Ready for the wild

Cathrine Moemedi
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Wilderness Botswana guides during training

Wilderness Safaris holds refresher course for guides

In its continued efforts to produce world-class guides, recently-rebranded Wilderness Safaris Botswana are conducting a refresher course for its 52 guides.

The initiative runs for a month and will see the guides divided into 12 groups, which will each undergo training for a week.

In an interview with Voice Money, Wilderness Private Guide Manager, Attorney Vasco revealed the training is meant to reignite the passion in their guides as well as to align them with their new brand.

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“Recently we have rebranded and now we want to re-align some of the service delivery with the brand especially with the guides since they are the window between the guest and their experiences,” explained Vasco.

He noted the training comes at a time when the tourism industry is still recovering from the crippling effects of Covid-19, when employees were not as active as they normally would be.

“We strategically did these refresher courses after Covid also to try and enhance their soft skills and brush up on certain things like rifle handling and emergency response. We are so remote in the bush and far away from any medical assistance so it’s important to equip them on first aid issues in case of emergencies whilst waiting for our medic, who is always on call,” continued Vasco.

He further said the industry is gradually picking up again and they are optimistic for the up-coming season, with a number of new bookings already confirmed.

For his part, Guide Wilderness Botswana Trainer, Cilas Mafoko reiterated that the training will help the guides’ blow away their cobwebs and get ready for the new season, which traditionally starts in May.

“The past two years our guides were not active, they were getting rust. The training is meant to sharpen their skills and prepare them for a new season ahead,” said Mafoko.

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One of the guides who just completed the refresher course, Ronald Masule, revealed the training helps them catch up on new skills and ways of guiding.

Amongst others, Wilderness Botswana has invited an expert in star gazing, a bird expert from South Africa and a legendary guide who is also a former employee of the company to share their skills with the guides.

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