Another Day in (African) Paradise

One moment you’re talking about the leaf structure of a sickle bush, the next you’re staring a male leopard from about 50 yards. EcoTraining’s Karongwe Camp in the Kruger region of South Africa is nothing short of spectacular, surpassing all expectations with a bit more on top.

That’s how Rufus Cottrell describes a typical day as a student on a one-year Professional Field Guide course at EcoTraining in South Africa.

“Since the first time I visited when I was eight years old, a part of me has always been drawn to Africa,” Rufus explains. “The first taste of safari, the smell of the bush, the big skies, are just a few of the things that make Africa so special.

“Time wore on and I managed to make it back to Southern Africa on a couple of occasions, embarking on some life-changing safaris in the process. I’ll never forget that feeling of utter bewilderment when you see your first large mammal, and I’ll never forget how much better that experience was made because of the guide.

The excitement and energy they bring to a sighting, the vast amount of knowledge they impart, and the aura they carry, make the experience a hundred times better. To be quite honest, it never even crossed my mind that this could be a potential career option. How on earth do you become a safari guide? Turns out, it’s a massive possibility.”

So on a cold rainy evening in Britain during his first year at university, Rufus did some digging online, found that EcoTraining offers professional guiding courses, and immediately knew that was his next step in life. Read about his year in African bush here: www.ecotraining.co.za/another-day-in-paradise/.