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FGASA ©2013 2

FGASA CONTACT DETAILS

Tel: 011 – 886 8245

Fax: 011 – 886 8084

Email:

[email protected] (Managing Director)

[email protected] (Operations Director)

[email protected] (Standards Director - Training providers/Assessors/Corporate

members)

[email protected] (Theory examinations, applications, results and payments,

books, study material, orders & payments)

[email protected] (New member application process & payments)

[email protected] (Cards /FGASA Certificates/Assessments/Competency letters/

First Aid & payments)

[email protected] (CATHSSETA Certificates/Field News magazine/Junior Membership)

Web-site: www.fgasa.co.za

Postal address: P.O. Box 4432 Cresta 2118 South Africa

Physical Address:

Petrob House 5TH Floor, East Wing 343 Surrey Avenue Ferndale (Randburg)

mailto:[email protected]







FGASA ©2013 3

12

th edition – March 2013

THE FIELD GUIDES ASSOCIATION

OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

Reg No. 2004/003844/08

Member 827

613/P/000004/2004

GENERAL INFORMATION GUIDE

FGASA ©2013 4

GENERAL INFORMATION GUIDE

COMPILED BY

GRANT HINE

Copyright © THE FIELD GUIDES ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA 2012. No part of this FGASA General Information Guide may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the Directors of The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa.

FGASA ©2013 5

CONTENTS page

1. INTRODUCTION 9

1.1 The purpose of this information guide 9

1.2 Introduction to FGASA 9

1.3 The aims of FGASA 10

1.4 The benefits of membership with FGASA 10

2. GUIDING AS A PROFESSION 11

2.1 The definition of a Tourist Guide 11

2.2 The aims of Guiding 11

2.3 A brief introduction to guiding qualifications 12

3. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Rules & Requirements) 13

3.1 Who can become a member of FGASA? 13

3.2 How do I become a member of FGASA? 13

3.3 How do I make a payment to FGASA? 14

3.4 What do I get once I have joined FGASA? 15

3.5 How do I attain a FGASA qualification? 15

3.6 When will I be awarded the FGASA qualification? 15

3.7 What qualifications can I attain through FGASA? 16

How do I become a member and get a FGASA qualification - Flow chart 17

3.8 What procedure do I follow to write a FGASA theory examination? 18

3.9 How do I get my theory evaluation results? 20

3.10 How do I use the FGASA Logbook? 21

3.11 When do I get a membership card and certificate? 22

3.12 How do I change my postal address with FGASA? 22

3.13 How does FGASA communicate with its members? 22

3.14 What are the FGASA office hours? 23

3.15 How do I contact FGASA? 23

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4. FGASA QUALIFICATIONS – ENTRY REQUIREMENTS, SYLLABUS

OUTLINES & PRESCRIBED LEARNING MATERIAL

25

4.1 Introduction 25

4.2 Nature Guide Categories 25

Local Nature Guide 25

Level 1 Nature Guide 28

Level 2 Nature Guide 31

How to get a FGASA Level 2 Qualification - Flow chart 36

Level 3 Advanced Nature Guide 37

How to get a FGASA Level 3 Qualification - Flow chart 39

Level 1 Marine Guide 41

4.3 Tracker Categories 43

Tracker Level 1 43

Tracker Level 2 45

Tracker Level 3 47

Tracker Level 4 49

Senior Tracker & Master Tracker 49

Scout Qualification 49

4.4 Dangerous Game Qualifications 50

Back-up Trails Guide 50

The FGASA Back-up Trails Guide Qualification - Flow chart 56

Trails Guide 57

The FGASA Trails Guide Qualification - Flow chart 58

Advanced Trails Guide 59

The FGASA Advanced Trails Guide Qualification - Flow chart 60

The FGASA Rifle Handling Certificates 62

The FGASA Rifle Handling Certificates - Flow chart 64

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SKS Dangerous Game 65

4.5 Birding Qualifications 69

Local Bird Guide 69

Regional Bird Guide 70

SKS Birding 73

How do I get a FGASA birding Qualification – Flow Chart 77

4.6 Biome Guiding Qualifications 78

Biome Guide 78

National Biome Guide 80

4.7 Horse Guiding Qualifications 80

Assistant Horse Guide 81

Lead Horse Guide 82

Advanced Lead Horse Guide 85

The Horse Guiding Qualifications (Non-dangerous Game) - Flow chart 86

Dangerous Game Assistance Horse Guide 87

Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide 87

Advanced Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide 89

The Horse Guiding Qualifications (Dangerous Game) - Flow chart 90

4.8 Wildflower Guiding Qualifications 91

Local Wildflower guide 91

Regional Wildflower guide 91

SKS Wildflowers 94

4.9 Additional FGASA Certificates (Add-on certificates) 97

4.10 FGASA Knowledge Certificates (Associate members) 98

Biome knowledge Certificate 98

Introduction to South Africa knowledge Certificate 98

Design and Research Certificate 98

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Safety and Emergency knowledge Certificate 98

Birding Knowledge Certificate 99

Guiding Tourism Management Knowledge Certificate 99

Guiding Conservation Management Knowledge Certificate 99

Commercial Cave Knowledge Certificate 100

FGASA/sappi Tree Knowledge Certificates 100

4.11 Guiding Registration Categories 101

Site Guide/Regional Guide/Provincial Guide/National Guide 101

Unit standards, Skills Programme and National Certificates 102

4.12 Guide Registration in South Africa 104

Registration as a Tourist Guide 104

The requirements for Guide Registration 105

5. THE FGASA GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND CODE OF CONDUCT 106

THE STRUCTURE OF FGASA 108

FGASA ©2013 9

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 THE PURPOSE OF THIS INFORMATION GUIDE

The purpose of this General Information Guide is to:

Provide you with an introduction to the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa

Give you detailed information and guidelines to the following:

Rules, regulations and requirements set by FGASA

The basic principles of Guiding

Training and assessment of Guides

The Syllabus outline for all the FGASA qualifications

Entry requirements for all qualifications

Prescribed learning material for each qualification

Further recommended reading for each qualification

The Articles and Memorandum of the Association

The FGASA guiding Code of Conduct

1.2 INTRODUCTION TO FGASA

The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) was formally established in 1990, by a group of professional guides aiming to set a standard for nature guiding practice. It was registered in 2005 as a Section 21 Company not for gain (Registration no. 2004/003844/08). FGASA represents individual Tourist Guides, Nature, Culture and Adventure guides, Trackers and organisations involved in offering professional guiding services to members of the public.

FGASA is an accredited provider with the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport, Sector Education Training Authority (CATHSSETA). The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa has set guiding standards for many years and continues to maintain the highest standards within the guiding industry. In conjunction with CATHSSETA within the National Qualifications Framework, FGASA promotes the standards for guiding throughout southern Africa in the form of:

A standard outcomes-based training syllabus

A code of ethics and a set of guiding principles

An assessment system based on high standards of competence

An effective training-course endorsement system

A valid recognised First Aid Certificate requirement

The philosophy of FGASA is one of promoting a high standard of tourist guiding,

skills development, and job creation within the tourism industry.

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1.3 THE AIMS OF FGASA

Provide educational opportunities to promote the conservation and rehabilitation of the cultural and natural heritage of southern Africa.

To maintain and serve a professional association of highly-trained tourist guides, tour operators and hospitality institutes.

To promote a culture of professional guiding based on a strong ethical, well-informed, safety conscious approach that provides the visitor to southern Africa with a pleasant and memorable experience.

To fully commit to the development and implementation of the national qualifications, promoting the development of all tourist guides including historically disadvantaged individuals, as a part of the South African transformation process.

To promote the development of guides through the use of training programmes that conform to high standards of learner development.

To promote the highest standards of guide assessment by appointing fully qualified and experienced assessors.

1.4 BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP WITH FGASA

Qualifications: Qualifications are of a recognised and respected standard.

Assessments: Practical assessments are conducted at a professional level.

FGASA bookshop: Members are entitled to buy books at discounted prices.

Magazine & Newsletter: Members are kept informed by a colour tri-annual magazine and a monthly on-line newsletter.

Website: Informative website with up to date membership, qualifications and exam results.

Learner support: Professional support available to all FGASA learners.

Job market: Provide members with job market information

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2. GUIDING AS A PROFESSION

2.1 Definition of a Tourist guide

For the purpose of this General Information Guide the term “Tourist guide” applies to all individuals carrying out the role of a guide be they a Nature guide, Culture guide or Adventure guide depending on their speciality within the tourism industry.

The term “Game Ranger” is often used to refer to a “field guide” or “nature guide”. The term “Game ranger” refers to a person whose concern is mainly with the conservation management of a specific area, and this person does not usually deal with the general public in an educational role.

FGASA equates the term “Tourist guide” with the term “Field Guide” be they working as a Nature, Culture or Adventure guide, given that guides operate out in the “field” of the tourism industry.

Tourist guiding in South Africa is fairly diverse in terms of the sub-categories of guiding types. There are three broad types of guiding which determine the main focus of the guided experience, namely; Nature, Culture and Adventure guiding. Within each of these guiding types there are a large number of specialities which require very specific training, for example a nature guide may specialise in Birding, Dangerous animals, Horse-guiding, Tracking, Commercial cave guiding, Wild flowers, Biome-guiding, Coastal-marine guiding, Scuba-guiding to name a few. Within the field of culture guiding a guide may specialise in Archaeology, Rock art, Cultural centre guiding, Battlefield guiding and Indigenous Knowledge systems guiding. An Adventure guide may conduct a guided experience within a large number of specialities such as Cable-touring, Hiking, Abseiling, Bungee-jumping, Mountain biking, River tripping, Kloofing, Sea kayaking, Quad biking and Archery and this list is almost endless.

Some guides may choose to be a specialist guide either in Nature, Culture or Adventure, while others become guides who are diversely competent and may conduct guided experiences which include Nature, Culture and some of the specialist adventure guiding activities. No matter what type of guiding is carried out, all tourist guides have to undergo training and be assessed as competent within their specific fields.

Tour guiding involves the guiding of people on tours in specific areas, provinces or throughout the entire country. Guiding may take place in national parks, game reserves, botanical gardens, nature reserves, cities, museums, battlefield sites, outdoor adventure areas and other places of interest, with a focus on the natural and cultural heritage of the country.

The Tourist guide acts as a link between the natural and cultural surroundings and the clients, taking on an educational role. The Tourist guide provides a learning experience in a manner that the individuals learn more from the environmental and cultural interaction in the company of the tourist guide than they would without the presence of the guide.

2.2 The aims of guiding

The aims of guiding are to reveal and expose people to the natural and cultural heritage, history, folklore and the beauty of the country, creating an awareness of the complexities of the natural and cultural environment, by sharing factual knowledge and meaningful interpretation of the country‟s heritage. Tourist guiding in South Africa is carried out within the framework of providing a high standard and quality service with the safety and enjoyment of people as a priority.

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2.3 A brief introduction to guiding qualifications

To work as a Tourist guide in South Africa a qualification is required that is attained through an accredited tourist guide training provider. Training providers are at present accredited with the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA).

To gain a qualification in tourist guiding a learner will have to undergo training in a specific field of guiding and then go through an assessment process in order to be declared competent for that specific field of guiding. The minimum required qualification for a tourist guide is known as a skills programme. A skills programme consists of a number of unit standards that provide the guide with the skills to carry out a particular type of guiding. For example, an entry level Nature Guide will have to have been declared competent for the skills programme which consists of two unit standards: “Create a guided experience for customers” and “Conduct a guided nature experience in a limited geographical area”.

This skills programme will qualify the guide to operate within a specific guiding site such as a specific Game reserve, a Botanical garden or a National Park. The learner would go through a theoretical assessment and then a practical assessment within his/her guiding site of choice. A learner may be declared competent by the registered FGASA assessor to guide in more than one particular guiding site.

In order for a guide to operate over an entire Province of South Africa, s/he will have to be declared competent for the Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC) in Tourism Guiding which consists of about 30 compulsory unit standards. Once a guide has attained the FETC in Tourism Guiding for a single Province then s/he can start to add the other provinces by going through training and assessment in order to be declared competent for the other Provinces. Once the guide has been declared competent for all 9 provinces in South Africa s/he can then register with NDT as a National Tourist Guide.

To qualify as a Tourist guide a learner will need to attain:

A Skills programme (made up of specialist unit standards) or

A Further Education & Training Certificate in Tourism: Guiding (made up of core, fundamental and elective unit standards)

The type of qualification the learner has been declared competent for, will determine where the guide is able to operate, namely:

In a Site,

Throughout a Region,

In an entire Province or

At a National level (All nine Provinces)

The Guide‟s ability to guide within a specialist field of guiding within the Nature, Culture or Adventure tourist guiding specialities will also be determined by what speciality the guide has been declared competent for.

More detailed information on each FGASA qualification can be found in

Section 4 of this General Information Guide.

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3. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Rules & Requirements)

1. WHO CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF FGASA? Anybody can become a FGASA member.

For Adult membership you need to be over the age of 18. (This is in order to write the exams, do workbooks and be practically assessed)

The Junior membership is for school learners including categories for both Primary and High school learners. (Certificates are issued on successful completion of workbooks)

Membership is for anybody who would like to:

Follow a career in guiding

Improve their knowledge of wildlife, conservation and culture

Do a non-guiding Knowledge Certificate as an Associate member

Gain a recognised guiding qualification

Support the development of professional guides

Gain a recognised tracker qualification

Attain a specialist guiding qualification

Register with Department of Tourism as a legal guide

2. HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER OF FGASA? (Refer to the flow chart on page 17)

You can register online as a new member on the FGASA website: www.fgasa.org.za making sure to follow all the required steps for registration.

or you can obtain a Membership Application form from FGASA. It can be sent to you via fax or email.

Download the form off the FGASA website: www.fgasa.org.za Look for it under

the MEMBERSHIP „dropdown box‟. Make sure you use the correct form depending

on where you are from: either a South African, from Sub-Saharan Africa or an

International learner from another country.

The application form can be collected at the Johannesburg office

Complete the application form by filling out all the required details.

Sign the FGASA Code of Conduct attached to the application form (Compulsory).

Pay the FGASA fees for registration, annual subscription and learning materials into the relevant account as indicated on the Application form.

http://www.fgasa.org.za/


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On successful completion of the application and payment of relevant fees you will receive:

The Level 1 Learner Support Pack, Workbook and assessment sheets The Level 1 Learner Manual The Guiding Skills Manual A Guiding Log book

3. HOW DO I MAKE A PAYMENT TO FGASA?

Fees may be paid by cheque or can be paid directly into one of FGASA‟s bank accounts. Online

payment can be made by credit card or SID. Please do not send cash by post. It does get lost

from time to time, and we cannot take any responsibility for lost cash.

Bank account details: Nedbank Eastgate

Branch no: 192 405

Account no: 1924 221 241

Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ

Your membership number or ID number

OR

Bank account details: ABSA Cresta

Global Branch no: 632005

Account no: 911 932 9308

Swift code: ABSAZAJJ

Your membership number or ID number

IF YOU WANT TO JOIN AS AN ASSOCIATE NON-GUIDE MEMBER AND COMPLETE SOME

OF THE FGASA KNOWLEDGE CERTIFICATES THEN PLEASE COMPLETE THE ASSOCIATE

MEMBER APPLICATION FORMS. (Refer to page 98 on Knowledge Certificates)

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If you pay money directly into the FGASA bank accounts, please ensure that the following is

written on the slip:

Your ID number

And/or FGASA membership number (if you are already a member)

Email / Fax this slip through to the FGASA office (011 – 886 8084), preferably together

with a form or a note explaining what the money is for. From time to time money has been

paid into the FGASA account with no indication whatsoever who the money is from or what it is

for. We have no option but to regard these funds as donations to the Association.

RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP (Annual subscription payment)

Registration fees are a once-off payment (unless your membership lapses for more than

18 months)

Subscription fees are renewable on a yearly basis.

Membership is valid for one calendar year from the date you join the Association (for

example; the month of March of one year to March of the next year).

Membership renewal reminders are emailed the month before your membership expires.

4. WHAT DO I GET ONCE I HAVE JOINED FGASA?

As soon as your application form and relevant payment (with proof of payment) for registration and membership has been processed by the FGASA Johannesburg office you will receive the following:

A General Information Guide A Field Guiding Log book (Guide member only) The latest Field News magazine (if available) Level 1 learner Support Pack and Workbook (Guide member only) Level 1 Learner Manual (Guide member only) Guiding Skills Manual (Guide member only)

5. HOW DO I ATTAIN A FGASA QUALIFICATION

There are different criteria and requirements for the various qualifications you can attain through FGASA. Please refer to ‘Section 4’ of this General Information Guide on FGASA qualifications. Find the relevant qualification you require information on and turn to the relevant page. There you will find the process of attaining the relevant FGASA qualification, the entry requirements, the syllabus outlines, the required learning material and recommended reading.

6. WHEN WILL I BE AWARDED THE FGASA QUALIFICATION?

You will be awarded the appropriate FGASA Certificate when:

The FGASA office has proof that you have been declared competent in the

theoretical and the practical assessments and this has been moderated.

(FGASA Local guide and Trackers only go through a practical assessment)

Membership Cards and Certificates are only issued once you have attained a FGASA qualification (Both theoretical and practical competence).

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All your required FGASA fees are fully paid up for the current year.

You have submitted a copy of a valid (current) recognised First Aid certificate to the

FGASA Johannesburg office. (Trackers do not need to have a First Aid certificate)

7. WHAT QUALIFICATIONS CAN I ATTAIN THROUGH FGASA?

FGASA is a CATHSSETA accredited training provider for tourism guiding in South Africa. The

equivalent CATHSSETA qualifications can be attained through FGASA, thus allowing you to

attain the required National Skills Program Certificates and Qualifications. FGASA is continually

adding qualifications to their scope in terms of CATHSSETA accreditation. At present some of

the national qualifications/skills programmes can be attained through FGASA. There are a

number of qualifications which can be attained through FGASA which are not registered with

SAQA at present. Any learner who attains a qualification / skills programme which is not yet

registered will be rpl‟d (recognition of prior learning) as soon as the qualification / skills

programme is registered.

Nature Guide Categories Rifle Handling Certificates

Local Nature Guide FGASA Basic Rifle Handling

Level I Nature Guide FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling

Level II Nature Guide Horse Guiding Qualifications (Non-Dangerous Game)

Level III Nature Guide Assistant Horse Guide

Lead Horse Guide

Marine Guide Category Advance Lead Horse Guide

Level 1 Marine Guide Horse Guiding Qualifications (Dangerous Game)

Dangerous Game Qualifications Dangerous Game Assistant Horse Guide

Back-up Trials Guide Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide

VPDA Certificate Dangerous Game Advanced Lead Horse Guide

Trails Guide Wildflower Qualifications

Advanced Trails Guide Specialist Wildflower Guide

SKS Dangerous Game SKS Wildflowers

Birding Qualifications Biome Guiding Qualifications

Local Bird Guide Biome Guide

Regional Bird Guide National Biome Guide

SKS(Birding) Other Certificates

Tracker Qualifications Commercial Cave Knowledge Certificate

Tracker Level I South Africa General Knowledge Certificate

Tracker Level II Minimise & Manage Safety & Emergency Incidents

Tracker Level III Research and Design Certificate

Tracker Level IV Guiding Conservation Management Certificate

Senior Tracker Guiding Tourism Management Certificate

Master Tracker FGASA/sappi Tree Knowledge Certificates

Scout Qualification Bird Knowledge Certificate

FGASA ©2013 17

HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER AND GET A FGASA GUIDING QUALIFICATION?

No

Yes

No

Yes

You will have to complete

the FGASA Membership

Application form.

Have you completed a FGASA Membership Application

form and signed the Code of Conduct on the second page?

If you have made all

payments please contact

the office to make sure

they have received your

payment and the proof of

payment.

Yes

No

Yes

You are now eligible to be practically assessed. Have you

submitted your workbooks to the FGASA assessor?

No You will need to complete

an exam application form,

make payment and submit

proof of payment with the

application form to the

FGASA office.

Have you gone through a self-study programme and

completed the FGASA Level 1 Workbooks or have you

attended a FGASA course.

Have you received the FGASA General Information guide,

logbook, the latest Field News magazine, Learner Support

Pack & Workbook and the Level 1 Learner Manual &

Guiding Skills Manual

Have you completed and submitted an examination

application form with proof of payment to the FGASA

office?

