Basic Field Guide Course, Botswana

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Human-powered transport:
A significant part of the training takes place on foot during game walks and tracking exercises, allowing participants to explore the Delta with minimal emissions. Depending on the season, students also navigate via mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), further reducing reliance on motorized vehicles.
This contributes to several days of low-carbon travel per week.

Shared and low-impact transport:
The course utilises shared vehicles for game drives and practical exercises, keeping CO2 emissions per participant lower than private transport. Any internal transfers within Botswana are coordinated efficiently to minimise unnecessary travel.

Local food:
Meals are prepared using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, helping reduce the carbon footprint associated with food.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Nature-positive practices:
The course takes place within a private, unfenced concession in the Okavango Delta, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and many other species. By training students to move responsibly and understand animal behaviour, the trip actively promotes respectful wildlife interactions and reduces disturbance to habitats.

Protected area support:
Students pay park and concession fees as part of the programme, which directly fund conservation and protection of the Delta’s unique ecosystems.

Expert local guides:
All field guides are highly experienced professionals from Botswana, sharing in-depth knowledge about ecology, geology, and local wildlife, ensuring that learning is grounded in the region’s natural realities.

Low-impact camping and sleep-outs:
Wilderness overnight experiences are designed to leave minimal trace, with students practising responsible bushcraft and observing the night sky without disrupting the environment.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Locally owned accommodations:
The training camp and facilities are locally operated, providing direct economic support to the community. Students also use local supplies and services throughout the course. The camps dont interrupt the look of this unique wilderness.

Support for local businesses and guides:
All excursions, game drives, and mokoro trips are conducted with local guides, who are paid fairly and provide employment to the surrounding communities. Students can also visit nearby villages and markets as part of cultural learning, benefiting small-scale local enterprises.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Local employment:
The majority of staff, including field guides, rangers, and support staff, are Botswana nationals, ensuring economic opportunities remain in the local community.

Fair wages and inclusivity:
Staff are paid at or above the local minimum wage, and the camp maintains a workplace culture that values diversity and equal opportunity.

LGBTQ+ friendly:
The course environment is welcoming to all participants, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or background. Everybody is welcome to become a course participant!