Guide Academy
Become an Adventure Guide – It’s a Lifestyle
Become a Qualified Adventure Guide with Work Experience
A Skills program for the Professional Adventure Guide
This CATHSSETA accredited program can be used for all adventure-based activities. During this course you will gain work experience and in-house training for Scootours, E-bike Tours, Cycle Tours, Hiking, Archery and Kayaking. After completing the program you are qualified as a professional guide and can register with the National Department of Tourism (NDT) to operate legally.
What is an Adventure Guide?
Adventure guides are any persons who provide adventure-based experiences for paying clients. The basic requirement to be a legal guide is you must hold a SAQA registered National Qualification as stipulated by the National Department of Tourism, (NDT) which is managed and certified by the Tourism sector education training authority (CATHSSETA).
Once you hold the appropriate qualification, you can then register as a legal guide with the NDT.
What Are The ‘Stipulated Qualifications’?
Although there are various levels and types of qualifications, there is only one program that is ‘generic’ for adventure guides and allows a multiple of activity disciplines to be guided. This is the Generic Adventure Site Guide (GASG).
What Will I be Able to Guide when I Qualify?
You will be able to apply for work at industry leading adventure companies either as full time or freelance guide. There is no limit to the specialisations of this course however the course must be run “IN CONTEXT” to the specialisation or activity being undertaken.
In other words, if you wish to be assessed as a “Scootours Guide” and as
a “Hiking” Guide, you will need to do two assessments. Each assessment only lasts as long as a normal activity session would last. You will get the opportunity to be assessed as Hiking, Cycling, E-Biking, Archery and Kayaking.
This is not a technical skills training program. We are not teaching you the technical skills of the activity. We recommend you attend specialist courses for this such as doing a course through recognised industry associations. However, our trainers and assessors are all very highly experience and qualified in several varied activities, so depending on what activity you want to guide, your trainer may be able to add this to the program as necessary. The cost of technical training is in addition to the cost of the GASG. Think of the GASG as the folder of skills which formalises and brings all the skills you need to be a guide together in one program.
How Do I Get Qualified?
- Enroll today and start your work experience as soon as you are ready – log your experience in your logbook.
- Complete an online training course with the assistance of your mentor while shadowing experienced guides.
- Complete the 2 day 1st Aid Course.
- Attend the one-day coaching course.
- Get assessed.
Courses are run at your own pace and time, and you have 120 days to complete the online learning section, at the same time you gain experience and then attend a one-day coaching session before you will be assessed.
What does the Generic Site Guide mean?
Although termed a “site” guide, the guide is not restricted to a geographical site as the word ‘site’ applies to his or her adventure specialty that can be practiced in any place in the Republic. The word “generic” applies to the set of adventure tourism skills, knowledge and abilities that apply in all adventure guiding and does not restrict it to one activity. However, the guide is assessed ‘in context’ of the activity they wish to offer.
The guide must be assessed by an accredited assessment provider under the specific adventure skills program (TG/ADVSITEGD/4/0080) registered with the South African
Qualifications Authority (SAQA) by CATHSSETA which encompasses
a range of adventure unit standards to be rated an adventure tourist
guide. While this may sound complicated it is the best way to
professionalise the guide with the skills, knowledge and abilities that
guides do need. This skills programme covers:
• 335803 – Research and design a guided experience at a prominent tourism site
• 335801 – Conduct a tourist guiding activity
• 262320 – Manage and organise groups
• 262317 – Lead participants through an outdoor recreation and adventure activity
• 262305 – Plan and implement minimum environmental impact practices
• 262246 – Set up and operate a camping site
• 255914 – Minimise and manage safety and emergency incidents
• 246740 – Care for customers
• 335816 – Conduct a guided adventure experience
How Do I Get Qualified?
- Enroll today and start your work experience as soon as you are ready – log your experience in your logbook.
- Complete an online training course with the assistance of your mentor while shadowing experienced guides.
- Complete the 2 day 1st Aid Course.
- Attend the one-day coaching course.
- Get assessed.
Courses are run at your own pace and time, and you have 120 days to complete the online learning section, at the same time you gain experience and then attend a one-day coaching session before you will be assessed.
Nitty Gritty
- Learners have to sign a Guide Code of Conduct.
- Work experience takes place from our base in Stellenbosch.
- Learners must be available for tasks relating to activity delivery during the work experience days – maintenance and cleaning of equipment.
- Learners will have to sign an indemnity form accepting associated risks.
Job Opportunities
- Become part of a freelance guide pool with work opportunities every weekend and in school holidays.
- Network with 5 industry leading adventure companies.
- Choose to apply for seasonal guide work, permanent guide work of freelance guiding work.
- Build an attractive CV.
Our Partners
Our Partners in training and work experience.