Yes

You will need to complete

the workbooks during self

study or on a FGASA

course.

Have you passed the FGASA theory examination?

You will need to make

payment and send proof of

payment with the

application forms to the

FGASA office.

Have you made the relevant payments into the FGASA bank

account and sent proof of payment with the application

form to the FGASA office: Registration fee / Annual

subscription /Payment for learning materials? Email an ID

photograph of yourself for your membership card. No

Membership

No

Have you been declared competent for the FGASA practical

assessment?

No You will need to submit

your completed workbooks

to the FGASA assessor.

No

You will need to be re-

assessed practically for the

FGASA Level 1 qualification.

Yes

Yes

Yes

You will be awarded the FGASA Level 1 Nature Site Guide (NQF2) Certificate, Membership card

and a Letter of competence to take to the Dept of Tourism to register as a guide.

Do you have a valid and current First Aid Certificate? No

You will need to attend a

course and attain a valid

First Aid Certificate.

Yes

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8. WHAT PROCEDURE DO I FOLLOW TO WRITE A FGASA THEORY EXAMINATION?

8.1 The Level 1 theory examination

The FGASA theory examination is an assessment tool used to determine your theoretical

knowledge pertaining to the different levels of guiding qualifications. Examination sittings are

held four times per year in centres throughout southern Africa. Some centres (indicated on

the exam application form) are used frequently, but others are arranged on an ad hoc basis

to suit candidates as best as we can with the facilities available. Normally, all theoretical

evaluations take place at 10h00. (Times at individual venues may change – you will be

informed of any changes)

Each national sitting examination has a closing date for entry (1 month before the

examination date). Please ensure that you send in your application and payment for the

relevant examination before the closing date.

Process to follow when applying to write a theory examination:

Paid-up members can register online for an exam

The examination application form can be collected at the Johannesburg office

It can be sent to you via fax or email on request.

Download the examination application form off the FGASA website: www.fgasa.org.za Look for it under the EXAMINATIONS „dropdown box‟.

Complete the examination application form by filling out all the required details.

Pay the FGASA examination fee into the FGASA account (Refer to Point 3 of this section)

Email/Fax the examination application form and proof of payment for the examination to the FGASA office.

Remember to confirm the venue and starting time of your examination 10 days before the examination date by logging into your profile on the website or calling the office.

8.2 The Level 2 & 3 theory examination

Following the normal progression of skills development,

before you can write the Level 2 examination you will

have to have fully qualified with the Level 1 qualification

(both theory and practical) and the same applies to

attaining the full level 2 qualification before you write the

Level 3 theory examination.

Remember: To write the final Level 2 theory examination you will have to have your logbook

signed off indicating that you have accumulated 260 days active guiding experience. To

write the final Level 3 theory examination you will have to have your logbook signed off

indicating that you have accumulated a total of 520 days active guiding experience. (This

total will include the already accumulated days for Level 2 and is not an additional 520 days)

Nobody will be allowed to apply for a National FGASA theory examination after the closing date. The closing date is one month before the set examination date. The closing dates are made available well in advance.


FGASA ©2013 19

Upon proof of extensive guiding experience (logged), a candidate may ask special

permission to write the Level 2 or 3 theory examination directly. This may be granted on

condition that, should the candidate not prove competent, he/she has to then go back

and complete the Level 1 theory examination and practical assessment. All the relevant

Electives for FGASA Level 2 and Level 3 need to have been completed before the relevant

theory examinations can be applied for.

8.3 General theory examination information

Confirmation of the examination venue

Candidates are urged to check the FGASA website or to phone the office 10 days before the

exam to confirm the venue and time of the exam, especially if they are not writing at one of

the established centres. Members who have cell phone numbers indicated on their profile

will be notified by SMS. If for some reason a candidate has to cancel an exam session and

lets the Johannesburg office know beforehand, the exam fee will be transferred to the next

available exam session. However if the FGASA Johannesburg office is not informed

beforehand, the examination fee will be taken as a donation and the candidate will

have to pay again for the next theory examination.

Oral examinations

The opportunity to be examined for the theoretical component by means of an oral

examination is granted to individuals who cannot read or write.

The oral examinations will however not take place on the same day as the FGASA

National theory examination sittings.

You will need to apply separately to the FGASA office with valid reasons if you want to

undergo an oral assessment for the Level 1 theory examination.

The date for an oral examination will depend on the availability of an examiner in your

area of operation.

As some degree of literacy is essential to get to level 3, oral evaluations will normally

be restricted to Level 1 and Level 2.

Oral evaluations will be more a case of the assessor helping with the interpretation of

questions, while a Level 3 candidate should be literate enough to complete the

evaluation in writing.

It is FGASA policy not to make old examination papers available. The type of

exam questions you can expect at the different levels under each module can be

found in the Support pack / workbooks purchased from the FGASA bookshop.

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Special examination sittings

The FGASA endorsed training providers are entitled to request a special theoretical examination sitting to be held at their premises at the end of each course that they offer.

Learners still need to go through the process of application if they are attending a course offered by a FGASA endorsed training provider if they want to write a special examination.

It is important that you ensure that the training provider you are being trained by confirms with the FGASA office that you are eligible to write this examination.

Other special examination sittings can be arranged depending on how many learners there are at the specific venue. Special examination sittings may be held in the Johannesburg office on request and adequate reasons provided.

If you are permitted to write a special examination sitting and you do not pass you may not write another special sitting for the same Level. You will have to apply and re-write the examination at the next available FGASA National examination date.

9. HOW DO I GET MY THEORY EXAMINATION RESULTS?

For all qualifications that require a theory assessment, the examination papers from the various

regions are returned to the office where they are marked, moderated and the marks entered

onto the FGASA database. Only then can the latest examination results be released. FGASA

has 30 examination venues in Southern Africa, and it takes time to get all the answer sheets

back to the Johannesburg office, marked and moderated.

This process takes three weeks. Examination results will then be published on the FGASA

website under the member profile and can only be accessed if the member is currently paid up.

Please do not phone the Johannesburg office for examination results before a period of three

weeks after a theory examination date. [Note that the final results can only be made available

from the Johannesburg office after all examination papers have been marked and moderated].

In principle all examination papers with percentages between 69% and 75% are remarked

during the moderation process. If you get 72% for an evaluation, for example, you can be

assured that the moderator has done all he/she can to increase the marks by checking

ambiguous questions, etc. but simply cannot "find" and allocate more marks for your answers.

Theory examination results are only made available by the FGASA office 3 weeks

after the examination has been written. Do not call the office for results before a

period of three weeks after the theory examination date. Markers may not provide

learners with results.

FGASA ©2013 21

10. HOW DO I USE THE FGASA LOGBOOK?

Logbooks are an integral part of the recognition of prior learning and

experience requirements for the FGASA qualification system.

The Guiding Logbook (Green)

You can start entering any relevant guiding experience in the

logbook

With relevant experience logged, you may then apply to be

assessed for higher FGASA level evaluations.

If you have already been guiding for some time, you may backdate

the logbook.

Fill in your previous guiding experience (even if you were not previously a member) - in as

much detail as possible

Have it verified and signed by your previous employers where you are able to.

Reference letters may also be sent to the FGASA office with the logbook.

At present any superior can sign off your guiding experience in the logbook, but if that person

has passed FGASA evaluations him/herself, so much the better.

The amount of detail required depends on your kind of operation:

If you do one trip a month, the details of every trip should be provided in the logbook.

If you do two game drives and a walk every day, a monthly summary of these should be

recorded in the logbook.

It is very important that you sign every page, and have a superior sign on the same page,

preferably with some comment pertaining to the experience (yours and/or the clients).

The purpose of the logbook is to assess your guiding ability and experience from a distance:

The more relevant information you provide for this purpose, the better.

Please write down "difficult" encounters you may have had with e.g. animals, clients,

weather conditions or type of terrain and how you handled the situation.

A separate Dangerous Game Logbook is available for members wanting to attain the Back-up Trails Guide, Trails Guide, Advanced Trails Guide and SKS (Dangerous Game) qualifications.

This logbook is far more extensive than the normal guiding logbook and will require more

details for the dangerous game encounters on foot.

This logbook is to be signed by your Mentor (Who has a Full Trails Guide qualification)

and then sent to the FGASA office to be verified and signed off.

For all your normal guiding experience make use of the green guiding logbook, only

make use of the Dangerous Game logbook for recording actual encounters with

dangerous game as per the definition of encounters. (Refer to Section 4 in this

information guide under the Trails Guide section)

Refer to the information provided in the FGASA logbooks on how to go about completing the

information required.

FGASA ©2013 22

11. WHEN DO I GET A MEMBERSHIP CARD & CERTIFICATE?

Membership cards are issued to all members who are fully paid-up for the current year and

have been declared competent for both the theoretical and practical evaluations for relevant

FGASA qualifications. (Thus have attained a full FGASA qualification)

Membership cards will be issued when the FGASA office has:

Verified you are a current paid-up member of the Association

Confirmed you have been declared competent for a relevant FGASA qualification

A copy of your valid First Aid Certificate (Level 1/or higher)

Received a photograph of you, emailed to the FGASA office. This photograph will be

imported into the FGASA database for all future membership cards. If you cannot email

a passport-size photograph then post one to the FGASA office. This picture will then be

scanned and placed on the database to be used for your membership card. (Please

ensure if posting a photograph that your name is on the back of the photograph)

Certificates will be issued when the FGASA office has:

Verified you are a current paid-up member of the Association

Confirmed you have been declared competent for a relevant FGASA qualification

A copy of your valid First Aid Certificate (Level 1/or higher)

12. WHAT DO I DO WHEN I CHANGE MY POSTAL ADDRESS OR CONTACT DETAILS?

Please keep the FGASA office informed of any changes to your postal and physical

address and contact details.

If you do not receive your "Field News" magazine, email news-letter or an email reminder

that your annual fees are due, please let the FGASA office know.

It may be due to an incorrect postal address and/or email address, and sometimes things

do go missing in the post.

Please email or fax a copy of any change of address or contact details to the FGASA

office or update your details online as an existing members using your member number,

Id/passport to log in.

13. HOW DOES FGASA COMMUNICATE WITH ITS MEMBERS?

The "Field News" is the official magazine of the Association and is published and distributed three times a year.

This magazine is the best way in which FGASA can keep members up to date of new developments in FGASA and the Tourism Guiding Sector in general.

Members are urged to read the magazine, at least for that purpose.

The magazine is much more than just a newsletter and includes interesting articles (sent in by members), specials offered from the FGASA bookshop and other stores around the country, competitions with prizes and advertisements for interesting events and training programmes.

FGASA ©2013 23

An email newsletter is usually sent to members on a monthly basis informing members of any information regarding FGASA and the guiding industry, the latest theory examination results and any FGASA bookshop specials.

Members may also find detailed information on the FGASA website including a list of the qualified paid-up members and all the latest examination results.

FGASA‟s website: www.fgasa.org.za

14. WHAT ARE THE FGASA OFFICE HOURS?

The FGASA office:

Is open from 07h30 to 16h00 from Monday to Thursday.

Is open on Fridays from 08h00 and closes at 12h00.

Is also closed on all public holidays.

May also be closed on a Monday if a Tuesday is a public holiday.

(Please check the FGASA website for details under the „Latest News‟ section.

Will usually be closed during the December/January school holidays.

FGASA Physical address: Petrob House, 5th Floor

343 Surrey Avenue

Ferndale (Randburg)

15. HOW DO I CONTACT FGASA?

The FGASA office can be contacted either by telephone, fax, email or by post.

FGASA‟s CONTACT INFORMATION

Postal address: P.O. Box 4432 Telephone: 011 - 886 8245

Cresta Fax: 011 - 886 8084

2118 Web-site: www.fgasa.org.za

GPS co-ordinates:

S26deg 0522.3 E27 deg 5957.2


FGASA ©2013 24

Email addresses: Each staff member at the FGASA office has their own email address.

Please make sure that you make use of the appropriate email address for what you require from

the office.

Example: If you want to communicate anything regarding the examinations please make use of

the [email protected] email address. The FGASA bookshop is now included under Exams.

[email protected] (Managing Director)

[email protected] (Operations Director)

[email protected] (Standards Director - Training providers/Assessors/Corporate

members)

[email protected] (Theory examinations, applications, results and payments,

books, study material, orders & payments)

[email protected] (New member application process & payments)

[email protected] (Cards /FGASA Certificates/Assessments/Competency letters/

First Aid & payments)

[email protected] (CATHSSETA Certificates/Field News magazine/Junior Membership)









FGASA ©2013 25

4. FGASA QUALIFICATIONS - ENTRY REQUIREMENTS, SYLLABUS

OUTLINES & PRESCRIBED LEARNING MATERIAL

4.1 Introduction

The Association has a large number of certificates and qualifications, each with their own

requirements in terms of:

Eligibility to enter the qualification

Syllabus and module outlines

Prescribed and recommended reading

Theory assessment and relevant rules

Practical assessment processes and relevant rules.

This section of the information guide will outline all this information under each qualification

offered through FGASA. For detailed information on each qualification in terms of training and

assessment refer to the specific qualification „Learner Support Pack‟ and Workbook purchased

from the FGASA bookshop.

4.2 Nature Guide Categories

The nature Guide categories include:

Local Nature Guide

Level 1 Nature Guide



Level 1 Marine Guide

LOCAL NATURE GUIDE (NQF2) – for illiterate learners only

At this level the guide:

Is operating as a nature guide in a restricted or limited geographical environment. This usually refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park, Botanical garden, Bird Sanctuary, etc.

Has the basic knowledge considered essential to register and operate legally as a Local Nature Guide.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of the FGASA Local Nature Guide practical assessment.

Has a valid, up-to-date recognised First Aid Certificate.

Is registered with Dept of Tourism as a legally qualified Nature Site Guide.

The category "Local Guide" was introduced to enable predominantly illiterate learners to attain a qualification (Skills programme) and register to work legally at this level of nature guiding.

FGASA ©2013 26

These learners would possibly have difficulty being theoretically assessed for the FGASA Level 1 qualification due to literacy issues.

How do I get a FGASA Local Guide Qualification?

Once you have become a member with FGASA you can apply for a FGASA Local guide

practical assessment. (There is no theory examination for the Local guide qualification).

If you can read or write you will need to apply for the FGASA Level 1 qualification.

The practical assessment for the Local guide qualification is carried out by a registered

FGASA assessor in a guiding area of your choice.

You will need to take the assessor on a guided nature experience in a limited

geographical area (with or without paying clients), preferably with clients.

The practical assessment will be explained to you in detail by your assessor in the pre-

assessment brief. The assessor will make sure that you know what you will be assessed

on so you may prepare yourself for this assessment.

Payment for your practical assessment is made directly to the assessor and does not

come to the FGASA office.

Once you have been declared competent for the practical assessment you will have

attained the FGASA Local Nature Guide Qualification.

See section 3.6 as to when you will be awarded your qualification.

As a Local Guide learner you will go through a practical assessment, during which time you will be required to prove competence on:

General guiding skills

Basic astronomy

Local history

Weather and climate

Basic ecology

Plants and animals (i.e. birds, mammals, reptiles, etc)

Signs of the bush in your specific area of operation.

On achieving this qualification you will be able to identify the major living and non-living features

of the natural environment in which you operate and interpret them at a level based mainly on

observation.

No literacy skills are required, but the guide needs to be able to communicate in English.

This guide should be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge and understanding of:

Local flora (trees and grasses) – identification, cultural and medicinal uses, interesting features.

Local fauna – identification and behaviour (territoriality and home range, reproductive behaviour, grouping, protective behaviour, feeding, camouflage, signs like sounds, spoor, droppings).

Basic ecological principles (understanding of trophic pyramid, plant-animal interactions). Local cultural history Local topography, vegetation patterns and relationship to soils. Prominent observable features of the night sky.

FGASA ©2013 27

The practical assessment for this qualification is based on the NQF2 Nature Site Guide skills

programme which includes the following two compulsory unit standards:

Create a Guided Experience for Customers (8478)

The learner who achieves this unit standard will be able to create and conduct a guided tourist

experience in a specific local site.

On achievement of this unit standard the learner will understand and be able to:

Establish the needs, limitations and expectations of tourists

Identify and assess locally accessible heritage and natural life resources and plan a guided experience accordingly

Provide informed and entertaining commentary

Apply professional ethics with respect to the site environment

Ensure the health and safety of tourists on the guided experience

Ensure the strict adherence to legal requirements pertaining to the guided experience

Reflect on the guided experience

On completion of this certificate the learner should be ready to develop learning in further, more

complex processes related to creating and conducting guided experiences with customers.

Conduct a guided nature experience in a limited geographical area

Create a guided experience for customers

On achievement of this certificate the learner will understand and be able to:

Identify prominent plants and animals

Demonstrate an understanding of basic animal behavioural patterns and ecological principles

Identify and interpret obvious signs and sounds

Point out and explain evidence of human habitation and briefly relate cultural history

Point out the most prominent stars, planets and constellations

Demonstrate the ability to orientate him/herself in the natural environment

Explain the weather patterns of the area of guiding operation

What learning materials do I need for the Local guide qualification?

1. It is recommended if the learner is able to read that s/he makes use of the Level 1 Learner Manual by Grant & Gillie Hine and the Guiding Skills Manual by Grant Hine to further his/her knowledge.

Recommended guide books to make use of while conducting guided experiences:

Refer to the recommended books under the section for FGASA level 1 recommended books

FGASA ©2013 28

Level I Nature Guide (NQF2)


Is operating as a nature site guide in a limited capacity but is in the process of development.

May be operating as a competent guide in a number of different sites. A Site usually refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park, Botanical garden, Bird Sanctuary, etc.

Has the basic knowledge considered essential to register and legally conduct a guided nature experience in a limited geographical area as a FGASA Level 1 (NQF2) nature guide.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of the FGASA Level 1 theoretical and practical assessment.

Has a valid, up-to-date recognised First Aid certificate.

How do I get a FGASA Level 1 Guide Qualification?

Once you have joined the Association as a member of FGASA you can apply to write the

FGASA Level 1 Nature Guide theory examination.

Payment for the theory examination should be made to FGASA in the same manner as

the FGASA fees.

Application and payment for the theory exam can also be made at the same time as your

FGASA membership application payment.

Once you have passed (Competence is measured by achieving at least 75%) the FGASA

level 1 theory examination you can apply to be practically assessed.

The practical assessment for the Level 1 nature guide qualification is carried out by a

registered FGASA assessor in a guiding area of your choice. You will need to take the

assessor on a guided nature experience in a limited geographical area (with or without

paying clients), preferably with clients.



on so you may prepare yourself for this assessment. (Refer to the Level 1 Learner

Support Pack for details.) Payment for your practical assessment is made directly to the

assessor and does not come to the FGASA office.

Once you have been declared competent for the Level 1 practical and theoretical

assessment you will have attained the FGASA Level 1 Nature Guide Qualification.


FGASA ©2013 29

What learning materials do I need for the Level 1 nature guide qualification?

The following learning materials are compulsory:

The FGASA Level 1 Learner Support Pack and Workbook

The Level I Learner Manual – Grant and Gillie Hine

The Guiding Skills Manual – Grant Hine

Recommended books to improve you own knowledge:

Any one of these mammal books:

Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa – Chris and Tilde Stuart

Smither‟s Mammals of the Southern Sub-region

Any tree book that includes trees for your area of operation:

How to identify trees – B & P van Wyk Sappi – the regional tree book for your area of operation

Any of the following bird books:

Newman‟s Birds of South Africa – Sappi. Sasol Birds of SA – Sasol. Roberts Bird Guide

Tracking: A photographic guide to Tracks and Tracking

in Southern Africa – Louis Liebenberg

Other books which may be of interest to you:

Beat about the bush Mammals – Trevor Carnaby Birds The inside story – Rael & Helene Loon Frogs and Frogging – du Preez & Carruthers Scorpions of Southern Africa – Leeming Spiders – Filmer Field Guide to Insects of Southern Africa – Picker, Griffiths & Weaving Guide to Grasses – Van Oudtshoorn What‟s that Reptile – Marais How to identify trees – Van Wyk & Van Wyk Stargazing from Game Reserves – Anthony Fairall Game ranger in your backpack (Lowveld area) – Megan Emmett & Sean Pattrick

FGASA ©2013 30

THE SYLLABUS FOR THE NATURE GUIDE LEVEL 1 CATEGORY (NQF2)

The level 1 Nature guide should be able to identify the major living and non-living features of the natural environment in which s/he operates and interpret them at a level based mainly on observation and from an elementary scientific and cultural perspective. As a general guideline, a level 1 Nature guide must have sound knowledge of the history,

geology, plants and animals (i.e. birds, mammals, reptiles, etc) in the specific area of operation.

