| Training as a game ranger may sound like a | | | | to the hands on nature of the FGASA course you |
| particularly exotic way to spend time out from | | | | can expect to spend many an evening camping |
| work or university, but the course offered at the | | | | out under the stars whilst tracking lions or |
| world-renowned Shamwari Game Reserve isn't | | | | observing the various stars which make up the |
| just a brief insight into some of the roles and | | | | Milky Way. |
| responsibilities that becoming a game ranger | | | | Whilst studying at Shamwari Game Reserve you |
| entails. No, this course is the real deal and your | | | | can opt to mix your game ranger training course |
| course mates are just as likely to be currently | | | | with a number of community or conservation |
| working part time in some capacity on an African | | | | based programmes. These can be incredibly |
| game reserve as they are to be English students | | | | rewarding and a great way to give something |
| taking a gap year in South Africa. | | | | back to the local population. Shamwari offers a |
| You may think that game ranger training simply | | | | number of these projects and you can spend |
| involves learning about the various animal | | | | your gap year in South Africa learning the skills |
| footprints that you need to point out to a group | | | | needed to become a game ranger whilst at the |
| of excitable American tourists, but the course is a | | | | same time off-setting your carbon footprint by |
| lot more in-depth than that. Becoming a game | | | | planting trees in the local nursery or teaching ball |
| ranger involves passing the standard FGASA | | | | skills to the children in a nearby AIDS orphanage. |
| examination. However, before students can qualify | | | | One of the highlights of the course is attending |
| for this certificate they need to take a course in | | | | game drives and spotting South Africa's |
| off-road driving, which means that holding a | | | | indigenous animals in their natural habitat. |
| driving licence is an essential requirement. Rangers | | | | Shamwari Game Reserve is one of the premier |
| must also undertake an extensive first-aid | | | | game reserves in the Eastern Cape and you can |
| examination which covers everything from snake | | | | expect to spot everything from lions lazing after |
| bites wounds, to bone fractures and resuscitation | | | | a kill to hippos basking on the banks of the river. |
| methods. | | | | Due to the nature of working on a game reserve |
| The course offered at Shamwari Game Reserve | | | | you will often find that your class schedule is |
| is typically six weeks long and students can | | | | interrupted. It is certainly common for a class to |
| expect to learn about everything from the | | | | be cancelled half-way through so that you can |
| botany and biomes of South Africa to historical | | | | watch a lion kill or visit some newborn cheetah |
| human habitation and hospitality management. The | | | | cubs. One thing which you will soon discover about |
| becoming a game ranger course covers | | | | game ranger training is that no two days are |
| everything from astronomy to zoology and due | | | | exactly the same. |