Module 1: Re-wilding

This experience is about opening the five senses in a profound way by heading into the Karoo veld in the early morning, which enlivens the senses. Participants learn to draw on the power of their senses, and once this starts happening, it opens the door for intuition and instinct to develop. This is of vital importance for trackers and trail guides who need to be completely aware of their surroundings and what their guests are feeling.

Module 3: Respect

Tracking and guiding is all about respect for the natural environment. During this experience, participants tangibly experience personal space and personal comfort zones. This raises their awareness of the impact on animals when bombarded by game drive vehicles and guided walks wanting to get too close. During this module participants explore respect and how to recognise the signs of anxiety in wild animals. The exercises further lead participants to the awareness that respect for the natural environment equates to respect for each other and respect for self.

Module 5: Deep Listening and Silence

Becoming attuned to your surroundings and what is in it requires deep listening and the ability to be silent. These are critical skills for all field guides. What this exercise organically achieves is a growing immersion of participants in the natural environment where they start to recognise their place amongst the rocks, the trees, the animals, the grasses and the insects, not as observers, but as part of the environment, strong and resilient, but also vulnerable and exposed. The natural environment is the great leveler between all human beings no matter how great or small we might think we are. This experience achieves three objectives:

• It builds the guides’ confidence and insight that they can hold their own in the world;
• It refreshes or restores the guides’ vital force, enthusiasm for life and desire to be part of the conservation sector; and
• It deepens their connection with wildlife and wilderness.

Module 7: Leading through Belonging

By the end of the one-week programme participants inherently start to appreciate their individual strengths: that they are all leaders in their own right and that every person is part of the natural environment, which sustains us. This sense of belonging to the greater whole is the cornerstone of the African Ubuntu philosophy of Togetherness, which is essential to a more sustainable, balanced, democratic world. On the last day of the Programme, each participant has the opportunity to lead the group on Bergplaas Nature Reserve drawing on what they have learnt.