The FGASA Level 1 Nature Guide Syllabus includes the following modules:

Module Number

MODULE

1. Introduction to the natural environment and the Biomes

2. Creating a guided nature experience

3. Geology

4. Astronomy

5. Weather and Climate

6. Basic Ecology

7. Basic Taxonomy

8. Botany and Grasses

9. Arthropods

10. Amphibians

11. Reptiles

12. Fish

13. Birds

14. Mammals

15. Animal behaviour

16. Conservation management and historical human habitation

For details pertaining to the FGASA Level 1 syllabus and assessment requirements

refer to the FGASA Level 1 Learner Support Pack and workbook.

FGASA ©2013 31

Level II Nature Guide


Is operating as a Nature site guide in an advanced capacity but is in the process of further development.

May be operating as a competent guide in a number of different sites. A Site usually refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park, Botanical garden, Bird Sanctuary, etc.

Has a minimum of 1 year (260 days) practical active guiding experience as a nature guide and can conduct a guided nature experience legally as a Level 2 nature guide.

Has the knowledge considered essential to register and legally conduct a guided nature experience as a FGASA Level 2 nature guide.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of the FGASA Level 2 theoretical and practical assessment.


Entry requirements for the Level 2 theory examination: The writing of the Level 2 theory

examination is dependent on firstly, having attained a full FGASA Level 1 nature guiding

qualification (both theory and practical competence), and secondly you must have logged a

minimum of 1 year (260 days) of active guiding experience before you can apply for the exam.

(Logged days in your logbook needs to have been verified and signed off by the FGASA office)

Entry requirements for the Level 2 practical assessment:

You will be eligible to apply to be practically assessed for the FGASA Level 2 Nature Guide

Qualification once you have:

Passed (competence is measured by achieving at least 75%) the FGASA Level 2 theory

examination

Logged a minimum of 1 year (260 days) of active guiding experience

Your logbook has been signed off by the FGASA office

Been verified as a currently paid-up member of the Association

Logbook: Your guiding experience must be recorded in the FGASA Logbook issued to you when you joined as a member. If you are joining FGASA and you have already gained a certain amount of guiding experience, you can backdate your logbook with this experience. This guiding experience must be verified and signed by your previous employer(s). Reference letters may be sent with your logbook to the FGASA Johannesburg office. (Refer to the description in the FGASA logbook as to what is required).

Application and payment: If you have attained a full FGASA Level 1 Nature Guiding qualification (both theory and practical) and you have logged 260 days active guiding experience, you are eligible to write the Level 2 theory examination. You will need to send your examination application form and proof of payment for the Level 2 Nature Guide examination to the FGASA office. Remember that examination applications close 1 month before the set national examination sitting. Before you can be theoretically and practically assessed for FGASA Level 2 you will need to send your logbook to the FGASA office for verification and once your logbook experience has been verified (260 days of active guiding experience) you will be eligible to be practically assessed.

FGASA ©2013 32

Before you can be practically assessed you need to provide your assessor with the completed Level 2 workbook including the relevant Elective subjects. The practical evaluation for the Level 2 qualification is carried out by a registered FGASA Assessor in a guiding area of your choice. You will need to take the assessor on a guided nature experience (with or without paying clients), preferably with clients.

The practical Assessment will be explained to you in detail by your assessor in the pre-

assessment brief. The assessor will make sure that you know what you will be assessed on so

you may prepare yourself for this assessment. (Refer to the Level 2 Learner Support Pack for

details.) Payment for your practical assessment is made directly to the assessor and does not

come via the FGASA office.

Once you have been declared competent for the Level 2 practical assessment you will have

attained the FGASA Level 2 Nature Guide Qualification.


What learning materials do I need for the Level 2 qualification?


The Level I Learner Manual – Grant & Gillie Hine

The Level 2 Learner Manual – Grant Hine


The FGASA Level 2 Learner Support Pack & Workbook

Recommended books to improve you own knowledge:

1. Beat about the Bush (Mammals) – Trevor Carnaby 2. Beat about the Bush (Birds) – Trevor Carnaby 3. Guide to Grasses of Southern Africa – van Oudtshoorn 4. The Story of Life and the Environment – Jo Van As. et al

5. A photographic guide to Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa - Louis Liebenberg


1. Any one of these mammal books:

Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa – C & T Stuart.

Smithers Mammals of Southern Africa

2. Any tree book that includes trees for your area of operation:

Trees of Southern Africa – B & P van Wyk

Sappi – the regional tree book for your area of operation

3. Any one of the following bird books:

Newman‟s Birds of South Africa – Sappi

Sasol Birds of SA – Sasol.

Roberts Field Guide to Birds of Southern Africa

FGASA ©2013 33

4. The following books are also recommended:

Birds The inside story – Rael & Helene Loon

A Complete guide to Frogs of Southern Africa – du Preez & Carruthers

Scorpions of Southern Africa – J. Leeming

Spiders - Filmer

Field Guide to Insects of Southern Africa – Picker, Griffiths & Weaving

Guide to Grasses – Van Oudtshoorn

A complete guide to reptiles of Southern Africa – Marais & Alexandra

A general South African History book.

Stargazing from Game Reserves – Anthony Fairall

The Guides Guide to Guiding – Garth Thompson

Game ranger in your backpack (Lowveld area) – Megan Emmett & Sean Pattrick

THE SYLLABUS FOR THE NATURE GUIDE LEVEL 2 CATEGORY

The FGASA Level 2 nature guide skills programme consists of a number of different aspects which make up the syllabus. The FGASA Level 2 qualification consists of the following modules:

Compulsory Subjects

Care for customers

Conduct a tourist guiding activity

Minimise and manage safety and emergency incidents

Conduct a guided nature experience

Electives:

Conduct a guided biome experience

Conduct a guided birding experience

Research and design a guided experience at a prominent tourism site

The subjects that make up the FGASA Level 2 qualification are assessed by means of various

methods in terms of theory, practical, Portfolio of Evidence workbooks and logged workplace

experience.

FGASA ©2013 34

The subjects:

CARE FOR CUSTOMERS

CONDUCT A TOURIST GUIDING ACTIVITY

CONDUCT A GUIDED NATURE EXPERIENCE

Will be assessed by means of:

Evidence of 260 days active guiding experience (Logged)

The FGASA Level 2 Theory examination

Workbooks – submitted to the assessor

The FGASA Level 2 Practical assessment

In terms of these three subjects the FGASA Level 2 nature guide should be able to point out and explain in terms of elementary scientific theory and cultural belief the features of the natural environment in which s/he operates and putting it into broader ecological context. As a general guideline, the level of scientific understanding is intermediate between Level 1 & 3.

This qualification is distinguished from the Level 1 category predominantly on the depth of knowledge required on similar topics. The Level 2 Nature Guide will need to know all the information contained in the FGASA Level 1 syllabus as well as the information in this part of the Level 2 syllabus.

The FGASA Level 2 Syllabus for these three unit standards includes the following

modules:

Module Number

MODULE

1. Creating a guided nature experience

2. Geology

3. Astronomy


5. Ecology

6. Taxonomy

7. The Biomes of Southern Africa

8. Botany and Grasses

9. Arthropods

10. Amphibians

11. Reptiles

12. Fish

13. Birds

14. Mammals


16. Conservation management

17. Historical human habitation

FGASA ©2013 35

The 4th compulsory subject:

MINIMISE AND MANAGE SAFETY AND EMERGENCY INCIDENTS


A workbook constituting a Portfolio of Evidence (POE)

ELECTIVE SUBJECTS – ONE OF WHICH HAS TO BE COMPLETED

The Elective subject:

RESEARCH AND DESIGN A GUIDED EXPERIENCE AT A PROMINENT

TOURISM SITE




CONDUCT A GUIDED BIOME EXPERIENCE




CONDUCT A GUIDED BIRDING EXPERIENCE


A workbook – submitted to the assessor A slide and sound assessment for relevant birding area(s) A Practical birding assessment

Refer to the information on the Specialist Bird Guiding Qualification in this information book. For details pertaining to the FGASA Level 2 syllabus and assessment requirements refer

to the FGASA Level 2 Learner Support Pack and workbook.

FGASA ©2013 36

ENTRY TO THE FGASA LEVEL 2 NATURE GUIDE QUALIFICATION AND PROCESS

OF ATTAINING THE FGASA LEVEL 2 NATURE GUIDE CERTIFICATE

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

YOU WILL BE AWARDED THE FGASA LEVEL 2 NATURE GUIDE CERTIFICATE

Yes

You will not be permitted

to write the FGASA Level 2

theory examination

Do you have at least 260 days active guiding experience?

This experience can be from anywhere however you must

have conducted the guided experience yourself. (Not just

participated)

You will be eligible to write the FGASA Level 2 Theory examination.

You are eligible to be practically assessed for the FGASA

Level 2 Nature Guide qualification.

Do you already have the

FGASA Level 1 Nature

Guiding qualification?

Have you been declared competent for the FGASA Level

2 Nature Guide practical assessment?

You will have to submit

further evidence to your

assessor for the FGASA


practical requirements.

Yes

No

You will have to apply

to write the FGASA


theory examination.

Yes

No

Submit your logbook to the

FGASA office

Have you completed and submitted the FGASA Level 2

WORKBOOKS to your assessor for assessment? No

You will have to complete

the required FGASA Level 2

Nature Guide WORKBOOKS

and submit them to your

assessor.

No You will have to submit


assessor.

Have you submitted your logbook with your recorded

active guiding experience to the FGASA office for

verification?

Have you passed the FGASA Level 2 Nature Guide

Theory examination?

You will have to apply and pay to write the FGASA Level 2

Nature Guide Theory exam.

Have you been declared competent for the relevant

FGASA Level 2 Nature Guide WORKBOOKS?

Yes

Yes

L2

FGASA ©2013 37

Level III Advanced Nature Guide

The FGASA Level 3 Nature Guide qualification consists of a number of accumulated certificates, workbook submissions, a theory examination and a practical assessment. The following certificates are compulsory for the Level 3 qualification:

Minimise and Manage Safety and Emergency incidents

Conduct a guided Biome experience (Any Biome)

Conduct a guided Birding experience


FGASA South African General Knowledge Certificate

FGASA Guiding Tourism Management Certificate

FGASA Guiding Conservation Management Certificate

Conduct an Advanced Guided Nature Experience (theory and practical) - Workbook No1 Some of these certificates you will have already completed while doing the FGASA Level 2

Nature Guide qualification. Those that you have already completed will be recorded in the

FGASA office. You can work on those that you have not yet completed and submit them to the

FGASA office for assessment.

THE THEORY ASSESSMENTS

Theory examination

Entry requirements for the Level 3 theory examination: The writing of the Level 3 theory examination is dependent on firstly, having attained a full FGASA Level 2 nature guiding qualification (both theory and practical competence), secondly you must have logged a minimum of 2 years (520 days) of active guiding experience before you can apply for the exam and thirdly you must have successfully completed all the relevant workbooks including electives.

The theory examination (Only 1 exam) will include questions on the modules indicated in the table below. You will be required to have an understanding of all the information contained in each exam module to ensure that you can answer all the possible questions in the theory examination. Level 3 Learners will need to submit this workbook No1 to the assessor, related to the modules which will also be questioned in the theory examination. (Refer to the table below)

Module

number

MODULE NAME Workbook Theory

examination

1. Life on Earth

2. The diversity of life today

3. How our world works

4. How populations work

5. Communities of life

6. Interactions of life

7. Life in fresh water

8. Life in the oceans

9. Life on land

Workbook

No2

FGASA ©2013 38

THE LEVEL 3 PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT

Entry requirements for the Level 3 practical assessment

You will be eligible to apply to be practically assessed for the FGASA Level 3 Nature Guide

Qualification once you have:

Been verified as a currently paid-up member of the Association

Logged a minimum of 2 years (520 days) of active guiding experience

Your logbook has been signed off by the FGASA office

You have successfully completed Workbook No1 and No2

Passed (been declared competent) the FGASA Level 3 theory examination

The practical assessment: The practical assessment for the FGASA Level 3 qualification takes place while conducting guided experiences with FGASA assessors and clients over at least a two day period.

REQUIRED RESOURCE MATERIAL

The following book is compulsory:

Van As, J. & du Preez, J & Brown, L & Smit, N. 2012.

The Story of Life and the Environment, an African

perspective. Struik Nature publishers. Cape Town

The majority of the answers to the workbook

questions are found in the relevant corresponding

chapters in this book.

Chapter 1 – Life on Earth

Chapter 2 - The diversity of life today

Chapter 3 – How our world works

Chapter 4 – How populations work

Chapter 5 – Communities of life

Chapter 6 – Interactions of life

Chapter 7 – Life in fresh water

Chapter 8 – Life in the oceans

Chapter 9 – Life on land

FGASA ©2013 39

ENTRY TO THE FGASA LEVEL 3 NATURE GUIDE QUALIFICATION AND PROCESS

OF ATTAINING THE FGASA LEVEL 3 NATURE GUIDE CERTIFICATE

No

Yes

You will not be

permitted to write the

FGASA Level 3 theory

examination

Do you have at least 520 days active guiding experience?

This experience can be from anywhere however you must

have conducted the guided experience yourself. (Not just

participated)

You will be eligible to write the FGASA Level 3 Theory examination.

Yes

No

Submit your logbook to the

FGASA office for approval

and verification.

Have you submitted your logbook with your recorded

active guiding experience to the FGASA office for

verification?

L3 Have you completed the workbooks for the following?

Minimise and Manage Safety and Emergency incidents

Conduct a guided Biome experience (Any Biome)


FGASA South African General Knowledge Certificate

FGASA Guiding Tourism Management

FGASA Guiding Conservation Management

These workbooks are contained in the FGASA Learner Support Pack and Workbook No2.

You will need to successfully

complete all the required

workbooks to be eligible for

the Level 3 Qualification.

The Workbooks need to be

submitted to the FGASA

office

No

Yes

Have you completed the following FGASA Birding specialist assessments - “Conduct a guided Birding Experience” ?

The Birding specialist workbook (In Workbook No2)

The Birding Specialist Slide and Sound assessment for a relevant birding area. (Biome)

The Birding Specialist Practical assessment


complete the required

Birding Specialist workbook,

Slide & Sound and the

Birding Practical assessment

to be eligible for the Level 3

Qualification

No

Yes

Have you completed the FGASA Advanced Nature Guide Workbook No1?

This workbook is contained in the FGASA Level 3 Learner Support Pack and Workbook No1.


complete the Advanced

nature Guide workbook, to

be eligible for the Level 3

Qualification

No

Yes

FGASA ©2013 40

No

Yes

No

YOU WILL BE AWARDED THE FULL FGASA LEVEL 3 NATURE GUIDE CERTIFICATE


Level 3 Nature Guide qualification.

Do you already have the


Guiding qualification?

Have you been declared competent for the FGASA

Level 3 Nature Guide practical assessment?

You will have to prove

competence and/or submit


assessor for the FGASA


practical requirements.

Yes No

You will have to apply

to write the FGASA


theory examination.

Have you submitted your completed FGASA Level 3 Advanced Nature Guide workbook to your assessor?

This workbook is contained in the FGASA Learner Support Pack and Workbook No1.

No

You will have to submit

your completed FGASA

Advanced Level 3 Nature

Guide workbook to your

assessor.

No You will have to submit


assessor (workbook No1)

and to the FGASA office

(Workbook No2).

Have you passed the FGASA Level 3 Nature Guide Theory

examination?

You will have to apply and pay to write the FGASA Level 3

Nature Guide Theory exam.

Have you been declared competent for the relevant

FGASA Level 3 Nature Guide WORKBOOKS No1 & No2?

Yes

Yes

Yes

FGASA ©2013 41

Level 1 Marine Guide

The guide attaining this qualification will be able to research, design and conduct a guided

coastal marine experience in a limited geographical area.

This guide will be able to present a well informed

interpretation of general aspects of the South African

coastal marine environment and specific aspects of

the natural phenomena and life on the site in question

in an entertaining manner to clients. He/she will also

be able to point out and explain interesting features of

the living components encountered in the coastal

marine environment.


Is operating as a Coastal Marine site guide in a limited capacity but is in the process of development.

May be operating as a competent guide in a number of different sites. A Site usually refers to a particular Coastal Marine Game or Nature reserve, National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, etc.

Has the basic knowledge considered essential to register and legally conduct a limited guided Coastal Marine experience as a FGASA Level 1 Nature Guide in the Coastal-Marine environment.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of the FGASA Level 1 Marine Guide theoretical and practical assessment.


How do I get a FGASA Level 1 Marine Guide Qualification?

Once you have joined the Association as a member of FGASA you can apply to write the

FGASA Level 1 Marine Guide theory examination.

Payment for the theory examination should be made to FGASA in the same manner as the

FGASA fees. Application and payment for the theory exam can also be made at the same time

as your FGASA membership application payment.

Once you have passed (Competence is measured by achieving at least 75%) the FGASA Level

1 Marine theory examination you can apply to be practically assessed.

The practical assessment for the Level 1 Marine Guide qualification is carried out by a

registered FGASA assessor in a guiding area of your choice. You will need to take the

assessor on a guided coastal-marine experience in a limited geographical area (with or without

paying clients), preferably with clients.



you may prepare yourself for this assessment. (Refer to the Level 1 Marine Guide Learner


assessor and does not come to the FGASA office.

FGASA ©2013 42

Once you have been declared competent for the Level 1 Marine Guide practical and theoretical

assessment you will have attained the FGASA Level 1 Marine Guide Qualification.


What learning materials do I need for the Basic Marine Guide Level 1 qualification?


The Marine Guide Level 1 Learner Manual – Grant Hine


The FGASA Marine Guide Level 1 Learner Support Pack & Workbook

Two Oceans - A guide to the marine life of southern Africa – Branch


1. There are many books pertaining to the marine environment that will cover the syllabus

for this Marine Guiding qualification. You need to choose those books that suit your

needs best in covering the material in the syllabus.

Examples:

The living shores of Southern Africa - Branch, G & Branch, M

Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa – Phil & Elaine Heemstra

Two Oceans. A guide to the marine life of Southern Africa – Branch

The Coastal Guide of South Africa – Jacana publishers

2. Mammal books - Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa – Chris and Tilde Stuart.

3. Any tree book that includes trees for your area of operation:

Trees of Southern Africa – B & P van Wyk

4. Any one of the following bird books:




THE SYLLABUS FOR THE LEVEL 1 MARINE GUIDE CATEGORY

The Level 1 Marine Guide should be able to identify the major living and non-living features of

the coastal-marine environment in which s/he operates and interprets them at a level based

mainly on observation and from an elementary scientific and cultural perspective.

As a general guideline, a Level 1 Marine Guide must have sound knowledge of the history,

geology, plants and animals (i.e. birds, mammals, reptiles, etc) in the specific area of operation.

FGASA ©2013 43

The FGASA Level 1 Marine Guide Syllabus includes the following modules:

Module Number

MODULE

1. Introduction to Marine Guiding

2. Creating a guided coastal-marine experience

3. The coastal marine environment and the two oceans

4. Geology

5. Astronomy


7. Basic Marine Ecology

8. Basic Taxonomy

9. Sea Plants (Algae) [Including Dune, Mangrove and Saltmarsh plants]

10. Coastal and Marine Invertebrates

11. Amphibians

12. Marine Reptiles

13. Marine Fish

14. Coastal - Marine Birds

15. Marine Mammals


17. Historical human habitation and Conservation management

For details pertaining to the Marine Guiding syllabus and assessment requirements refer

to the FGASA Marine Guiding Learner Support Pack and workbook.

4.3 Tracker Categories

Tracker Level 1

At this level the tracker:

> Is operating as a tracker within a site in a limited capacity but is in the process of development.

> Has the basic knowledge and skills considered essential to conduct a limited guided animal tracking experience.

> May be operating as a competent tracker in a number of different sites. A site usually refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park, Botanical Garden, Bird Sanctuary, etc.

