Ulovane Reserve seeks aspiring nature guides

Course intakes for the New Year at Ulovane Environmental Training (UET), are now open!

This outstanding training facility, based at Amakhala Game Reserve (between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, invites new students to register for the 2017 courses. The Ulovane campus is situated on its own reserve sharing borders with Amakhala and Kwantu Game Reserves.

The Ulovane Reserve is a conservation area focusing strongly on vegetation management and on re-establishing Cape Mountain Zebra and smaller mammals like Blue Duiker populations for the area. There are no large potentially-dangerous animals on Ulovane Reserve which gives our students the freedom to explore the area’s beauty or go for a run safely.

Ulovane camp has a stunning 180-degree view of Amakhala Game Reserve and the position of the camp allows one to see the herds of antelope roaming the plains below. The Ulovane reserve which borders Amakhala is operated by Paranthodon Investments – a small company owned by one of the very first Ulovane students, Ben Bremer.

A camp as green as it’s surroundings

The Ulovane camp is runs completely off solar power. Every bit of waste at the camp is recycled, and all of their geysers are solar operated. Energy supply is fully serviced by solar panels that feed in a battery bank and in that way guaranteeing a constant supply of energy to run all the appliances, such as a deep freezer, fridge, washing machine, as well as all the energy for the data projector, various computers and of course all the cell phone chargers, and all the lights.

Due to popular demand the course intakes for 2017 and beyond takes place four times a year in January, April, July and October. Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) courses offered range from just four-and-a-half months and six months to one year.

In addition to the longer courses, Ulovane offer FGASA specialised courses which are for guides already in possession of an FGASA Level One qualification. Specialised guiding will expand one’s opportunities within the Ecotourism industry and open doors to a guiding career with endless possibilities.

Ulovane provides nationally-recognised training accredited by FGASA where field, trails and marine guides are trained to the highest international standards, according to Owner and Marketing Manager, Candice Pretorius.

“Our courses are designed to help students develop self-confidence by ensuring that they each get a decent chance to participate and achieve. We empower them by coaching and providing new skills to ensure that they can deal with any challenges,” she said.

Trainers are always available on the Ulovane campus for extra tuition to ensure that the slower learners keep up with the course progress. “Positive feedback is the backbone of the education we provide our students to contribute to their constant personal growth and development. Weaknesses are identified and dealt with sensitively and with an agreed plan and support to improve on these,” Pretorius said.