Wildlife Tracking Course
Study traditional tracking techniques in the Botswanan wilderness
Held in the stunning Tuli Block of southern Botswana, the Wildlife Tracking Course is an opportunity to experience the thrill of tracking Africa’s big game while living in a raw and wild environment. You will learn safety in the bush and the ability to track animals without impacting on the natural ecosystem in which they (and you for two weeks) live. An intensive experience, the tracking course covers an introduction to tracking and track identification and a trailing component.
Course Syllabus
- Safety in the bush
- Introduction to tracking techniques
- Track identification, animal behaviour, movements and social structures
- Survival techniques and applications
- Practical test on track identifications in the field
- Introduction, techniques and application of tracking and trailing an animal on foot
- Each member of the course will lead the group on foot on the trail of a high profile animal
Certification
On completion of the course, you will be awarded the Cyber Tracker Level 1 certificate if you have obtained over 70% in both the tracking and trailing components of the course.
Tracking Course video
A video introduction to the Wildlife Tracking Course in Botswana.
Picking up tracks
A main component of the course is to learn how to identify animal tracks
Animal tracks
Lioness in the bush
The tracking course focuses in particular on predator tracks
Elephants giving warning
Elephants charging to give a warning about approaching too closely
Game drive
Setting off on a game drive by vehicle
Leopard Sighting
The tracking course focuses in particular on predator tracks
elephant close to camp
Wildlife often gets very close to the camp
Elephants having a dust bath
Observing elephants grooming with a dust bath
In the bush at sundown
Sundown is a special time in the bush
Observing wild dogs feeding
Tracking wildlife on foot gives you amazing opportunities for observing wildlife very closely
Spotting wildlife movements from hill top
Course participants climb hills to spot wildlife movements further away
Bush walk
While tracking wildlife, you can expect to hike through the bush for several hours
Cooking at camp
All meals are cooked communally, often on a camp fire out in the bush
Bush camp
The camp is extremely basic - there are no fixed ablutions and water is brought in by vehicle
bush breakfast
Camp setting
Most of the time, course participants pitch camp out in the bush, surrounded by the vast Tuli Block
Study with Wildlife
Studying traditional tracking techniques at ground level, this course is an intensive experience, requiring you to be physically and mentally fit, which we will talk to you about on application. Living in the African wilderness, home to a unique population of elephants, lion, hyena and many other species, this course allows a raw approach to wildlife studying and tracking. The two week course includes the following elements:
Week 1
Safety in the bush
- We ensure that all our volunteers and students operate safely in the bush. Since you will be living, learning and working in the raw bush environment for two weeks, it is important that you are taught how to do so safely.
Introduction to tracking techniques
- A spoor is any sign of a creature such as tracks, trails and droppings used for animal tracking and to survey what types of animals live in an area. You will learn how to identify various spoors. This traditional tracking technique has been used in the bush for centuries to locate wildlife.
Track identification, animal behaviour, movements and social structures
- Why do animals demonstrate certain behaviours and what is the reason behind such traits? Are they inherited or acquired? Animal behaviour is the scientific study of everything animals do. It involves investigating the relationship of animals to their physical environment as well as to other organisms, it includes topics such as how animals find and defend resources, avoid predators, chose mates, reproduce and care for their young. Knowledge of animal behaviour together with track identification allows you to follow an animal's movements and learn about their social structures.
Survival techniques and applications
- When living in the bush you don't know what challenges you might face. Your course leader is an expert in bush craft and will show you essential tips for surviving in the African bush, including how to find water sources, building shelters, navigation and dealing with prides of hungry lions!
Practical test on track identifications in the field
- At the end of your first week you will be taken out into the bush and tested on your track identification skills using real spoores.
Week 2
Introduction, techniques and application of tracking and trailing an animal on foot
- The second week will build upon what you learnt in the first. You will apply the techniques used to pursue an animal following tracks and marks they've left behind.
Each member of the course will lead the group on foot on the trail of a high profile animal
- This is where you get to put everything you've learnt into practice and lead your group on foot in pursue of a high profile animal. Using your spoor identification skills and traditional tracking techniques to follow a trail, you will experience the thrill of locating a wild animal in the bush!
Conclusion of course with a braai (barbeque) and celebration in the bush!
- After all your hard work you will be amazed by your new found skills and knowledge as a wildlife tracker. Celebrate with your group the traditional African way with a braii in the bush.
When Can I Join The Wildlife Tracking Course?
2013 Wildlife Tracking Course dates
- 4 - 20 March
- 30 April - 15 May
- 13 - 28 August
- 17 Sep - 2 October
2014 Wildlife Tracking Course Dates
- 11-26 March
- 5-20 August
- 16 September - 1 October
Hear from other volunteers who've visited Wildlife Tracking Course
Steve BrophyThe tracking course was a truly memorable wildlife adventure, from Stuart whistling to get the birds singing while we hiding behind a termite mound from elephants, to having our camp trashed by baboons and trailing lions on foot!
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