> Has the basic knowledge and skill considered essential to register and legally conduct a limited guided animal tracking experience as a FGASA Tracker Level 1.

> Has been declared competent against the requirements of the FGASA Tracker Level 1 practical assessment.

How do I get a FGASA Tracker Level 1 Qualification?

Once you have become a member of FGASA you can apply to be practically assessed for the

FGASA Tracker Level 1 qualification. (There is no theory examination for the Tracker

qualifications)

FGASA ©2013 44

The practical assessment for the Tracker Level 1 qualification is carried out by a registered

FGASA assessor in an appropriate natural area for tracker assessments. You will need to go

through the Tracker assessment on a limited guided tracking experience. The practical

assessment will be explained to you in detail by your assessor in the pre-assessment brief. The

assessor will make sure that you know what you will be assessed on so that you may prepare

yourself for this assessment.

Payment for your practical assessment is made directly to the assessor and does not come via

the FGASA office.

Once you have been declared competent for the Tracker Level 1 practical assessment you will

have attained the FGASA Tracker Level 1 Qualification.


The practical assessment for Trackers consists of three parts:

Essential embedded knowledge questions

Spoor identification and interpretation

Systematic tracking (Animal Trailing)

Two separate FGASA certificates within the levels of Tracker qualifications

Once you have been declared competent for:

Spoor identification and interpretation – you may be awarded the FGASA Certificate in Spoor identification and interpretation. This does not however qualify you as a FGASA tracker as you will need to attain the Animal Trailing aspect of the qualification before the full Tracker qualification is awarded.

Systematic tracking (Animal Trailing) - you may be awarded the FGASA Certificate in Animal Trailing. This does not however qualify you as a FGASA tracker as you will need to attain the Spoor identification and interpretation aspect of the qualification before the full Tracker qualification is awarded.

The practical assessment for the FGASA Tracker Level 1 qualification is based on the Tracking

unit standard:

Conduct a limited guided animal tracking experience

A learner assessed as competent against this tracking unit standard will be able to:

Accurately identify from clearly defined to partially defined easy spoor of small to large animals (classified as unclear easy spoor).

Intuitively follow the tracks of a large animal under easy soil conditions for at least 30 minutes until it is found.

Once you have been assessed by a recognised Tracker assessor you will

need to submit a copy of the relevant certificate issued by your assessor to the

FGASA office in order for a FGASA Tracking Certificate to be issued to you.

FGASA ©2013 45

Interpret basic behavioural patterns of animals by means of inductive-deductive reasoning from observation of spoor.

Estimate the age of spoor as being fresh enough to follow and find or not.

What learning materials do I need for the Tracker Level 1 qualification?


1. A photographic guide to Tracks and Tracking in

Southern Africa – L. Liebenberg

Recommended reading:

A Field guide to the Tracks and Signs of Southern &

East African Wildlife - Chris & Matilda Stuart

Tracker Level 2


> Is operating as a tracker within a site in an advanced process of development. > Has the knowledge and skills considered essential to conduct a Guided animal tracking

experience. > May be operating as a competent tracker in a number of different sites. A Site usually

refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park, Botanical Garden, Bird Sanctuary, etc.

> Has the knowledge and skill considered essential to register and legally conduct a guided animal tracking experience as a FGASA Tracker Level 2.



Once you are a paid-up member of FGASA you can apply to be practically assessed for the

FGASA Tracker Level 2 qualification. It is unlikely that this qualification will be awarded if you

do not have at least 1 year of tracking experience. (There is no theory examination for the

Tracker qualifications)



through the Tracker assessment on a guided tracking experience. The practical assessment

will be explained to you in detail by your assessor in the pre-assessment brief. The assessor

will make sure that you know what you will be assessed on so that you may prepare yourself for

this assessment.


the FGASA office.

FGASA ©2013 46








Two separate FGASA certificates within the levels of Tracker qualifications

Once you have been declared competent for:

Spoor identification and interpretation – you may be awarded the FGASA Certificate in Spoor identification and interpretation. This does not however qualify you as a FGASA tracker as you will need to attain the Animal Trailing aspect of the qualification before the full Tracker qualification is awarded.

Systematic tracking (Animal Trailing) - you may be awarded the FGASA Certificate in Animal Trailing. This does not however qualify you as a FGASA tracker as you will need to attain the Spoor identification and interpretation aspect of the qualification before the full Tracker qualification is awarded.

The practical assessment for the FGASA Tracker Level 2 qualification is based on the following

Tracking subjects:

Conduct an animal tracking experience

A learner assessed as competent against this tracking unit standard will be able to:

Accurately identify from clearly defined to partially obscure spoor of small to large animals (classified as moderately difficult)

Systematically follow the tracks of a medium to large animal for at least 30 minutes until it is found.

Interpret behavioural patterns of animals by means of inductive-deductive reasoning from observation of spoor.

Estimate the age of spoor as fresh enough to follow and find or not.




FGASA ©2013 47

What learning materials do I need for the Tracker Level 2 qualification?




Recommended reading:

A Field guide to the Tracks and Signs of Southern

& East African Wildlife - Chris & Matilda Stuart

Tracker Level 3


> Is operating as an advanced professional tracker within a site. > Has the advanced knowledge and skills considered essential to conduct an advanced

guided animal tracking experience. > May be operating as a competent tracker in a number of different sites. A Site usually

refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park, Botanical garden, Bird Sanctuary, etc.

> Has advanced knowledge and skill considered essential to register and legally conduct an advanced guided animal tracking experience as a FGASA Tracker Level 3.



Once you are a paid-up member of FGASA you can apply to be practically assessed for the

FGASA Tracker Level 3 qualification. It is unlikely that this qualification will be awarded if you

do not have at least 2 years of tracking experience. (There is no theory examination for the

Tracker qualifications)



through the Tracker assessment on an advanced guided tracking experience. The practical

Assessment will be explained to you in detail by your assessor in the pre-assessment brief. The

assessor will make sure that you know what you will be assessed on so you may prepare

yourself for this assessment.


the FGASA office.




FGASA ©2013 48





Two separate FGASA certificates within the level 3 Tracker

qualification are issued given that there are two separate

aspects for this qualification.

Once you have been declared competent (attained 90%) for:

Spoor identification and interpretation – you may be awarded the FGASA Certificate in Spoor identification and interpretation. This does not however qualify you as a FGASA Level 3 tracker as you will need to attain the Animal Trailing aspect of the qualification before the full Tracker qualification is awarded.

Systematic tracking (Animal Trailing) - you may be awarded the FGASA Certificate in Animal Trailing. This does not however qualify you as a FGASA Level 3 tracker as you will need to attain the Spoor identification and interpretation aspect of the qualification before the full Tracker qualification is awarded.

The practical assessment for the FGASA Tracker Level 3 qualification is based on the two

Tracking subjects:

Conduct an advanced guided animal track and sign interpretation experience

A learner assessed as competent against this standard will be able to:

Accurately identify from partially obscure to obscure spoor of small to large animals (Classified as difficult)


Estimate the age of difficult spoor.

Conduct an advanced guided animal trailing experience

A learner assessed as competent against this standard will be able to:

Intuitively follow the tracks of a small to large animal for at least 30 minutes until it is found.


Estimate the age of difficult spoor as fresh enough to follow and find or not.




FGASA ©2013 49

Tracker Level 4

The FGASA Tracker Level 4 Qualification is issued when the candidate has achieved

100% in an assessment the same as that for the Tracker Level 3 qualification.

Two separate FGASA certificates within the level 4 Tracker qualification are issued given

that there are two separate aspects for this qualification.

Once you have been declared competent at 100% for:

Spoor identification and interpretation – you may be awarded the FGASA Certificate in Spoor identification and interpretation. This does not however qualify you as a FGASA Level 4 tracker as you will need to attain the Animal Trailing aspect of the qualification before the full Tracker qualification is awarded.

Systematic tracking (Animal Trailing) - you may be awarded the FGASA Certificate in Animal Trailing. This does not however qualify you as a FGASA Level 4 tracker as you will need to attain the Spoor identification and interpretation aspect of the qualification before the full Tracker qualification is awarded.

Senior Tracker

This guide is operating at a very advanced Special Knowledge and Skills professional Tracker level.

Has a minimum of five years practical experience as a Tracker and has an exceptional ability to identify and interpret spoor of all animals.

Has been declared competent against the FGASA Senior Tracker practical assessment.

Master Tracker

This is regarded as an honorary category.

The Master Tracker must have excellent knowledge of animal behaviour, and be capable of a highly refined interpretation of spoor in difficult terrain. He or she must have originality and creative insight with well developed intuitive abilities.

Has a minimum of ten years experience and has demonstrated an ability to make novel contributions to the understanding of tracking and scientific knowledge of animal behaviour.

The awarding of this qualification is based on the recommendation from CyberTracker.

Scout qualification

This is an honorary category introduced as a special recognition for an experienced Nature Guide who has qualified with the FGASA Level 3 Guiding qualification, the Special Knowledge and Skills (Dangerous Game) [SKS(DG) / SKS(DA)] qualification and the FGASA Senior Tracker qualification.

FGASA ©2013 50

4.4 Dangerous Game Qualifications

The Back-up Trails Guide Qualification

Learners wanting to attain a FGASA Trails Guide Qualification in

order to lead walking trails in dangerous game areas need to first

attain the FGASA Back-Up Trails Guide and gain the required

amount of experience in order to be awarded the FGASA Trails

Guide (Lead) Qualification.

The Back-up Trails Guide:

Is operating as a Back-up Trails site guide on foot in dangerous game areas.

May be operating as a competent guide on foot in a number of different sites as a Back-up Trails Guide. A site in this case usually refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park in which dangerous game occur.

Has previously attained a FGASA Nature Guiding qualification either as a Local Guide, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 or one of the Tracker qualifications.

Has the minimum required experience on foot in dangerous game areas for the Back-up Trails Guide qualification.

Has the basic knowledge considered essential to register and legally conduct a guided nature experience on foot in dangerous game areas as a FGASA Back-up Trails guide.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of the FGASA Back-up Trails Guide theoretical and practical assessment.


Has the required SASSETA certificates and the required FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling qualifications if the guide makes use of a rifle while guiding.

The Back-up Trails Guide learner goes through a theory assessment (The FGASA Trails

Guide Theory examination) and a practical (View potentially dangerous animals) assessment for

the Back-up Trails Guide certificate. This excludes the rifle handling practical assessment for

guides who will be making use of a rifle when conducting guided experiences.

Entry requirements for the Trails Guide theory examination: The writing of the Trails Guide

theory examination does not depend on dangerous game guiding experience however you need

to have either: a FGASA Local Guide, or a full FGASA Level 1(NQF2 Nature guiding skills

programme), FGASA Level 2 or Level 3 or a Tracker qualification.

FGASA ©2013 51

Entry requirements for the Back-Up Trails Guide practical assessment:

To be eligible to apply to be practically assessed for the FGASA

Back-up Trails Guide Qualification you must have:

Been declared competent (passed) for the FGASA Trails Guide theory examination

Gained and logged the required active guiding experience (See below)

Experience required for you to attain the FGASA Back-up

Trails Guide Certificate:

At least 10 encounters (minimum 50 hours) on foot as either lead guide or back-up accompanied by a FGASA qualified Trails Guide or SKS (Dangerous Animals or Dangerous Game) guide/trainer/assessor.

The 10 encounters on foot for the Back-up Trails Guide can be attained in an area where at least 2 (two) of the Big 5 Dangerous animals exist.

During any Trails Guide training course, 5 of the 10 encounters can be logged as a mentored participant while the other 5 encounters need to be logged as a “lead guide” under training. Keep in mind that the guide at this stage of training cannot lead a walk to view potentially dangerous animals if s/he is not accompanied by a FGASA qualified Trails Guide or SKS(Dangerous Animals or Dangerous Game) guide.

A Back-Up Trails Guide can operate as a normal vehicle guide for a lodge or company and work

as a Back-up to a more experienced qualified Trails Guide for the duration of walks in an area

that has at least two of the Big 5 dangerous animal species.

The length of time required and experience as a Back-up Trails Guide to attain the Full Trails

Guide qualification is at least 100 hours (50 encounters) with a qualified FGASA lead guide.

This experience must be logged and verified in the Back-Up Trails Guide‟s Dangerous Game

logbook (Provided by FGASA). Once the set required experience has been attained and

verified by FGASA then you will be eligible for the Trails Guide (lead) practical assessment.

This will ensure that lodges and companies employing Back-up Trails Guides know that these

guides need to work as back-ups on walks until such time as they have attained the required

experience.

Only once the FGASA certificate for Trails Guide (Lead guide) has been issued will these

lodges and companies be able to employ (or promote) the guide as a Trails Guide (Lead) who is

then fully qualified to lead these experiences.

Logbook: Your dangerous game encounters (as per the FGASA definition of an encounter) as

a Back-Up Trails Guide must be recorded in the FGASA Dangerous Game Logbook.

FGASA ©2013 52

Dangerous Game Logbook Field Guiding logbook (Green)

Your other guiding experience (non-dangerous game encounters) should be recorded in the

Green FGASA Field Guiding Logbook. If you are joining FGASA and you have already gained

a certain amount of dangerous game guiding experience, you can backdate your DG logbook

with this experience. This guiding experience must be verified and signed by your previous

employer(s). Reference letters may be sent with your logbook to the FGASA Johannesburg

office. (Refer to the description in the FGASA Dangerous Game Logbook as to what is

required).

Application and payment: If you have fulfilled all the FGASA entry requirements for the Trails

Guide theory examination, you will need to send your examination application form and proof of

payment for the Trials Guide theory examination to the FGASA Johannesburg office.

Remember that examination applications close 1 month before the set national examination

sitting.

The practical assessments

Before you can be practically assessed for FGASA Back-up / Trails Guide / Advanced Trails

Guide qualifications you will need to have fulfilled all these criteria (as mentioned above) and

your Dangerous Game Logbook verified by FGASA and once your logbook experience has

been approved you will be eligible to be practically assessed.

The practical evaluation for the Back-up Trails Guide and the Trails Guide Qualification is

carried out by a registered FGASA Assessor in a dangerous game guiding area of your choice.

You will need to take the assessor on a guided walking experience in a dangerous game area

to view potentially dangerous animals. (This area must have at least two of the Big five

dangerous animal categories)



you may prepare yourself for this assessment. (Refer to the Trails Guide Learner Support Pack

for details)

FGASA ©2013 53

Payment for your practical assessment is done directly to the assessor and does not come via

the FGASA office.

Once you have been declared competent for the Back-up Trails Guide practical assessment you

will have attained the FGASA Back-Up Trails Guide Qualification.

You may then be awarded the Back-Up Trails Guide Certificate from FGASA.

Dangerous game encounters

Prior to the practical assessment the guide must log at least:

10 encounters on foot as either lead guide or back-up accompanied by a FGASA qualified Trails Guide or SKS (Dangerous Animals or Dangerous Game) guide / trainer / assessor.

These approaches can include animals from any

of the following categories, but preferably as

many categories as possible:

Elephant bull

Elephant breeding herd

Buffalo bull

Buffalo breeding herd

Lion & leopard

White & black rhino

Hippopotamus

An encounter is one of the following:

A deliberate walk to a dangerous animal or group of animals with the intention to view it on foot without disturbing it in any way. Thus approach, view and withdraw without the animals becoming aware of your presence, or show any sign that they are aware of any disturbance.

A deliberate walk to a dangerous animal or group of animals with the intention to view it on foot without disturbing it in any way, but due to guide or guest error, or changing environmental factors the animal or animals do become aware of the approaching human/s.

An unintentional contact during a walk. This will not necessarily be a good sighting, and might last only a second or two.

An explanation is given for a potential dangerous animal encounter based on an accurate observation and thus a potentially dangerous encounter is avoided. An example of this type of encounter is if a guide comes across the tracks of a lioness with cubs, the guide is able to point out and describe the tracks and give an explanation for why they will not follow these tracks, as it may lead to an extremely dangerous encounter which may be negative for the lions, the guide and the clients. This type of encounter must be recorded in the logbook.

The encounters (on foot) must be in the presence of a mentor / Trails Guide / SKS (Dangerous Animals or Dangerous Game) guide.

FGASA ©2013 54

FGASA requirements for the recording of experience for Trails guide

The experience on foot required for Trails Guide cannot be carried out by driving a vehicle to a

potentially dangerous animal (Big 5 species) and then getting out of the vehicle to approach this

particular animal on foot.

The logged experience required must include walking without initially knowing the exact location

of a Big 5 dangerous animal, possibly tracking of the animal in question, approaching the animal

taking into consideration all the environmental and client factors with safety in mind at all times.

View the animal and move away leaving the animal as it was found. Obviously if circumstances

change and the animal becomes aware of the approaching humans then the required action

should be taken to ensure the safety of all.

The point being made here, is that the learner can log guiding experience on foot in dangerous

game areas (encounters – as per the FGASA definition of an encounter) carried out in the same

manner as the guided experience would be assessed, i.e. as per the previous paragraph and

cannot be done by driving up to the animal, getting out of the vehicle, approaching the animal

on foot and then recording this as walking experience.

This form of experience will not be accepted by FGASA for viewing potentially dangerous

animals on foot experience, as this is considered to be a vehicle approach.

The experience criteria for eligibility to start the process of attaining the Trails guide

qualification, is at least 10 encounters on foot. As a guide you must not confuse these two

categories by trying to combine them.


1. The Trails Guide Manual – Grant Hine

2. The FGASA Trails Guide Learner Support Pack and Workbook

3. The Rifle Handling Manual – Grant Hine



Recommended:

DVD – Africa‟s Dangerous Game on Foot

DVD Set - Preparing yourself for stopping the charge

FGASA ©2013 55

SYLLABUS FOR THE BACK-UP AND TRAILS GUIDE QUALIFICATION

Module number

MODULE NAME

1. Conducting a trails guiding experience

2. Trails Guiding equipment

3. Navigation

4. Approaching animals on foot

5. Dangerous animal knowledge

6. Animal Diseases

7. Rifle handling for dangerous game

8. Incident and crime scene management

For details pertaining to the Back-up Trails Guide and the Trails Guide syllabus and

assessment requirements refer to the FGASA Trails Guide Learner Support Pack.

IMPORTANT

The attainment of a FGASA Back-up and Trails Guide is

directly linked to the attainment of the FGASA Advanced Rifle

Handling certificate. The ARH certificate expires every two

years and thus due to the link so does the FGASA Back-up

and Trails Guide certificate expire.

If you do not carry a rifle for guiding purposes you will only be awarded the

VPDA Certificate (which does not expire). All FGASA Back-up, Trails Guide

and Advanced Trails guide certificates will have an expiry date based on

when the ARH is due for renewal. A new certificate will only be issued once

the ARH competency is up to date through a renewal assessment.

FGASA ©2013 56

THE FGASA BACK-UP TRAILS GUIDE QUALIFICATION

No

Yes

No

You will need to attain one

of these qualifications

before you can enrol for

the FGASA Back-up Trails

Guide qualification

Do you have any one of the following FGASA qualifications:

Tracker qualification or Local Guide or FGASA Level 1 or

Level 2 or Level 3 nature guide?

Have you passed the Trials Guide Theory examination?

It will be recorded in your logbook and on the FGASA database that you have attained the FGASA

Back-up Trails Guide Qualification. A FGASA Back-up Trails guide Certificate will be awarded.

Yes

You will have to re-apply to

write the FGASA Trails

Guide Theory examination

again.

You will be eligible to write the Trails Guide Theory

examination either at a Training provider special sitting or

at a FGASA National examination sitting.

Do you have At least 10 encounters (minimum 50 hours)

on foot in an area where at least two of the Big 5

Dangerous animals exist in a state of being “free ranging”

as a Back-up accompanied by a FGASA qualified Trails

Guide.

Yes

No

You will have to get the

required encounters on

foot and log this in the

FGASA DG logbook

BACK-UP


Back-up Trails Guide qualification

You will have to apply for

and go through the Back-

up Trails Guide practical

assessment again

Have you been declared competent for the Back-up Trails

Guide practical assessment?

No

Yes

No

Have you been assessed by a FGASA

ARH assessor and declared competent

for the FGASA Advanced rifle

handling Certificate (ARH)

You will have to go through the FGASA

Advanced Rifle handling assessment

Yes

Yes

FGASA ©2013 57

The FGASA Trails Guide Qualification

The Trails guide:

Is operating as a Trails (Lead) site guide on foot in dangerous game areas.

