15,000 hectares of pristine bushveld in the Greater Kruger. Each camp differs but all offer world-class guided game drives and nature walks in Big Five territory.
- Sibuya Game ReserveminorWork placement partner - 4-star luxury tented camp and lodge in Eastern Cape province, over an hour from Port Elizabeth and East London. Unique ocean location with over 400 bird species, Big Five, and diverse flora and fauna.
- Second Nature PortfoliocoreBushwise is part of the Second Nature portfolio of companies. Second Nature is a global education group focused on experiential learning programs.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bushwise Field Guides competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EcoTraining: South Africa's leading direct competitor to Bushwise, offering FGASA-accredited field guide, trails, and nature courses across multiple South African campuses. Closely comparable product portfolio, target market (aspiring safari guides), and business model.
- WildlifeCampus: Online wildlife and field guide course provider that overlaps with Bushwise's online course vertical (Nature Enthusiast, Introduction to Field Guiding). Comparable student segment, lower price point, and serves as both substitute and a potential funnel into Bushwise's residential programs.
- Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC): Bushwise's named partner and a peer institution offering higher certificate, diploma, and short courses in conservation and wildlife management near Kruger. Operates an overlapping campus footprint and serves the same aspiring field guide student segment.
- Africa Nature Training: South African field guide training provider offering FGASA-endorsed courses ranging from entry-level through to advanced trails and specialisation tracks. Targets the same career-switcher and school-leaver persona as Bushwise with a similar multi-week residential model.
Broad incumbents
- &Beyond: Multi-country luxury safari and conservation brand with its own training infrastructure that consumes field guide talent. Comparable safari employer profile and an indirect competitor for trainee attention at top lodges.
- Singita: Premium African safari operator and conservation organisation with extensive staff training programs. A high-quality employer of field guides that competes with Bushwise for trainee placement in the prestige segment.
- Wilderness Safaris: Established luxury safari operator across Southern Africa that is both a major potential employer of Bushwise graduates and a competitor for in-house guide training. Represents the demand-side of the placement network Bushwise sells into.
Others
- Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA): Industry body that sets the dominant South African field guide qualification standards. Not a direct competitor but a critical ecosystem participant whose accreditation framework shapes what Bushwise and its competitors deliver.
- Outward Bound International: Global experiential and outdoor education network providing instructor-led wilderness skills training. Adjacent to Bushwise's outdoor/wilderness education positioning though operating at a different price point and curricular focus.
Emerging players
- African Conservation Experience: Conservation volunteer and experience placement provider that overlaps with Bushwise's Conservation and Wildlife Tourism career paths at the entry/experience level. Targets the same international, career-switcher and gap-year demographic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bushwise Field Guides social profiles
Digital presenceBushwise Field Guides compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Bushwise Field Guides financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bushwise Field Guides leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Bushwise Field Guides funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bushwise Field Guides M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bushwise Field Guides
What does Bushwise Field Guides do?
Bushwise Field Guides is a vocational training provider that delivers professional field guide and wildlife conservation education in South Africa's Big Five game reserves. Its portfolio includes 6/12-month flagship professional courses (IFGA Professional Safari Guide, Practical Game Management, Practical Wildlife Tourism, Practical Conservation Management), a range of short courses (2 days to 3 months), three online courses, premium safari experiences and sabbaticals, and a built-in 360-degree recruitment division placing graduates with partner lodges. Training combines classroom theory with hands-on practical experience and produces CATHSSETA NQF2/NQF4 and IFGA certifications.
Is Bushwise Field Guides a public or private company?
Bushwise Field Guides is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Bushwise Field Guides founded?
Bushwise Field Guides was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bushwise Field Guides based?
Bushwise Field Guides is headquartered in Hoedspruit, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Bushwise Field Guides make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Course Fees are the primary driver. The others are placement and Recruitment Services.
Who are Bushwise Field Guides's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EcoTraining, WildlifeCampus, Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) and Africa Nature Training. Broad incumbents are &Beyond, Singita and Wilderness Safaris. Others are Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) and Outward Bound International. African Conservation Experience is listed as an emerging player.
Does Bushwise Field Guides have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bushwise Field Guides.
What industry is Bushwise Field Guides in?
Bushwise Field Guides's product category is Vocational Wildlife and Field Guide Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAOAA, Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning), with a secondary code of THAAAOAF, Certification & Training Providers (Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, Guide Training). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 8200.