The Depth of Field Series:

Tracking & Perception South Africa

NExt Dates Unknown -be in touch with requests!

Once you set foot on South African soil, you realize you are home. The wildlife which roam the bush, open grasslands, river valleys, stir your soul in a primeval way. This epic journey takes you through alternating ecotones, rendering opportunities to track & trail a wide variety of wildlife.

Track, trail, observe and connect with wildlife and landscape in ways that few can. Expert collaborative mentoring from Daniel Hansche and our guides Kersey Lawrence & Lee Gutteridge, both Senior Trackers & Evaluators on the CyberTracker system. The team's constant engagement with the wild provides more tracking, behaviour and ecological awareness than one can imagine.  Scores of mammals, birds and invertebrates will become familiar, and with depth. In addition to tracking & trailing, we will cover bird language, ethnobotany, paleo-history of humans and primates, and culture. 

The Trip

This is a specially designed program focused on trailing and safely viewing Africa’s big game on foot, with excellent tracking as well as vehicle-based game viewing.

We are based in the north-eastern region of South Africa, where many vast ecosystems are set aside for wildlife, and conservation efforts run strong, helping to preserve animals such as lion, elephant, the long-suffering rhinoceros, and even the small and scaly pangolin. 

Animals such as lion, elephant, zebra, giraffe, kudu and impala make up a tiny portion of this ecosystem, with more than 50 mammal species, over 400 bird species, interesting insects, plant life and stunning landscapes, complimented by the most amazing night skies you may ever see. 

Tracking here is second to none, with most species leaving their signs in the fine dust of Africa’s trails, as they have for millennia. Thousands of animals live and move in the dry savannah bushveld, and will amaze you by their sheer diversity and unfathomable volume.

Why the quality of your guide matters

In the photograph above Lee can be seen dissuading an African Elephant bull from harassing a student tracker group behind him. The cloud of dust is from the huge feet of the elephant sliding to a halt in front of him. Of course, many people ask us about this image, and it has turned out to be useful in explaining why it is important to work with the right guides, when tracking Africa’s Big Game. During this moment Kersey was managing the group right behind him, also armed in this instance, and assisting with their protection and control. It is important to understand, that in this instance, because of their years of experience, that Lee and Kersey correctly interpreted the body language of the elephant, and made a snap decision to use a confrontational technique, which is tried and tested, to diffuse the potentially dangerous aspect of this huge animal’s approach. The wide-open ears, high headed posture, bouncing motion of the animal and the fact that it broke its approach with a thin line of vegetation between itself and the walking group all showed an uncertainty to attack (to the trained eye), which allowed a non-violent option to protect the group. Only years of experience will give you this possibility. The picture was taken by one of our student trackers, and it is very rare in these instances to get an image, as these situations are as much as possible, avoided, and usually very sudden if they occur. The last thing we usually think to do is take pictures! (It is important to note that in over 25 years of tracking potentially dangerous animals we have never had to use our rifles in self-defence. Our goal is to continue with this record)! However, it’s important to note, that animals in Africa present us with the very real possibility of close encounters. 

a superior experience

Our TWO Senior Tracker hosts will be with you every step of the way. They will dedicate all of their effort and expertise to making this an unforgettable experience for you in terms of learning, enjoyment, and value. 

Our accommodations are rustic but ample, and most importantly it is in VERY close contact with nature. You will be in tents for the entire course, with ALL of the Southern African big game roaming mere feet from your bed -we literally have lions and elephants patrol past our camps! 

Our meals are of an excellent quality; we don’t just keep you alive! We will ensure that we have well catered meals. With this experience you will need the energy!

These aspects of the course combine to make this a truly unique program, not offered by anyone else in Southern Africa.

We will spend our days doing a combination of different activities, all designed to enhance your understanding of the iconic African fauna, from the micro to the mega. These activities include but are not limited to:

• Daily track & sign sessions

• Following animal trails with Lee, Kersey and Daniel

• Ethnobotanical and plant identification

• Human history discussions, presentations and field practical experiences

• Safari game drives to view behaviors and photograph animals up close and personal

• Presentations on animal identification and behaviour to enhance your tracking

  Nature Guide Training and Original Wisdom have been conducting programs such as this for over fifteen years, and have earned a reputation as industry leaders. Thousands of students have passed through these schools, and experienced South Africa like never before. 

More about Our Guides

We are expert trackers and guides, and in-fact, trainers of professional trackers and guides in 8 African countries, living the dream of broadening our educational reach and passion to trackers and naturalists with our region’s offerings. For 15 years we have provided excellent study abroad programs for many colleges, universities, high schools and wilderness schools from around the world deep within Africa’s wild places.

Lee Gutteridge has spent his entire adult life in the African bush. As a respected nature guide trainer, senior tracker and wildlife author he will intrigue you and inspire with passionate tales of African animals, close escapes and wildlife trails. Lee owns Nature Guide Training, a facility designed to educate South African field guides. He is also one of only 10 FGASA Scout Guides on the FGASA system. An accomplished author, Lee has written some of the most respected tracking resources for southern Africa including Bushveld, Okavango, Mammals of Southern Africa and their Tracks and Signs, and most recently, Invertebrates of Southern Africa and their Tracks & Signs.

Kersey Lawrence Kersey Lawrence is a highly qualified tracker, in fact, as a senior tracker, is the highest qualified woman tracker in the world today. She is completing her doctorate through the University of Connecticut and also owns Original Wisdom, a naturalist education and tracking company offering both local programs in the USA and study abroad programs in Southern Africa. Her passionate approach to interpreting tracks and signs in nature and following trails will amaze and inspire you, as you spend time with her in the Africa she now calls home. 

Payment

***BRING A BUDDY, GET A $400 CREDIT! Sign up as a couple, or get a register with a friend and receive a $400 credit.***

The trip cost is $4,995, airfare not included. A $595 non-refundable deposit is required for registration. Your balance of $4,400 must be fully paid by February 2023 ($200 late fee applied to balances paid February 2nd or later). Check, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card payments are accepted. Please note that credit card payments will incur an additional fee of $250.

We recognise this trip is resource-intensive and hope to find a payment option to help you to make it happen.

Please feel welcome to be in touch for payment plans and options.