May be operating as a competent guide on foot in a number of different sites as a Trails Guide (Lead). A site in this case usually refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park in which dangerous animals occur.

Has previously attained a FGASA Nature Guiding qualification at either Local Guide, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 or one of the Tracker qualifications.

Has the minimum required experience in dangerous game areas (At least 2 of the big 5) for the Trails Guide Qualification.

Has the basic knowledge considered essential to register and legally conduct a guided nature experience on foot in dangerous game areas as a FGASA Trails guide.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of both the FGASA Back-up Trails guide and the Trails Guide theoretical and practical assessment.


Has the required SASSETA Certificate of competence and the required FGASA Advanced rifle handling qualifications if he/she is going to carry a rifle when conducting guided experiences.

Experience required for a guide to attain the FGASA Trails Guide Certificate

A Back-Up Trails Guide can operate as a normal vehicle guide for a lodge or company

and work as a Back-up guide to a more experienced qualified Trails Guide for the

duration of walks in an area that has any of the Big 5 dangerous animal species.

The experience required for a Back-up guide to be awarded the FGASA Trails Guide

Certificate is to have logged guided experiences with any two categories of Big 5

animals.

The length of time required and experience as a Back-up Trails Guide to attain the Full

Trails Guide is at least 100 hours (50 encounters) with a qualified FGASA lead guide.

Your logbook must be sent to the FGASA Johannesburg office for verification of your

guiding experience. You will have to undergo another practical assessment as a Lead

Trails Guide before this qualification can be awarded.



on in order that you can prepare yourself for this assessment. Payment for your practical

assessment is done directly to the assessor and does not come to the FGASA office.

The Practical Assessment for the Trails Guide (Lead guide)

There is no further theory examination for the Trails Guide (Lead) qualification, only another

practical assessment operating as a lead guide. Only once you have been declared competent

for the Trails Guide practical assessment (a second practical) will you be awarded the full

FGASA Trails Guide qualification. This practical assessment can take place in any reserve that

has any two of the big 5 dangerous animals.

FGASA ©2013 58

WHAT

THE FGASA TRAILS GUIDE QUALIFICATION

No

No

Yes

You will have to attain the

FGASA Back-up Trails Guide

and provide proof of this

attainment.

Do you have the FGASA Back-up Trails Guide Qualification?

You will be awarded with the FGASA Trails Guide Certificate (Lead Guide).

Yes


required 100 hours (50

encounters) as a Back-up

with a qualified FGASA lead

guide in an area with at

least two of the Big 5

animals.

Has your required experience been logged and signed off

by the “lead” guide and your logbook submitted to the

FGASA office for verification

No

The required experience as

a Back-up Trails Guide has

been logged, verified and

signed off by the “lead”

guide(s) & Mentor. Submit

the logbook to the FGASA

office

No


and go through the Trails

Guide (Lead) practical

assessment again.

Have you worked as a Back-up to a more experienced

qualified Trails Guide for the duration of walks in an area

that has at least two of the Big 5. Have you attained the

logged experience as a Back-up Trails Guide to include at

least 100 hours (50 encounters) with a qualified FGASA lead

guide?


Trails Guide (Lead) qualification

Yes

Yes

TRAILS GUIDE

Have you been declared competent for the Trails Guide

(Lead) practical assessment?

Yes

Refer to the section in this information book on how attain a FGASA Advanced

Rifle Handling certificate

Yes





You will have to go through the

FGASA Advanced Rifle handling

assessment

No

FGASA ©2013 59

The FGASA Advanced Trails Guide Qualification

This guide:

Is operating as a Trails (Lead) site guide on foot in dangerous game areas.

May be operating as a competent guide on foot in a number of different sites as a Trails Guide (Lead). A Site in this case usually refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park in which dangerous animals occur.

Has previously attained a FGASA Nature Guiding qualification at either Local Guide, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 or one of the Tracker qualifications.

Has the minimum required experience in dangerous game areas (all of the big 5) for the Advanced Trails Guide Qualification.

Has the basic knowledge considered essential to register and legally conduct a guided nature experience on foot in dangerous game areas as a FGASA Advanced Trails Guide.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of both the FGASA Back-up Trails guide and the Trails Guide theoretical and practical assessment.


Has the required SASSETA Certificate of competence and the required FGASA Advanced rifle handling qualifications if he/she is going to carry a rifle when conducting guided experiences.

Experience required for a guide to attain the FGASA Advanced Trails Guide Certificate

A Back-Up Trails Guide can operate as a normal vehicle guide for a lodge or company

and work as a Back-up guide to a more experienced qualified Trails Guide for the

duration of walks in an area that has any of the Big 5 dangerous animal species.

The experience required for a Back-up or a Trails Guide to be awarded the FGASA

Advanced Trails Guide Certificate is to have logged guided experiences with all

categories of Big 5 animals. This experience can be gained in different reserves.

The length of time required and experience as a Back-up Trails Guide to attain the

Advanced Trails Guide qualifications is at least 100 hours (50 encounters) with a

qualified FGASA lead guide.

Your logbook must be sent to the FGASA Johannesburg office for verification of your

guiding experience. You will have to undergo another practical assessment as a Lead

Trails Guide before this qualification can be awarded.

No Practical Assessment for the Advanced Trails Guide

If you have already gone through a practical assessment for the Trails Guide you will not have

to go through a practical for the Advanced Trails Guide – proof of experience with all categories

of dangerous game will have to be provided before this certificate is issued.

If however you have not yet been practically assessed as a Lead Guide and want to be

assessed for the Advanced Trails Guide then the Practical Assessment for the Advanced

Trails Guide (Lead Guide) must be carried out on encounters with all categories of dangerous

animals. The assessment can take place on more than one reserve.

FGASA ©2013 60

WHAT

THE FGASA ADVANCED TRAILS GUIDE QUALIFICATION

No

No

Yes


FGASA Back-up Trails Guide

and provide proof of this

attainment.

Do you have the FGASA Back-up Trails Guide Qualification?

You will be awarded with the FGASA Advanced Trails Guide Certificate.

Yes


required 100 hours (50

encounters) as a Back-up

with a qualified FGASA lead

guide in an area with all of

the Big 5 animals.

Has your required experience been logged and signed off

by the “lead” guide or by the mentor in case of adding

experience in areas with all of the Big 5.

No

The required experience as

a Back-up or Trails Guide

has been logged, verified

and signed off by the “lead”

guide(s) & Mentor. Submit

the logbook to the FGASA

office

No


and go through the Trails

Guide (Lead) practical

assessment again.

Have you worked as a Back-up or Trails Guide (Lead) to a in

an area that has all of the Big 5. This experience may have

been accumulated in a number of reserves. Have you

attained the logged experience as a Back-up Trails Guide to

include at least 100 hours (50 encounters) with a qualified

FGASA lead guide?

Submit your logbook to the FGASA office for verification

of experience with all of the Big 5.

Yes

Yes

ADVANCED TRAILS GUIDE

Have you been declared competent for the Trails Guide

(Lead) practical assessment?

Yes

THE USE OF A RIFLE (A separate Certificate)

If you are going to be carrying a rifle to conduct guided experiences as an

Advanced Lead Guide to view potentially dangerous animals then refer to the

section in this information book on the FGASA Rifle Handling Qualifications.

FGASA ©2013 61

Summary of the Dangerous Game Qualifications (Excluding the SKS(DG) qualification)

Dangerous Game

Qualification

Experience requirements Assessment requirements

Back-up Trails Guide

Any two of the Big 5

dangerous animals

Assessment carried out in any

reserve that has any two of the

big 5 dangerous animals

Trails Guide (Lead)

Any two of the Big 5

dangerous animals

Assessment carried out in any

reserve that has any two of the

big 5 dangerous animals

[Species of Big 5 recorded on

FGASA database]

Advanced Trails

Guide (Lead)

Must have experience with

all the different categories of

dangerous animals. (This

can be attained and logged

on different reserves)

No additional practical

assessment after the guide has

been assessed as a Trails Guide.

If not previously assessed the

assessment carried out will be on

encounters with all categories of

dangerous animals (This can take

place in more than one reserve).

FGASA ©2013 62

THE FGASA RIFLE HANDLING CERTIFICATES

The FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling Certificate is aimed at the nature guide who carries a rifle while operating in dangerous game areas, as a Back-up Trails Guide or a Trails Guide (Lead guide). The guide is responsible for the overall safety of the group and functions as either the back-up or the lead trails guide on walks in dangerous game areas.

IMPORTANT

The link between the FGASA Dangerous Game

Qualifications and the FGASA Rifle Handling Certificates

The FGASA Rifle Handling Certificates although separate from the Back-up /

Lead and Advanced Trails Guide qualifications is directly linked and both

certificates expire on the date the ARH expires (every two years). Thus if your

ARH competence has not been renewed it means that your Back-up, Trails or

Advanced Trails Guide Certificate is not valid.

Guides who carry rifles

Any guide who conducts walking trails in dangerous game areas and carries a

rifle (most lodges in Big 5 areas require this) will have to have attained the

relevant SASSETA and the FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling Certificate.

Companies who require that the employed guides carry rifles to conduct walks in

dangerous game areas must ensure that their guides have attained the FGASA

Advanced Rifle Handling Certificates.

Companies who insist on their guides carrying rifles to conduct walks in

dangerous game areas without having attained the FGASA Advanced Rifle

Handling Certificate and/or renewing an expired certificate do so at their own risk

without the support of the Association.

FGASA ©2013 63

The Advanced Rifle handling assessments

This process of assessment for this certificate is designed to ensure that the guide is equipped to deal with emergencies under guiding conditions, and that the correct muscle memory is fixed for the sake of safety and survival.

The Aim of the assessments

To assess learners on:

Their practical, heavy-calibre rifle handling and shooting skills on a basic and advanced level.

Their competence in safely handling and maintaining a heavy calibre rifle in such a way that a charging dangerous animal will be stopped at short distance, should such a situation arise.

The safe handling and maintenance of a firearm in accordance with laid down legislation, rules, procedures and conditions.

The FGASA Advanced rifle handling assessments consist of a number of static target shooting exercises and a simulated charge shooting exercise with the appropriate calibre rifle (Refer to the FGASA rifle handling qualifications).

BASIC COMPETENCY FIREARMS CERTIFICATE

Before any Back-up or Trails guide practical assessment takes

place you must have already attained the legal Firearms

Competency Certificate through an accredited SASSETA

provider.

If you are making use of any firearm for guiding purposes you must also attain the

“White Card” from the South African Police Services or at least have proof that you

have applied for the card before you can work as a guide using a rifle belonging to the

lodge (employer) supplied to you to carry out your job function.

The FGASA rifle handling certificates and specific requirements for the Back-up

Trails Guide, the Trails Guide and for SKS(DG) qualification when carrying a rifle

can be found in the FGASA Rifle Handling Learner Support Pack.

The FGASA Rifle Handling certificates consist of:

Basic rifle handling

Advanced Trails Guide rifle handling

SKS(DG) rifle handling

http://sthabethe.com/images/sasseta.JPG

FGASA ©2013 64

WHAT

THE FGASA RIFLE HANDLING CERTIFICATES

No You will have to be declared

competent for the relevant firearms

unit standards through an accredited

SASSETTA provider

Have you been declared competent against the

relevant SASSETA firearms unit standards?

Yes

Have you attained the Legal Firearms

Competency Certificate through an accredited

SASSETA provider?

ARH

You will have to attain the Legal

Firearms Competency Certificate

through an accredited SASSETTA

provider

Yes

No

Yes

Have you been assessed by a FGASA ARH assessor

and declared competent for the FGASA basic rifle

handling Certificate?


Basic rifle handling assessment.

You will be awarded the FGASA Basic Rifle Handling

Certificate allowing you to carry a rifle while conducting

vehicle based guided experiences only (No walking)

Yes

You will be awarded the FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling Certificate qualifying you to carry a rifle

while conducting walking trails in dangerous game area in conjunction with the FGASA Back-up / Lead

/ Advanced Trails Guide or the SKS(DG) Qualification.

No






Advanced Rifle handling assessment

Yes

No

IMPORTANT

Remember that the FGASA Basic and Advanced Rifle Handling

Certificates expire after a two year period and are renewable

by going through another practical shooting assessment with a

FGASA ARH assessor.

FGASA ©2013 65

SKS(Dangerous Game) Qualification

The new Special Knowledge and Skills qualification for specialist guides operating in areas with

Dangerous animals is now known as Special Knowledge and Skills Dangerous Game

[SKS(DG)] which differentiates it from the previously attained SKS(DA) qualification.

This differentiation is important given the new criteria required of a guide to qualify for the new

SKS(DG) as compared to the old criteria for the SKS(DA).

Existing SKS(DA) guides were given a time period in which to convert from the old SKS(DA) to

the new SKS(DG) for those guides who already conformed to the new criteria. Those guides

who did not convert during this time frame will have to go through the whole process (theory and

practical) to attain the new SKS(DG) qualification.

This guide:

Is operating as a professional (Lead) site guide on foot in dangerous game areas.

Is a professional walking guide who is able to conduct advanced guided walking activities/safaris in any African dangerous game areas that s/he may or may not be familiar with.

May be operating as a competent professional guide on foot in a number of different dangerous game sites. A Site in this case usually refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve or National Park in which dangerous game occur.

Has previously attained a FGASA Nature Guiding qualification at Level 3 and has previously attained the FGASA Advanced Trails Guide qualification.

Has the minimum required experience in dangerous game areas for the SKS(Dangerous game) qualification.

Has advanced knowledge considered essential to register and legally conduct an advanced guided nature experience on foot in dangerous game areas as a FGASA SKS(DG) guide.

Has been declared competent against the SKS(Dangerous Game) theoretical assessments and the practical assessments.

Has a valid, up-to-date recognised First Aid certificate with a Wilderness component.

Has the required SASSETA and FGASA Advanced SKS(DG) rifle handling certificates.

The SKS(Dangerous Game) guide will:

be safe at all times

be knowledgeable on all aspects of the area (fauna and flora, ecology, geology, astronomy, history, etc.)

be completely proficient in handling his/her rifle (ARH and SKS Advanced rifle handling qualification)

have advanced navigation and orientation skills (maps, compass & GPS)

be fit enough to carry out a long walk/hike – 20kms plus

have knowledge of First Aid to be able to deal with any eventuality that arises while on a walking activity in a remote area

have above average observational skills

be able to handle any situation that arises with confidence and safety (Dangerous animal specific)

FGASA ©2013 66

be able to set up a rough camp under the stars in the event of conducting a walking trail in remote areas

be able to prepare basic menus and cater for the duration of the assessment (cooking is not included)

be able to work as a „team member‟, „back-up‟ and as a „leader‟ of a team

be able to operate as a team member, back-up and leader under stressful conditions (handle difficult clients under trying conditions)

Entry requirements for the SKS(DG) Qualification assessments:

The following requirements must have been met to be recommended for the SKS (DG)

Qualification assessment:

Must have attained the FGASA Level 3 Nature Guiding Qualification

Must have attained the FGASA Advanced Trails Guide (Lead) Qualification

Must have attained the FGASA Tracker Level 3 Qualification

Must have attained the relevant SASSETA firearms certificates

Must have a valid Level 1 First Aid Certificate (to conform to legal requirements)

Must have attained a First Aid Certificate with a Wilderness component.

Must be a current paid-up member of FGASA

Must have logged at least 1 200 hours of guiding on foot in dangerous game areas over not less than 4 years.

At least 300 of the encounters must be as Lead Guide during normal guided walks, which

may include guiding students. The balance can be made up during other fieldwork. It can

also be made up during training but only if the learner is acting as first/second rifle, thus

not a group exercise. It may also not include encounters while the learner is being

assessed for the VPDA practical. The dangerous animals must be free ranging in the

natural environment, and if hand/boma reared, must have been successfully

rehabilitated.

Within this time period the candidate must also have logged at least 600 encounters (Refer to

the definitions of an “Encounter” under the Back-up Trails Guide section of this information

guide) with free ranging dangerous game from the following categories, with a minimum of 30

encounters per category,

Elephant bull

Elephant breeding herd

Buffalo bull

Buffalo breeding herd

Lion & leopard

White & black rhino

Hippopotamus

FGASA ©2013 67

Submission of required evidence

The following has to be submitted to the FGASA office for eligibility to be assessed for the SKS

(Dangerous Game) qualification:

The candidate‟s Dangerous Game logbook reflecting your dangerous game guiding experience

The SKS (DG) application forms

A letter from another SKS(DG) guide recommending that the candidate be admitted to be assessed for the SKS (DG) Qualification and seconded by another SKS(DG) guide.

The candidate will be required to attend an interview with an SKS(DG) panel before being admitted to be assessed for the SKS(DG) Qualification.

Application and payment: Send your Exam application form and proof of payment for the

FGASA SKS(DG) examination to the FGASA office. Once all the requirements have been

verified your exam application will be processed. You will then be eligible to write the SKS(DG)

theory examination at the appropriate venue as per set examination date.

On successful completion of the SKS(DG) theory examination and on being declared competent

you will be eligible to be practically evaluated for the FGASA SKS(DG) qualification.

The practical assessment for the SKS(DG) qualification is carried out by at least two qualified

FGASA Assessors in a Dangerous animals guiding area designated by FGASA. To be declared

competent for the SKS(DG) practical your assessment will have to take place in an area of „Big

5‟ animals (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, and Buffalo) This assessment will take place over a

number of days on a walking trail (maximum of seven days & six nights) with a group of guides

being assessed at the same time. (Refer to the criteria for the SKS(DG) qualification)

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS (DANGEROUS GAME) ASSESSMENTS

1. Theory Examination The theory assessment for this qualification will include: One(1) three hour theory examination for the SKS(DG) qualification which may include anything from the syllabus below:

Dangerous game species o Anatomy o Reproduction o Habits o Ecology o Social structure o Feeding behaviour o Habitats and related behaviour o Warning signs o Method of attack o Evade and escape techniques o General diseases o Sub-species

o Related species o Protection status o Shot placement

FGASA ©2013 68

General o Legal aspects o Trail procedure o Guest empathy o Approach & retreat techniques o Briefing & debriefing o Crisis & trauma management o Follow-ups on wounded animals o The Wilderness Approach o Wilderness ethics and Wilderness Conservation

Survival o Navigation (Map reading, compass & GPS) o Finding Water o Finding & preparing a shelter o Basic weapons o Tracking o Finding & preparing food o First aid & Wilderness Medicine

Firearms o Safety o Firearms Control Act o Parts & functions o Maintenance o Design

Setting up a temporary wilderness camp o Safety o Camp Layout o Water o Ablutions

The Wilderness back-pack o Design, size & colour o Essential items o Non-essential items o Packing the back-pack Ease Comfort Practicality

2. The Practical Assessment for the SKS(DG) Qualification Refer to the SKS(DG) qualification brochure provided by FGASA for details pertaining to the practical assessment, rifle handling assessments and all other aspects of this qualification.

Ballistics o Definitions o Internal ballistics o External ballistics o Terminal ballistics o Cartridge designs o Calibres

FGASA ©2013 69

4.5 Birding Qualifications

The FGASA Birding Qualifications are divided into three categories:

Local Bird Guide Certificate

The Regional Bird guide Certificate

The SKS(Birding) Qualification

Local Bird Guide Qualification


Is operating as a nature site guide specialising in bird guiding as a Local bird guide.

May be operating as a competent bird guide in a number of different sites. A Site usually refers to a particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park, Botanical Garden, Bird Sanctuary, etc.

Has attained a FGASA nature guiding qualification (Either Local, Level 1, 2 or 3).

Has been declared competent against the FGASA birding practical assessment.


How do I get a FGASA Local bird guide qualification?

Once you have attained any one of the following nature guiding qualifications or higher:

FGASA Local or Level 1 nature guide qualification

or a Full Tracking qualification (including create a guided experience for customers - if this unit standard is not included in the tracking qualification then it will have to be included in the birding practical assessment).

You will then be eligible to apply to be practically assessed for the FGASA Local Bird Guiding

Qualification in a birding area of your choice.

The practical assessment for the Local bird guide qualification is carried out by a registered

FGASA birding assessor in a guiding area of your choice. You will need to take the assessor on

a guided birding experience in a limited geographical area (with or without paying clients),

preferably with clients.



that you may prepare yourself for this assessment. (Refer to the FGASA Bird Guiding Learner

workbook for details.) Payment for your practical assessment is made directly to the assessor

and does not come via the FGASA office.

There is no Slide and Sound assessment and no theory examination for the Local bird guide

qualification.

FGASA ©2013 70

Once you have been declared competent for the Local bird guide practical assessment you will

have attained the FGASA Local Bird Guide Qualification for the specific site in which you have

been assessed competent to guide in.


What learning materials do I need for the Local bird guide qualification?


Any one of the following bird books:




Recommended reading to improve your knowledge:

Birds The inside story – R&H Loon

Beat about the Bush (Birds) – Trevor Carnaby

Regional Bird Guide Certificate


Is operating as a nature bird guide in certain biomes / regions and not the whole country.

Is assessed within different vegetation areas or biomes. A Regional bird guide at this level may be operating as a competent bird guide in a number of different sites, areas or biomes. (Refer to the list of areas below in the slide and sound assessments).

Has attained a FGASA nature guiding qualification (Either Local, Level 1, 2 or 3).

Has been declared competent against the FGASA birding slide and sound assessment and the bird guiding skills practical assessment.


How do I get a FGASA Regional Bird guide Certificate?


FGASA Local or Level 1 nature guide qualification and you will then be eligible to apply to be practically assessed for the FGASA Regional Bird Guide Certificate by means of:

The Regional Bird Guide Workbook

A slide and sound assessment

A bird guiding skills practical assessment.

IMPORTANT: You will only be eligible for the bird guiding skills practical assessment once you

have been declared competent for the Birding Slide and Sound assessment.

FGASA ©2013 71

There is no theory examination for the Regional bird guide Certificate but there is a compulsory

workbook.

The practical assessment for the Regional Bird Guide Certificate is carried out by a registered


a guided birding experience in a birding area of your choice (with or without paying clients),




you may prepare yourself for this assessment. (Refer to the FGASA Bird Guiding workbook for

details.) Payment for your practical assessment is made directly to the assessor and does not

come via the FGASA office.

You can choose which vegetation areas / biomes you want to be assessed for. The Slide and

Sound assessment will assess all the areas that you want to be assessed for, however the

Practical birding skills assessment will take place in one area only in order to assess bird

guiding skills.

Once you have been declared competent for the birding Slide and Sound assessment and the

Birding skills practical assessment you will have attained the FGASA Regional Bird Guide

Certificate for the specific area/Biome in which you have been assessed competent to guide in.

The Regional Bird Guiding Certificate will reflect which areas the guide has been assessed

competent to guide in. For example: Regional Bird Guide - Savanna. If the guide is assessed

as competent for all the areas (biomes) and has been assessed competent for the Core Slide

and Sound assessment s/he will be deemed a National Bird Guide.


This qualification will require the following:

The guide will be assessed by means of the birding Slide and Sound assessment.

The guide will be assessed by means of a Birding Skills Practical assessment.

The Regional Bird Guide workbook

There is no theory examination for this qualification.

Slide and Sound assessment: These assessments can only be done at prescribed venues

and are not carried out at any of the FGASA National exam sittings. You will need to apply to

the FGASA office in order to be assessed against the Slide and Sound assessment. You will

need to provide proof of payment for the slide and sound assessment to the FGASA office.

These assessments can be carried out by a number of birding assessors or at the FGASA

office.

The Slide assessment (visual identification)

This assessment consists of one compulsory section and then a choice of one or more

biome/vegetation areas.

FGASA ©2013 72

There is one compulsory section:

Open book assessment 35 slides of more difficult plumages (females, immature, eclipse, vagrants)

A choice of a minimum of one Biome / vegetation area must be answered.

Savanna Biome: 80 species

Montane Grassland: 25 species

Karoo: 15 species

Arid habitat: 20 species

Marine: 20 species

Forest: 30 species

Fynbos: 15 species

Special regions: o Namibia: 20 species (+Core +Arid) o Botswana: 20 species (+Core +Savanna) o Zimbabwe: 30 species (+Core +Savanna +Forest) o Mozambique: 30 species (+Core +Savanna +Forest)

In each of the Biomes/Vegetation areas there will be a minimum of 5 species under-wing pattern

slides, 5 species of immature bird slides and 5 slides of bird nests that require identification.

If, as a birding specialist you want to be a recognised as a National Bird Guide you will have

to have been declared competent for all the Biomes (excluding the neighbouring countries) and

also have been declared competent for the 80 slides from the Species Core list (Birds that may

be seen over the whole country). The slides will include a minimum of 10 species of immature

birds and the wing patterns of at least 5 species.

The Sound assessment (Bird call identification)

This assessment consists of a choice of one or more biome/vegetation areas.


Savanna Biome: 80 calls

Montane Grassland: 25 calls

Karoo: 15 calls

Arid habitat: 20 calls

Marine: No sound test

Forest: 40 calls

Fynbos: 15 calls

Special regions: o Namibia: 20 calls (+Core +Arid) o Botswana: 20 calls (+Core +Savanna) o Zimbabwe: 30 calls (+Core +Savanna +Forest) o Mozambique: 30 calls (+Core +Savanna +Forest)

FGASA ©2013 73

If as a birding specialist you want to be a recognised as a National Bird Guide you will have to

have been declared competent for all the Biomes (excluding the neighbouring countries) and

also have been declared competent for the 80 calls from the Species Core list (Birds that may

be seen over the whole country)

Bird Lists The bird species you are required to know for all areas in the country and the neighbouring countries can be found in the FGASA Regional Bird Guide Learner Support Pack. These lists will inform you of what species you need to know for the particular areas in terms of sight and sound identification. Ensure that you obtain the Core bird list as this will indicate which birds found nationally you would need to know for both the slide and sound assessments. These bird lists can be emailed to you or you can obtain a copy of the lists from the FGASA

office.

What learning materials do I need for the Regional bird guide Certificate?


1. FGASA Regional Bird Guide workbook 2. Beat about the Bush (Birds) – Trevor Carnaby






The Roberts multimedia is also a good reference for bird calls

Birds The inside story – R&H Loon

SKS (Birding) Qualification


Is operating as a professional nature guide specialising in Birding.

Has attained a FGASA nature guiding Level 3 qualification.

Has been declared competent against the birding theoretical assessment.

Has been declared competent against the birding sound and slide identification assessment.

Has been declared competent against the bird guiding skills practical assessment.


FGASA ©2013 74


The guide must first have attained the FGASA Level 3 qualification.

The guide will be assessed by means of the SKS(Birding) Theory examination.

The guide will be assessed by means of the birding Slide and Sound assessment.

The guide will be assessed by means of a Birding Skills Practical assessment.

The SKS Birding qualification (and certificate) will reflect which areas the guide has been

assessed competent to guide in. For example: “SKS-Birding: Savanna”. If the guide is

assessed as competent for all the areas (biomes) s/he will be deemed an SKS–Birding National

Guide. See section 3.6 as to when you will be awarded your qualification.

IMPORTANT: You will only be eligible for the bird guiding skills practical assessment once you

have been declared competent for the Birding theory examination and the birding Slide and

Sound Assessment.

Application and payment:

Theory examination: You will need to send your exam application form and proof of payment

for the SKS(Birding) theory examination to the FGASA office. Remember that examination

applications close 1 month before the set national examination sitting.

Slide and Sound assessment: These assessments can only be done at prescribed venues

and are not carried out at any of the FGASA National exam sittings. You will need to apply to

the FGASA office in order to be assessed against the Slide and Sound assessment. You will

need to provide proof of payment for the slide and sound assessment to the FGASA office.

These assessments can be carried out by a number of birding assessors or at the FGASA

office.

The practical assessment for the SKS(Birding) qualification is carried out by a registered


a guided birding experience in a birding area or your choice (with or without paying clients),




you can prepare yourself for this assessment. (Refer to the FGASA Bird Guiding Learner


assessor and does not come via the FGASA office.

You can choose which vegetation areas / biomes you want to be assessed for. The Slide and

Sound assessment will assess all the areas that you want to be assessed for, however the

Practical birding skills assessment will take place in one area only in order to assess bird

guiding skills.

Once you have been declared competent for the birding theory examination and the Slide and

Sound assessment and the Birding skills practical assessment, you will have attained the

FGASA SKS(Birding) Qualification for the specific area/Biome in which you have been

assessed competent to guide in.

FGASA ©2013 75

What learning materials do I need for the SKS(Birding) qualification?


1. FGASA Regional Bird Guiding workbook 2. Beat about the Bush (Birds) – Trevor Carnaby






The Roberts multimedia - good reference for bird calls

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa

Birds -The inside story – R&H Loon


This assessment consists of two compulsory sections and then a choice of one or more


The two compulsory sections:

80 slides from the Species Core list (Birds that may be seen over the whole country). The slides will include a minimum of 10 species of immature birds and the wing patterns of at least 5 species.

Open book assessment 35 slides of more difficult plumages (females, immature, eclipse, vagrants)


Savanna Biome: 80 species

Montane Grassland: 25 species

Karoo: 15 species

Arid habitat: 20 species

Marine: 20 species

Forest: 30 species

Fynbos: 15 species

Special regions: ( Namibia: 20 calls (+Core +Arid) / Botswana: 20 calls (+Core +Savanna) Zimbabwe: 30 calls (+Core +Savanna +Forest) /Mozambique: 30 calls (+Core +Savanna +Forest)

In each of the Biomes/Vegetation areas there will be a minimum of 5 species under-wing pattern

slides, 5 species of immature bird slides and 5 slides of bird nests that require identification.

FGASA ©2013 76

The Sound assessment (Bird call identification)

This assessment consists of one compulsory section and then a choice of one or more


The compulsory section: 80 calls from the Species Core list (Birds

that may be seen over the whole country)

A choice of a minimum of one Biome / vegetation area must be

answered.

Savanna Biome: 80 calls

Montane Grassland: 25 calls

Karoo: 15 calls

Arid habitat: 20 calls

Special regions: ( Namibia: 20 calls (+Core +Arid) / Botswana: 20 calls (+Core +Savanna) Zimbabwe: 30 calls (+Core +Savanna +Forest)/Mozambique: 30 calls (+Core +Savanna +Forest)

Bird Lists: Refer to information on bird lists in the Regional Birding Certificate section

SKS(BIRDING) THEORY EXAMINATION

1. KNOWLEDGE ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE

It is assumed that the candidate being assessed for the FGASA SKS-Birding qualification would

already have a FGASA Level 3 nature guiding qualification. Thus it is assumed that the

candidate will have a sound knowledge of at least the following topics: astronomy, navigation

and orientation, climatology, geology, grasses, trees, arthropods, amphibians, reptiles,

mammals, ecology and animal behaviour.

2. SYLLABUS FOR FGASA SKS (BIRDING) THEORY ASSESSMENT

The assessment for the SKS-Birding qualification consists of a number of different modules.

Module number

MODULE NAME

1. Bird history, classification and conservation 2. Bird Anatomy and Physiology (Flight & Design) 3. Breeding

4. Defence and survival 5. Food and feeding methods

6. Bird behaviour 7. General birding knowledge

For details pertaining to the SKS(Birding) syllabus and assessment requirements refer to

the FGASA Birding Learner Support Pack.

Marine: No sound test

Forest: 40 calls

Fynbos: 15 calls

FGASA ©2013 77

HOW DO I GET A FGASA BIRDING QUALIFICATION

Local bird guide / Regional Bird Guide / SKS (Birding)

Yes

Local Bird Guide

You are eligible to be

practically assessed for the

FGASA Local Bird Guide

qualification

Birding

No

You will be able to attain

the FGASA Regional Bird

Guide Certificate but you

will not be able to guide

without a FGASA nature

guiding qualification.

Do you have any one of the following FGASA

qualifications: Local Guide or FGASA Level 1 or Level 2

or Level 3 nature guide qualification?

Regional Bird Guide

You are eligible for the FGASA

Regional Birding Certificate

SKS(Birding)

To be eligible for the FGASA

SKS(Birding) qualification

you must have attained a


Guiding qualification

Have you been declared

competent for the Regional

Birding Practical assessment in

an area of your choice?


competent for the Birding

Specialist Slide and Sound

assessment for the Open

Book section and at least

one Biome (Region)?

Yes

Yes


competent for the

SKS(Birding) theory Exam?

Yes

You will be awarded the

FGASA Regional Bird Guide

Certificate.

Yes


FGASA Local Bird Guide

Certificate for your area

of guiding operation


competent for the Local

Bird Guide practical

assessment for your area of

bird guiding operation?

Yes

Yes


competent for the

SKS(Birding) Slide and

Sound assessment:

1. Open Book assessment

2. Core assessment

3. At least 1 Biome (region)

?

Yes

Yes


FGASA SKS (Birding)

Qualification.

Yes

To be declared competent

as a FGASA NATIONAL

BIRD GUIDE you will have

to have been declared

competent for the slide

and Sound assessment for

all the biomes (regions).

This applies to the

Regional Bird Guide

Certificate and the

SKS(Birding) Qualification.

Have you completed the

Regional Birding workbook

and submitted it to your

assessor?

Yes

Yes

FGASA ©2013 78

4.6 Biome Guiding Qualifications

FGASA Biome Guide

On achieving this specialist qualification over and above a FGASA nature guiding qualification

you will be able to provide a closely integrated interpretation of the natural resources and

attractions, showing the interdependence of climate, weather, rock and soil abiotic factors

intermingled with biotic features such as vegetation and animal life. You will be able to apply

meaningful interpretations based on a sound ecological and conservationist approach by taking

the biome as an integrated entity.

You will be able to conduct a specialist guided biome experience of any of the biomes of South

Africa based upon which Biomes you chose to specialise in. This Biome Guiding Qualification

will give you the opportunity to guide throughout the biome or a number of biomes for which you

have been declared competent to guide in.

At this level the Biome Guide:

Is operating as a nature guide specialising in a particular biome at an intermediate level of knowledge.

Has an intermediate level of knowledge considered essential to register and legally conduct a guided biome experience.

Has attained a FGASA nature guiding or marine guiding qualification (either Local, Level 1, 2 or 3).

Has been declared competent against the relevant Biome assessment.


The following Biome specialisations at NQF4 are available:

Conduct a guided Savanna Biome experience

Conduct a guided Succulent Karoo Biome experience

Conduct a guided Fynbos Biome experience

Conduct a guided Nama Karoo Biome experience

Conduct a guided Forest Biome experience

Conduct a guided Grassland Biome experience

Conduct a guided Albany Thicket Biome experience

Conduct a guided Desert Biome experience

Conduct a guided Indian Ocean Coastal Belt Biome experience

How do I get a FGASA Biome Guide Qualification?

Once you have attained a FGASA nature or marine guiding qualification (Level 1, 2 or 3) you

can apply to do the FGASA Biome Guiding theory workbook.

There will be separate theory assessment by means of a Biome workbook (portfolio of

evidence) submission for each of the relevant Biomes you wish to be assessed against. You

would need to specify in the workbook for which Biome you have completed the workbook.

FGASA ©2013 79

Payment for the theory workbook marking should be made when submitting the workbook to

the FGASA office. [The fee for the marking of the workbook for each Biome is the moderation

fee for knowledge certificates]

Once you have been declared competent for the FGASA Biome theory workbook assessment

for the specific biome of your choice and you conform to the criteria stated above, you will have

attained the FGASA Biome Guiding Qualification for the relevant biome(s). Your certificate

would state for example; “Biome Guiding: Forest Biome” if you have successfully passed the

Forest Biome theory workbook/ Portfolio of Evidence.


There is no practical assessment for this qualification as you would have already been

declared competent for your guiding skills in one of the FGASA nature or marine guiding

qualifications.

What learning materials do I need for the FGASA Biome Guiding qualification?


1. The FGASA L1 & L2 Learner Manuals

2. The FGASA Biome Guiding Workbook (within the FGASA Level 2 Learner SP)

3. Trees of Southern Africa – B & P van Wyk

4. Relevant books on geology, plants and animals for the specific biome


1. National Parks and Nature Reserves, A South African Field Guide - Matilda & Chris Stuart

2. The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland – Mucina and Rutherford (Also available on CD)

The FGASA Biome Guide Syllabus includes the following modules for each of the Biome

qualifications with some variation among some of them:

Module number

MODULE NAME

1. Geographical regions and associated vegetation types

2. Indicator animal and plant species in the biome

3. Ecology of the biome and its various sub-divisions

4. The geology, climate and general weather patterns of the biome and its geographical sub-regions

5. The protected areas of natural interest within the biome

6. Conservation management of the biome and the human influences on the biome

For details pertaining to the Biome Guiding syllabus and assessment requirements refer

to the FGASA Biome Guiding Learner Support Pack. (Part of the Level 2 Support Pack &

Level 3 Workbook No2)

FGASA ©2013 80

National Biome Guide

At this level the Biome Guide:

Is operating as a nature guide specialising in all the biomes at an intermediate level of knowledge.

Has an intermediate level of knowledge considered essential to conduct a guided biome experience in all the biomes of Southern Africa.

Has attained a FGASA nature guiding or marine guiding qualification (Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3).

Has been declared competent against all the Biome theoretical workbook assessments.


The FGASA Certificate for this qualification will indicate “National Biome Guide”.

4.7 Horse Guiding Qualifications

Horse guides are guides who are operating as a nature guide specialising in guiding from

horseback. The horse guide has already attained a FGASA nature guiding qualification (Level 1,

2 or 3) and the horse guide who is operating in Dangerous game areas must have also attained

the FGASA Trails Guide qualification. The objective of these qualifications is to equip existing

guides with the skills required to conduct a horse trail through the natural environment and to

care for their horses properly.

The FGASA Horse Guiding Qualifications are made up of the following:

In South Africa, equine and equestrian qualifications are issued by EQASA (the Equestrian

Qualifications Authority of SA) and nature guiding qualifications are available through FGASA.

In order to be a professional horse guide, a candidate needs to acquire skills in both fields.

FGASA and EQASA have joined forces to provide qualifications and promote professionalism in

the horse guiding industry.

If you are an experienced horse guide, currently or previously working in the horse safari or

horse trails industry and can submit proof of your competence, you can apply to FGASA to be

RPL‟d (Recognition of prior learning) at the level at which you have experience. Please note

the special requirements for dangerous game areas.

Horse Guiding Qualifications (Non-Dangerous Game)

Assistant Horse Guide

Lead Horse Guide

Advanced Lead Horse Guide

Horse Guiding Qualifications (Dangerous Game)

Dangerous Game Assistant Horse Guide

Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide

Dangerous Game Advanced Lead Horse Guide

FGASA ©2013 81

HOW DO I OBTAIN THE EQASA QUALIFICATIONS

1. Log on to the EQASA website at www.sanip.org.za 2. Register with EQASA and pay your annual membership fee of R200 per year. This

will give you access to the website, the EQASA syllabus, applications for exams, services and all other information.

3. If you believe you are competent through work experience at the required level, you may apply to EQASA for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). Follow the procedure on the website for RPL and pay the relevant fee.

4. If you want to apply to be examined at either Module 1,2, 3, 4 or 5, follow the procedure on the website for applying for examination dates and pay the following examination fees : Candidates must have a valid Level 1 First Aid certificate.

For details pertaining to all the FGASA and EQASA Horse Guiding certificates,

syllabus and assessment requirements refer to the FGASA Horse Guiding Learner

Manual.

FGASA Assistant Horse Guide (Non-dangerous game areas)

FGASA ASSISTANT HORSE GUIDE

The guide who attains this qualification will be able to work as an Assistant Horse Guide with a

horse trail operation.


• Is operating as a qualified nature guide specialising in horse guiding as an Assistant Horse Guide.

• Has the basic knowledge considered essential to legally work as an Assistant Horse Guide.

• Has been declared competent against the requirements of the Unit Standard 265055: Develop riding proficiency and basic schooling of horses.

• Has been declared competent against the requirements of a FGASA Nature guiding certificate and the Assistant Horse Guiding certificate.

• Has a valid, up-to-date recognised First Aid certificate.

How do I get the FGASA Assistant Horse Guiding Qualification?

Once you have attained either a FGASA Local guide, Level 1, 2 or 3 nature guiding qualification

you are eligible to work towards the FGASA Assistant Horse Guiding Qualification.

You are required to be practically declared competent for the following Unit Standard 265055:

Develop riding proficiency and basic schooling of horses as well as the EQASA Modules 1 & 2.

You will be assessed by a qualified assessor for the Unit Standard 265055.

Once you have been declared competent for both of the above, then you will be awarded the

FGASA Assistant Horse Guiding Qualification.

There is no FGASA practical assessment for the Assistant Horse Guiding qualification.

http://www.sanip.org.za/

FGASA ©2013 82

What learning materials do I need for the FGASA Assistant Horse Guiding Qualification?


1. The relevant EQASA Horse Guiding Learning materials for Modules 1 & 2

2. The Horse Guide Learner Manual – Wendy Adams, Jill du Preez & Grant Hine

FGASA Lead Horse Guide (Non-dangerous game areas)

The guide who attains this qualification will be able to conduct a guided horse riding experience

as a lead guide on a horse trail.


Is operating as a qualified nature guide specialising in horse guiding as a lead horse guide in non-dangerous game areas.

Has the knowledge considered essential to conduct a horse guided experience as a FGASA Lead Horse Guide in non-dangerous game areas.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of the EQASA Module 3 - Certificate of Horsemastership and Module 4 – Certificate of Horsemastership & Preliminary Riding instruction.

Has logged 260 days of practical experience of stable management and trail riding as an assistant horse guide

Has been declared competent against the requirements of a FGASA nature guiding certificate.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of the FGASA Lead Horse guiding certificate (Non-dangerous game areas):

o Prepare horses and clients for a trail ride of up to one day o Conduct a horse trail of up to one day


Once you have been assessed by an EQASA assessor for the EQASA

Modules 1 & 2 (Unit Standard 265055) you will need to submit a copy of the

relevant proof issued by your EQASA assessor to the FGASA office in order

for a FGASA Assistant Horse Guide Certificate to be issued to you.

FGASA ©2013 83

How do I get the FGASA Lead Horse Guiding Qualification?

Once you have attained the FGASA Assistant Horse guiding qualification you are eligible to

work towards the FGASA Lead Horse Guiding Qualification.

You are required to attain the following through an EQASA training provider or through self-

study:

EQASA Module 3: Certificate of Horsemastership

EQASA Module 4:

Certificate of Horsemastership & preliminary riding instruction

You will be assessed by an EQASA qualified assessor for the EQASA Module 3 and 4.

Once you have been declared competent for the EQASA Module 3 and 4 and have logged 260

days of practical experience of stable management and trail riding as an assistant horse guide,

then you are eligible to be assessed by FGASA for:

Prepare horses and clients for a trail ride of up to one day

Conduct a horse trail of up to one day



you can prepare yourself for this assessment. (Refer to the FGASA Horse Guiding Learner



Once you have been declared competent for the Lead Horse Guide practical assessment you

will have attained the FGASA Lead Horse Guide Qualification.


What learning materials do I need for the FGASA Lead Horse Guide Qualification?


1. The Horse Guide Learner Manual - Wendy Adams, Jill du Preez, Grant Hine

2. The BHS Complete Manual of Stable Management (EQASA)

Recommended reading list

The Threshold Guide to Lungeing – Book #36

SANEF Notes on Business Management (Viv Woollon)

A Guide to the Animal Diseases in South Africa – Horses, Donkeys and Mules (Pamela Oberon)

The Complete Equine Veterinary Manual (T&M Pavord)

The Principles of Riding (Official Handbook of the German National Equestrian Federation)

The BHS Instructors Manual for Teaching Riding (Islay Auty)

FGASA ©2013 84

THE SYLLABUS FOR THE FGASA LEAD HORSE GUIDE QUALIFICATION

This guide will be able to conduct a guided experience as a Lead horse guide.

The FGASA Lead Horse Guiding Syllabus includes the following:

Module number

MODULE NAME

1. Supervise the completion of documentation for a horse trail of up to one day

2. Select and prepare a horse for a horse trail

3. Prepare clients for a horse trail of up to one day

4. Conduct a guided horse trail

5. Manage rest stops during the trail

6. Conclude the horse trail

THE FGASA PRACTICAL HORSE GUIDING ASSESSMENT

A professional horse guide has attained the relevant EQASA Certificates and FGASA Certificates and needs to be able to demonstrate all of the following:

Demonstrate safe handling and leading of horses in stable and yard.

Demonstrate strong intermediate riding skills

Demonstrate and discuss general horsemanship skills

Demonstrate ability to teach and assist clients with riding skills

Demonstrate ability to assess faults in a horses training and ability to re-train the horse (ethically!)

Discuss selecting suitable horses

Discuss selecting suitable tack

Discuss and show knowledge of breeds

Demonstrate knowledge of tack and equipment, including different bits

Demonstrate knowledge of correct fit of tack

Demonstrate tacking up and un-tacking

Demonstrate how to load a pack horse (if applicable)

Demonstrate loading and unloading horses from vehicle transport (This is done in EQASA practical exam)

Demonstrate and discuss emergency and evacuation procedures for both horses and riders

Demonstrate knowledge of veterinary supplies and horse first aid

Demonstrate and lead a guided riding experience, including leadership and authority

FGASA ©2013 85

FGASA Advanced Lead Horse Guide (Non-dangerous game areas)

The guide who attains this qualification will be able to conduct a guided horse riding experience

as an Advanced Lead Guide on a horse trail.


Is operating as a qualified nature guide specialising in horse guiding as a lead horse guide in non-dangerous game areas.

Has the knowledge considered essential to conduct a horse guided experience as a FGASA Lead Horse Guide in non-dangerous game areas.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of the EQASA Module 5 – Certificate of Horsemastership, Horsemanship & riding instruction – Level 1.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of a FGASA nature guiding certificate.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of the FGASA Lead Horse guiding certificate (Non-dangerous game areas): Conduct and manage a multi-day horse trail

Has been declared competent against the requirements of a FGASA nature guiding certificate and the Advanced Lead Horse guiding certificate (Non-dangerous game areas).


FGASA ©2013 86

WHAT

THE FGASA HORSE GUIDE QUALIFICATIONS (Non-Dangerous Game)

No

No

Yes


FGASA Local or Level 1 nature

guiding qualification and

provide proof of this

attainment.

Do you have the FGASA Local Guide or Level 1 nature

guiding Qualification?

You will be awarded with the FGASA Advanced Lead Horse Guide Certificate

Yes


required US: Develop riding

proficiency and basic schooling

of horses and the EQASA

Modules 1 & 2. Have you attained the: EQASA Module 3 - Certificate

of Horsemastership

EQASA Module 4 - Certificate of Horsemastership &

Preliminary Riding Instruction

No You will have to have logged (including

back-dating) at least 260 days of active

practical stable management and trail

riding experience as an Assistant Horse

Guide

No

You will have to be assessed

for the FGASA Lead Horse

Guide qualification.

Have you been declared competent against the unit standard:

Develop riding proficiency and basic schooling of horses and

EQASA Modules 1 & 2?

You will be awarded the FGASA Assistant

Horse Guiding Qualification

Have you logged 260 days of practical experience of

stable management and trail riding as an Assistant

Horse Guide?

Yes

Yes

Yes

No You will have to attain the required

EQASA Module 3 & 4 through an

EQASA provider or through self study

HORSE GUIDING

You will be awarded the FGASA

Lead Horse Guiding Qualification

(Non-Dangerous Game areas)

Yes


Lead Horse Guide (Non-dangerous game areas) qualification

Yes

Have you been assessed and declared competent by a FGASA assessor for the FGASA Lead Horse Guide Certificate:

Prepare horses and clients for a trail ride of up to one day

Conduct a horse trail of up to one day

Yes

Have you attained the EQASA Module 5?

Certificate of Horsemastership

Horsemanship & Riding Instruction Level 1

No You will have to attain the required

EQASA Module 5 through an EQASA

training provider or through self study

Yes

No

You will have to be assessed

for the FGASA Lead Horse


Yes

Yes

Have you been assessed and declared competent by a FGASA assessor for the FGASA Advanced Lead Horse Guide Certificate:

Conduct and manage a multi-day horse trail

FGASA ©2013 87

Dangerous Game Horse Guiding Qualifications

Please refer to the matrix for details of all the requirements set out by FGASA (and

EQASA) to be eligible for the various FGASA Horse Guide qualifications in the Horse

Guiding Learner Support Pack.

FGASA Dangerous Game Assistant Horse Guide

FGASA Dangerous Game Assistant Horse guide

After having attained experience as a FGASA Advanced Lead Horse Guide and having attained

the FGASA VPDA Certificate, the FGASA Dangerous Game Assistant Horse Guide certificate

enables the guide to now operate as an assistant to gain experience guiding on horseback in

dangerous game areas. The idea behind this is to learn from a Dangerous Game Lead Horse

Guide for 1 year (260 days) of active horse guiding experience in a dangerous game area.


Is operating as a qualified Horse Trails Guide specialising as an assistant horse guide in dangerous game areas.

Has knowledge considered essential to conduct a horse guided experience in dangerous game areas as a FGASA Assistant Horse Guide.

Has been declared competent against the requirements of a FGASA VPDA Certificate and the Advanced Lead Horse Guide (non-dangerous game) qualification.

Has the required SASSETA and FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling certificate if s/he is going to be carrying a rifle to conduct horse guided experiences in dangerous game areas.


FGASA Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide

The guide who attains this qualification will be able to guide clients on a safe, well conducted

horseback excursion with the intention to view animals which are potentially dangerous, with

efficiency and maximum safety to the guests, the horses and themselves. The guide who attains

this qualification will be able to conduct a guided horse riding experience as a lead guide on a

horse trail in areas of dangerous animals.

FGASA Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide

Once the individual has attained 1 year (260 days) of guiding experience as an assistant horse

guide in dangerous game areas (at least two of the Big 5), s/he is eligible to be assessed for the

FGASA Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide qualification.


Is operating as a qualified Horse Trails Guide specialising as a lead guide in dangerous game areas.

Has knowledge considered essential to conduct a horse guided experience in dangerous game areas as a FGASA Lead Horse Guide.

FGASA ©2013 88

Has been declared competent against the requirements of a FGASA VPDA Certificate and the Dangerous Game Horse guide theoretical and practical assessment.

o Conduct a guided experience on horseback to view potentially dangerous animals

Has the required SASSETA and FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling Certificate if s/he is going to be carrying a rifle to conduct horse guided experiences in dangerous game areas.

Has logged 260 days active guiding experience as an assistant horse-guide in dangerous game areas.


How do I get a FGASA Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guiding Qualification?

Once you have attained either a FGASA Local guide, Level 1, 2 or 3 nature guiding

qualification, the FGASA Dangerous Game Assistant Horse Guiding Qualification and the

FGASA VPDA Certificate or the Trails guide qualification you can apply to be practically

assessed for the FGASA Dangerous Game Lead Horse guide.

The practical assessment for the Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guiding qualification is carried

out by a registered FGASA assessor in a dangerous game horse guiding area of your choice.

You will need to take the assessor on a guided horseback experience in a relevant dangerous

game area of your choice (with or without paying clients), preferably with clients.



that you can prepare yourself for this assessment. (Refer to the FGASA Horse Guiding Learner



Once you have been declared competent for the Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guiding

practical assessment you will have attained the FGASA Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guiding

Qualification.


What learning materials do I need for the Advanced Horse Guiding Qualification?


1. The Horse Guide Learner Manual - Wendy Adams, Jill du Preez & Grant Hine

2. The FGASA Horse Guiding Workbook

The following Dangerous game learning materials:

1. The Trails Guide Manual – Grant Hine

2. Beat about the Bush (Mammals) – Trevor Carnaby

3. A photographic guide to Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa – L. Liebenberg

FGASA ©2013 89

THE SYLLABUS FOR THE DANGEROUS GAME LEAD HORSE GUIDING QUALIFICATION

Module number

MODULE NAME

1. Prepare to conduct a guided nature experience on horse-back in areas where potentially dangerous animals may occur

2. Prepare guests and horses for the guided experience on horse-back with the aim of viewing potentially dangerous animals

3. Interpret the behaviour of animals in the broader ecological context in terms of human and horse safety

4. Maintain constant monitoring of the experience and environment

5. Lead an advanced guided horse-back experience to view potentially dangerous animals

6. Handle emergency situations that arise while leading an advanced guided experience on horse-back to view potentially dangerous animals

7. Demonstrate correct firearm use while ensuring the safety of Participants

For details pertaining to the FGASA Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guiding syllabus and

assessment requirements refer to the FGASA Horse Guiding Learner Manual.

FGASA Advanced Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide

FGASA Advanced Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide

This certificate is awarded to a guide who has qualified as a FGASA Dangerous Game Lead

Horse Guide and can show proof of experience of horse guiding as a lead guide with all of the

Big 5 animals. This experience (logged in the FGASA Dangerous Game logbook) may be

representative of having worked in different reserves (areas) in order to accumulate experience

with all of the Big 5.

Experience is required on horseback as the lead guide in areas with all of the Big 5 animals.

Once your logbook experience has been verified you will be awarded the FGASA Advanced

Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide

For details pertaining to the FGASA Advanced Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guiding

requirements and any information on the FGASA Horse guiding RPL process refer to the

FGASA Horse Guiding Learner Support Pack.

FGASA ©2013 90

WHAT

THE FGASA HORSE GUIDE QUALIFICATIONS (Dangerous Game)

No

No

Yes


FGASA VPDA Certificate and

provide proof of this

attainment.

Do you have the FGASA VPDA Certificate?

You will be awarded with the FGASA Advanced Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide

Certificate

Yes


required EQASA Module 5

through an EQASA training

provider or self study

Have you logged 1 year (260 days) of practical experience as an assistant horse guide in dangerous game areas.

No

You will have to have logged at least 260 days of practical experience as an assistant horse guide in dangerous game areas.

No

You will have to be assessed for the

FGASA Dangerous Game Lead Horse


Have you attained the EQASA Module 5?

Certificate of Horsemastership

Horsemanship & riding instruction Level One

You will be awarded the FGASA Dangerous

Game Assistant Horse Guide Qualification

Have you been assessed and declared competent by a FGASA assessor for the FGASA Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide Certificate

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

HORSE GUIDING (Dangerous Game)

You will be awarded the FGASA

Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guiding

Qualification

Yes


Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide qualification

Yes

Have you attained the required experience as

Lead Horse guide with all of the Big 5?

Has your Dangerous Game log book been signed off by a mentor and verified by the FGASA office?

No

You will have to attain the required experience

as a Lead Horse Guide with all of the Big 5.

Yes

You will have to have your Dangerous Game log book signed off by a mentor and verified by the FGASA office?

Yes

THE USE OF A RIFLE (A separate Certificate)

If you are going to be carrying a rifle to conduct guided experiences as a Dangerous

Game Assistant Horse Guide / Dangerous Game Lead Horse Guide or an Advanced

Dangerous Game Lead Guide to view potentially dangerous animals then refer to the

section in this information book on the FGASA Rifle Handling Qualifications.

FGASA ©2013 91

4.8 Wildflower Guiding Qualifications

There are two Wildflower Guiding Qualifications which can be attained through FGASA:

Local Wildflower Guide

Regional Wildflower Guide

SKS(Wildflower) Guide

Local Wildflower Guide

A Local Wildflower guide is a FGASA guide operating as a nature site guide specialising in

guided wildflower experiences in a specific game reserve, nature reserve or botanical garden.

The Local Wildflower guide has already attained a FGASA nature guiding qualification. The

objective of this qualification is to equip existing guides with the skills required to conduct a wild

flower experience with a specific natural environment.


Is operating as a nature guide specialising in wildflower knowledge as a specialist wildflower guide in a particular reserve or botanical garden.

The competence of wildflower guiding at this level is assessed within a specific reserve or botanical garden site.

Has attained a FGASA nature guiding qualification (Local, Level 1, 2 or 3).

Has been declared competent against the FGASA Wildflower guiding skills practical assessment.


Regional Wildflower Guide

A Regional Wildflower guide is a FGASA guide operating as a nature site guide specialising in

guided wildflower experiences.

The Wildflower guide has already attained a FGASA nature guiding qualification. The objective

of this qualification is to equip existing guides with the skills required to conduct a wild flower

experience through the natural environment.


Is operating as a nature guide specialising in wildflower knowledge in a particular region or Biome(s).

May be operating as a competent Regional Wildflower Guide in a number of different sites, areas or biomes. The competence of wildflower guiding at this level is assessed within different vegetation areas or biomes.

Has attained a FGASA nature guiding qualification (Local, Level 1, 2 or 3).

Has been declared competent against the FGASA wildflower slide assessment and the wildflower guiding skills practical assessment.


FGASA ©2013 92

How do I get a FGASA Regional Wildflower Qualification?


FGASA Local or Level 1 nature guide qualification

or a Full Tracking qualification (including create a guided experience for customers - if this unit standard not included in the tracking qualification then it will have to be included in the wildflower practical assessment)

You will then be eligible to apply to be practically assessed for the FGASA Regional Wildflower

Guiding Qualification by means of:

A slide assessment

A wildflower guiding skills practical assessment.

IMPORTANT: You will only be eligible for the wildflower guiding skills practical assessment

once you have been declared competent for the wildflower Slide assessment.

There is no theory examination for the Regional wildflower guide qualification.

The practical assessment for the Regional wildflower guide qualification is carried out by a

registered FGASA wildflower assessor in a guiding area of your choice. You will need to take

the assessor on a guided wildflower experience in a wildflower area or your choice (with or

without paying clients), preferably with clients.



that you can prepare yourself for this assessment. Payment for your practical assessment is

made directly to the assessor and does not come via the FGASA office.

You can choose which vegetation Region/Biome you want to be assessed for. The Slide

assessment will assess all the areas that you want to be assessed for, however the Practical

wildflower skills assessment will take place in one area only in order to assess wildflower

guiding skills.

Once you have been declared competent for the Wildflower Slide assessment and the

Wildflower skills practical assessment you will have attained the FGASA Regional Wildflower

Guide Qualification for the specific area/Biome in which you have been assessed competent to

guide in. The Regional Wildflower Guiding Certificate will reflect which areas you have been

assessed competent to guide in. For example: Waterberg Wildflower Guide. If you are

assessed as competent for all the areas (biomes) you will be deemed a National Wildflower

Guide.


FGASA ©2013 93


The guide will be assessed by means of the Wildflower Slide assessment.

The guide will be assessed by means of a Wildflower Skills Practical assessment.

There is no theory examination for this qualification.


This assessment consists of one section for each of the vegetation areas / biomes that you wish

to be assessed for.

The slide identification assessment will consist of between 100 and

200 slides depending on the particular area you are being assessed

for. The variations in the number of slides used for the assessment

will depend on the total number of known species of flowers in the

area. A certain percentage of flowers in the area will be used for the

slide identification assessment. You will be required to name both

the common name and the scientific name of each flower depicted in

the slide. If there is no known common name for a particular flower

you will need to state this apart from giving the full scientific name.

Wildflower Lists All wildflower species lists that you are required to know for all areas in the country will be obtainable from the FGASA office. These lists will inform you of what species you need to know for the particular areas in terms of identification. These wildflower lists can be emailed to you or you can obtain a copy of the lists from the FGASA office.

What learning materials do I need for the Regional Wildflower Guide qualification?

The following learning materials are recommended:

There are many books on wildflowers, most of which are very specific to particular areas. It is

recommended that you make use of any flower identification books that are relevant to your

area of guiding operation.

Some examples:

Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Highveld – Van Wyk and Malan

A Field Guide to the Proteas of Southern Africa – Rebelo

Field Guide to Fynbos – Manning

Wild flowers of South Africa – John Manning

Wild flowers of KZN & the eastern region – Elsa Pooley

Mountain flowers – Elsa Pooley

Common Wild flowers of the Okavango Delta – Veronica Roodt.

South African wildflower Guides : Namaqualand / Outeniqua / Cape Peninsula Transvaal Lowveld & Escarpment / Hottentots Holland to Hermanus / Karoo /

West Coast / Southern Overberg / Nieuvoudtville

FGASA ©2013 94

The SKS (Wildflowers) Qualification

The SKS wildflower guide is a professional nature guide who specialises in guided wildflower

experiences. This guide is able to interpret the wildflower environment and conduct a wildflower

experience at an advanced level of knowledge and skill. This guide has the ability to integrate

the wildflower experience into the broader ecological environment.


Is operating as a professional nature guide specialising in wildflower guiding as a specialist wildflower guide at an advanced level.

May be operating as a competent Specialist Wildflower Guide in a number of different sites, areas or biomes. The competence of wildflower guiding at this level is assessed within different vegetation areas or biomes.

Has attained a FGASA Level 3 nature guiding qualification.

Has been declared competent against the FGASA wildflower theory examination assessment, the slide assessment and the wildflower guiding skills practical assessment.


How do I get a FGASA SKS (Wildflowers) qualification?

Once you have attained the FGASA Level 3 nature guiding qualification you will be eligible to

apply write the SKS (wildflower) theoretical examination to be practically assessed for the

FGASA Specialist Wildflower Guiding Qualification by means of:

A wildflower theory examination

A wildflower slide assessment

A wildflower guiding skills practical assessment.

Application and payment:

Theory examination: You will need to send your exam application form and proof of payment

for the SKS(wildflowers) theory examination to the FGASA office. Remember that examination

applications close 1 month before the set national examination sitting.

IMPORTANT: You will only be eligible for the wildflower guiding skills practical assessment

once you have been declared competent for the wildflower theory examination and the

Wildflower Slide assessment.

The practical assessment for the SKS (wildflower) qualification is carried out by a registered

FGASA wildflower assessor in a guiding area of your choice. You will need to take the assessor

on a guided wildflower experience in a wildflower area or your choice (with or without paying

clients), preferably with clients.

FGASA ©2013 95



that you can prepare yourself for this assessment. Payment for your practical assessment is

made directly to the assessor and does not come via the FGASA office.

You can choose which vegetation areas / biomes you want to be assessed for. The Slide

assessment will assess all the areas that you want to be assessed for, however the practical

Wildflower Skills Assessment will take place in one area only in order to assess Wildflower

guiding skills.

Once you have been declared competent for the Wildflower theory examination, the Slide

Assessment and the wildflower skills practical assessment you will have attained the FGASA

SKS (Wildflower) Qualification for the specific area/Biome in which you have been assessed

competent to guide in. The SKS (Wildflowers) qualification (and certificate) will reflect which

areas you have been assessed competent to guide in. For example: SKS (Wildflowers) -

Waterberg. If you have been assessed as competent for all the areas (biomes) you will be

deemed an SKS (Wildflower) National guide.



The theory examination.

The guide will be assessed by means of the Wildflower slide assessment.

The guide will be assessed by means of a Wildflower skills Practical assessment.


This assessment consists of one section for each of the vegetation areas / biomes that you wish

to be assessed for.

The slide identification assessment will consist of between 100 and 200 slides depending on the

particular area you are being assessed for. The variations in the number of slides used for the

assessment will depend on the total number of known species of flowers in the area. A certain

percentage of flowers in the area will be used for the slide identification assessment. You will

be required to name both the common name and the scientific name of each flower depicted in

the slide. If there is no known common name for a particular flower you will need to state this

apart from giving the full scientific name.

Wildflower Lists All species lists that you are required to know for all the areas in the country will be obtainable from the FGASA office. These lists will inform you of what species you need to know for the particular areas in terms of identification. These wildflower lists can be emailed to you or you can obtain a copy of the lists from the FGASA office.

FGASA ©2013 96

What learning materials do I need for the SKS (wildflower) qualification?

The following learning materials are compulsory :

1. Wildflower Learner Manual – Lee Gutteridge

The following learning materials are recommended:

There are many books on wildflowers, most of which are very specific to particular areas. It is

recommended that you make use of any flower identification books that are relevant to your

area of guiding operation.

Some examples:

Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Highveld – Van Wyk and Malan

A Field Guide to the Proteas of Southern Africa – Rebelo

Field Guide to Fynbos – John Manning

Wild flowers of South Africa – John Manning

Wild flowers of KZN & the eastern region – Elsa Pooley

Mountain flowers – Elsa Pooley

Common Wild flowers of the Okavango Delta – Veronica Roodt.

South African wildflower Guides : Namaqualand / Outeniqua / Cape Peninsula Transvaal Lowveld & Escarpment / Hottentots Holland to Hermanus / Karoo /

West Coast / Southern Overberg / Nieuvoudtville

THE SYLLABUS FOR THE FGASA SKS (WILDFLOWER) QUALIFICATION

The FGASA SKS(Wildflower) Syllabus includes the following modules:

Module number

MODULE NAME

1. Classification of flowers

2. Flower morphology and structure

3. Plant physiology

4. Plant reproduction

5. Seed types, dispersal and association with other plants

6. Carnivorous and other interesting plant behaviour

7. Medicinal preparations and uses

The Wildflower qualifications are currently available for the following areas:

The Waterberg/The Okavango Delta/The Lowveld/The Eastern Cape

Other regions are currently being developed to ensure that wildflower guides countrywide can

be given recognition for their speciality.

FGASA ©2013 97

4.9 ADDITIONAL FGASA CERTIFICATES

Accumulation of certificates working towards a qualification

FGASA has introduced a system whereby once you are a member of FGASA, you can improve

your own knowledge and be awarded certificates for your achievements or if you are a guide

you can start to accumulate certain certificates that contribute towards the FGASA Level 2 and

Level 3 qualifications.

Both these qualifications require a certain amount of experience to do the final theory and

practical assessment. However there are other components made up of FGASA certificates

which can be completed before you have logged the required experience for your final theory

and practical assessment for the relevant qualification.

A few more stand-alone certificates will be added in the near future for you to complete.

FGASA will issue you with the relevant certificate and record your achievement on the database

for accumulation towards FGASA Level 2 and 3.

FGASA CERTIFICATES FOR ACCUMULATION

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

PART OF

FGASA SAFETY & EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE

WORKBOOK L2 / 3

FGASA BIOME CERTIFICATE (RELEVANT BIOME)

WORKBOOK L2 / 3

FGASA BIRDING SPECIALIST CERTIFICATE

THEORETICAL & PRACTICAL

SLIDE & SOUND & WORKBOOK

L2 / 3

FGASA RESEARCH AND DESIGN CERTIFICATE

WORKBOOK L2 / 3

SOUTH AFRICA GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

CERTIFICATE

WORKBOOK L 3

FGASA WILDFLOWER SPECIALIST CERTIFICATE THEORETICAL & PRACTICAL

FGASA COMMERCIAL CAVE KNOWLEDGE

CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK

GUIDING TOURISM MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK L 3

GUIDING CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT

CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK

L 3

FGASA ©2013 98

4.10 Knowledge Certificates – Associate members

Knowledge Certificates offered by FGASA are for any paid-up member (be they a guide or not)

who would like to improve their own knowledge in certain fields and to be given recognition for

this by means of earning a FGASA Certificate on successful completion of the relevant

workbooks.

The following non-guiding Knowledge Certificates are available for any paid-up member of the

Association.

Entry requirements for all these certificates are that you are paid-up member with FGASA

Method of assessment for all these certificates is by means of successfully completing a

workbook.

The cost of these certificates includes the purchase of the workbook and the moderation fee.

Recommended learning material

The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and

Swaziland (CDRom version available from

Kalahari.net). Other relevant biome books.

BIOME

KNOWLEDGE

CERTIFICATE


Introduction to South Africa (obtainable

from the FGASA office).

SAFETY &

EMERGENCY

KNOWLEDGE

CERTIFICATE

Recommended learning materials

for both these certificates

The Guiding Skills Learner Manual

RESEARCH AND DESIGN CERTIFICATE

FGASA ©2013 99


Managing tourism in South Africa

(Available at the FGASA office)

Members can also sit in the FGASA office and make use of one of the FGASA library copies of the prescribed reading

GUIDING TOURISM

MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE

CERTIFICATE


The Story of Life and the Environment an

African perspective

Members can also sit in the FGASA office and make use of one of the FGASA library copies of the prescribed reading

GUIDING CONSERVATION

MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE

CERTIFICATE

BIRDING KNOWLEDGE

CERTIFICATE


Beat about the Bush: Birds

FGASA ©2013 100


Commercial Cave Guiding – Kerry Slater

(Available at the FGASA office)

Required learning material:

The sappi Tree Spotting book for

the relevant area.

Entry requirements for all these

certificates are that you are paid-

up member (including Associate

members) with FGASA.

Method of assessment for all

these certificates is by means of

successfully completing a

workbook.

LOWVELD REGION

HIGHLANDS REGION

BUSHVELD REGION

CAPE REGION

KWA-ZULU NATAL AND

EASTERN CAPE REGION

COMMERCIAL CAVE

KNOWLEDGE CERTIFICATE

THE FGASA/sappi TREE KNOWLEDGE CERTIFICATES

FGASA ©2013 101

4.11 Guiding Registration Categories

In order to guide legally in South Africa learners who have achieved recognised guiding

qualifications through a CATHSSETA accredited provider will have to register with the

Department of Tourism. (Refer to the next section on Guide registration in South Africa)

This registration is based on a number of categories depending on the type of guiding

qualification a learner has achieved and the speciality in which the learner has been declared

competent for.

Tourist guide registration may take the form of the following categories:

Site Guide

A Site guide is a learner who has been assessed as competent against a skills programme or

speciality to guide within a specific site or a number of specific sites. A “Site” usually refers to a

particular Game or Nature reserve, National Park, Botanical Garden, Bird Sanctuary, Museum,

etc.

As a Site Guide you cannot guide throughout an entire region or province, you are restricted to

conducting guided experiences within the Sites for which you have been declared competent to

guide in.

Regional Guide

A Regional guide is a learner who has been assessed as competent against a skills programme

or speciality to guide within a specific region or a number of different regions. A “Region”

usually refers to a Biome or a specific route such as the “Garden Route”. Thus a region may

include a number of specific sites for which the guide is competent to guide in.

Provincial Guide

A Provincial guide is a learner who has been assessed as competent against the Further

Education and Training Certificate in Tourism: Guiding (FETC) to guide within a specific

province or a number of provinces.

National Guide

A National guide is a learner who has been assessed as competent against the Further

Education and Training Certificate in Tourism: Guiding (FETC) to guide throughout the entire

country across all nine provinces.

You cannot be signed off to guide in an entire Province if you have

only attained a Skills programme. You can only guide in the Sites for

which you have been declared competent to guide in.

FGASA ©2013 102

Unit Standards, Skills Programme and National Certificates

It is important that members understand how the National Qualifications and in turn the FGASA

qualifications are structured.

What is a unit standard?

Very briefly, unit standards are the building blocks of national qualifications. A unit standard is a

registered statement of desired education and training outcomes with its associated criteria.

In other words unit standards:

Describe what it is that “we” want to recognise.

Inform us how well an individual should know a specific topic or how well s/he should be able to do something.

Gives information on the conditions under which the outcomes must be achieved.

Describe what people (in our case guides) should be capable of.

Inform learning programme developers of what outcomes of learning ought to be and inform assessors as to what must be assessed and the quality of the evidence required.

An example of a unit standard: Conduct a guided nature experience in a limited geographical

area (NQF2) 20 credits

What is a Skills programme?

A Skills programme is theoretically a short learning programme made up of a number of unit

standards that will constitute credits towards a qualification registered on the National

Qualifications Framework (NQF).

An example of a Skills programme:

Nature Site Guide (NQF2)

[Equivalent to the FGASA Level 1 qualification]

This Skills programme (above) is made up of the following unit standards:

Conduct a guided nature experience in a limited geographical area

Create a guided experience for customers

Skills programmes are not registered with SAQA but with the relevant Sector Education &

Training Authority (SETA), in our case this would be CATHSSETA.

What is a Qualification?

A qualification on the NQF is a planned combination of learning outcomes which has a defined

purpose or purposes and which is intended to provide qualifying learners with applied

competence and a basis for further learning.

FGASA ©2013 103

A “full” qualification consists of a large number of unit standards which are compulsory (the Core

and Fundamental unit standards) and a number of Elective unit standards which are based on

certain specialisations within a particular industry (for example the specialist guiding in the

tourism industry). A qualification may consist of a large number of unit standards, which may be

more than 25 in total, most of which would be compulsory in order to attain the qualification.

Qualifications are developed and then submitted to SAQA for registration on the NQF (National

Qualifications Framework). Once the qualification is registered then the SETAs make use of

Skills Programme committees to develop relevant Skills programmes for their particular SETA.

A Skills programme (made up of unit standards) must be developed out of the unit standards

contained within a full qualification. This would allow individuals who have attained a skills

programme certificate to work towards attaining a full national certificate accumulating credit for

the unit standards already attained in the skills programme.

The system of qualification development and implementation will change in the near future once

the QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) take over the responsibility of

managing qualification development and assessment.

QUALIFICATION

QUALIFICATION

Core unit

standards

Fundamental

unit standards

Elective unit

standards

A SKILLS PROGRAMME

FGASA ©2013 104

4.12 Guide Registration in South Africa

Registration as a Tourist Guide

Anybody wanting to work as a tourist guide has to first ensure that they have attained a relevant

guiding qualification, i.e. Nature, Culture or Adventure from an accredited training provider such

as the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). Once a learner has been

awarded the qualification then s/he will need to register to legally carry out the job function as a

tourist guide. Tourism Guiding is governed by the Tourism Act no.72 of 1993. This Act states

that any person or body who wishes to operate as a tourist guide for reward, whether monetary

or otherwise, must:

Register as A Tourist Guide with the relevant Provincial Registrar usually attached to the Provincial Tourism Authority.

Must be in possession of a certificate of competence issued by CATHSSETA on behalf of the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA)

Must have a competence letter from your training provider (members of FGASA are provided with this letter on declaration of competence)

Must sign and abide by the code of conduct and ethics provided by the Provincial registrar.

Only once a guide is registered with the relevant Provincial Tourism Authority will s/he be able

to work as a tourist guide in the areas and specialities that s/he has been declared competent

for. This registration is renewable every two years (subject to change) and a guide will also

need to provide proof of a valid First Aid certificate upon registration which is usually renewable

every three years.

You can find the contact details of the Provincial Registrars offices on the internet under the

Department of tourism website

FGASA ©2013 105

The Requirements for Guide Registration

To register as a Tourist Guide you need to:

Be at least 21 years of age.

Complete the relevant Dept of Tourism application form.

Sign the tourist guide Code of conduct and ethics.

Submit a certified copy of your valid First Aid Certificate (This Certificate must be recognised by the Department of Labour – have a „C‟ number).

Include 4 recent clear, un-mounted and identical full colour photographs of yourself (showing only head and shoulders) measuring 30 x 25mm.

Pay the registration fee preferably in cash or with a bank issued cheque. (this is currently for a two year period of registration – this period may change to 3 years in the near future)

Submit a certified copy of your ID book.

Submit a copy of your work permit/passport (if applicable).

Submit copy of your public driver‟s permit, if you have one (Vehicle guiding).

Submit copies of your curriculum vitae/qualifications (optional).

Submit a copy of your language proficiency certificate (if applicable).

Submit a certified CATHSSETA certificate confirming your training and assessment / or the conditional registration requirements for FGASA qualified guides.

Submit a letter from the Accredited Training provider (FGASA) stating what you have been assessed competent for and for which areas (Site, Region, Provincial, National)

FGASA ©2013 106

5. GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND CODE OF CONDUCT

All members of the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) subscribe to the

“Guiding principles and code of conduct” laid down by the Association. The Code of Conduct is

signed by each member on joining the Association.

ADHERANCE TO UNIVERSAL PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, NORMS AND VALUES I welcome tourists to the country, and promise to serve competently and professionally those

under my guidance, and I endeavour to the best of my ability to satisfy their expectations as

valued guests and visitors to the country by dealing with the applicable tour programme and

itinerary in a responsible and efficient manner.

ADHERANCE TO SOUTH AFRICA’S LAWS, REGULATIONS AND CUSTOMS I adhere to and support the country‟s constitution, laws and regulations, tourism acts and

conservation laws and I undertake to assist tourists under my guidance to respect local laws,

regulations and customs; in addition, I promise to support and uphold the mission and values

of the tourist organisation I represent, and I submit to the applicable controls, sanctions and

disciplinary procedures. I promise to cooperate within my own levels of expertise and

refrain from entering areas for which I am not qualified.

PROMISE TO PROVIDE RELIABLE INFORMATION I undertake to provide knowledgeable, correct, fair and unbiased information on the country

to tourists under my guidance, and I promise to keep an open mind towards comments and

feedback from visitors to the country. I undertake to apply professional skills and knowledge

that I have acquired through training and experience.

UNDERTAKING TO CARE FOR THE SAFETY OF TOURISTS I undertake to implement all reasonable measures to protect the personal safety of tourists

under my guidance, and, in the event of acting as nature guide, I undertake to operate safely

and responsibly in whatever mode of transport is used; in addition, in the event of any

accident, injury, mishap or other situation that compromises the safety of those under my

guidance, I pledge to immediately contact the relevant authority for assistance.

STATEMENT ON FIRST AID PROTOCOLS As a certified first-aider, I adhere to the applicable ethical norms and first-aid procedures, and, when requested for aid, commit myself to provide competent first-aid assistance according to standing protocols.

ATTITUDE OF RESPECT TOWARDS PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT At all times I treat with respect all people of the world, all languages, all cultures and all

religions, local and other customs, histories and folklore, and the indigenous natural

environment. All guiding activities should be conducted in such a manner as to cause the

least possible damage to the environment and encouragement should be given to remove

litter thus improving the environment.

AVOIDANCE OF DISCRIMINATORY ACTION At all times I refrain from any discriminatory, abusive, insensitive or irresponsible action and

promise to act fairly in the event of any dispute or conflict.

FGASA ©2013 107

AVOIDANCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE At all times I refrain from and avoid substance abuse, smoking in inappropriate areas, or use

of any narcotic drug, and I promise to maintain my sobriety.

ADHERANCE TO A DRESS CODE I undertake to dress appropriately at all times, and to display the relevant registration badge

as a mark of my professional integrity and standards.

STATEMENT OF RELIABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

I undertake to be on time, reliable, honest, conscientious and tactful. The number of people

comprising a party should be appropriate to my qualifications as a guide, the nature of the

trail, the terrain and the type of activities engaged in.

REJECTION OF UNETHICAL MARKETING I do not unethically solicit for clients or for gratuity.

FGASA VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

We expect all our employees to act with honesty, integrity and fairness.

We will assist learners in the tourism industry to have fuller lives –

both through the service we provide and through the impact we have

on the tourism guiding industry around us.

Our members have chosen to trust us. In return we will strive to

anticipate and understand their needs and make them happy through

the service we provide.

We accept responsibility to engage with guiding communities and will

invest in the tourist guiding industry in a way that makes effective use

of our resources, including support for all individuals and

communities.

We are committed to sustainable business practices and

environmental conservation through education.

FGASA ©2013 108

CHAIRMAN

MANAGING DIRECTOR

STANDARDS DIRECTOR

BOOKSHOP MARKETING &

JUNIOR FGASA

PART-TIME STAFF

EXAMINATIONS EXISTING

MEMBERS

NEW

MEMBERS

EXECUTIVE

COMMITTEE

(Regional reps)

FGASA

REGISTERED

ASSESSORS

ACCOUNTS

FGASA

TRAINING

PROVIDERS

SWITCHBOARD

OFFICE ASSISTANT

MEMBERSHIP WITH FGASA AND QUALIFICATIONS

Applicant member Associate member Qualified member Honorary members Corporate member Training providers Assessors Moderators Junior Members

Local Guide Level 1 Nature Level 2 Nature Level 3 Nature Level 1 Marine

Tracker 1 Tracker 2 Tracker 3 Tracker 4 Senior Tracker Master Tracker Scout

Local Bird Guide Regional Bird Guide SKS (Birding) Guide Local wildflower Guide Regional wildflower Guide SKS (Wildflowers) Guide Biome Guide National Biome Guide

VPDA Certificate Back-up Trails Guide Trails Guide Advanced Trails Guide SKS (Dangerous Game)

Rifle Handling

Basic

Advanced (ARH)

NON – EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

WESTERN CAPE LOWVELD SOUTH WATERBERG

EASTERN CAPE

FREESTATE

KWAZULU-NATAL

GAUTENG NORTHERN CAPE

LOWVELD NORTH NORTH WEST OTHER REGIONS

Assistant Horse Guide Lead Horse Guide Advanced Lead Horse Guide DG Assistant Horse Guide DG Lead Horse Guide DG Adv Lead Horse Guide

OPS DIRECTOR

FGASA OFFICE ORGANOGRAM

Associate member knowledge certificates (Non-Guiding)

CORPORATE

MEMBERS

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