A Legacy of Learning

The Royal Malewane Apprenticeship Programme

Being mentored by Master Trackers, elite Scouts and one of Africa’s most highly skilled guiding teams is a privilege not taken lightly by the apprentices who devote two years to living in the bush learning their craft.

It takes a special person to become a Field Guide – someone with a genuine love of wildlife and the bush, a practical, can-do attitude and a penchant for hospitality. While confidence, curiosity and enthusiasm are important traits, nothing matches getting the right qualifications or spending +1000 hours in the bush under the mentorship of some of the best Field Guides on the continent.

The brainchild of Juan Pinto, Director of Conservation, the Royal Malewane Apprenticeship Programme aims to lift the standard of guiding in Southern Africa and ensure that skills are passed on to the next generation.

Having a dome canvas tent as your bedroom for 24 months is certainly only for a select few, but it’s not only about going on game drives and bush walks…

Juan says it is possibly the most thorough programme of its kind. In addition to long hours out in the bush with guests (and mentors), apprentices are introduced to the day-to-day operations of running a luxury lodge, working alongside back-of-house teams and management to ensure a perfect stay.

He says, “They learn not only from some of the best Field Guides and Trackers in the world, but also about the high standards expected in the luxury safari industry.”

Royal Malewane funds the courses and by the end of the programme, apprentices have the necessary qualifications* to follow a career in guiding.

Falling into Place

For many of Royal Malewane’s Field Guides, the apprenticeship programme was that “fork in the road” of their guiding careers. Nik Vounnou (Deputy Professional Head Guide) started out as a “guinea pig” in developing the programme over 18 years ago. In October 2024, he achieved his goal of earning Scout status from the Field Guides Association of South Africa (FGASA) – the pinnacle of field-guiding qualifications.

Before going on to become Royal Malewane’s resident photographer, Lourenço Afonso knew he was drawn to working in nature. Signing up for the apprenticeship programme ended up being one of the best decisions he ever made.

He says being mentored by Trackers Patrick Moyane, Bennett Nyathi and Mumps Mathonsi has been an incredible experience. Witnessing their finely tuned intuition and respect for life in the wilderness has changed the way he looks at the world – and, in turn, how he captures it through his photography.

Both agree that being mentored by Royal Malewane’s Field Guides and Trackers, while being supported in getting their essential FGASA qualifications*, is the stepping stone any Field Guide needs to start a career on a solid footing. As a result, many apprentice Field Guides are selected to work at lodges and reserves all over Southern Africa, thanks to the programme’s strong reputation in the industry.

New Beginnings

Making space for the new intake is always met with anticipation, and Juan and his team of Field Guides and Trackers are once again happy to welcome a fantastically diverse group of apprentice Field Guides who bring different skills and talents into the mix.

Cedric Mkhwanazi was a chef at a luxury lodge in the Sabi Sand Reserve, so he knows all about service and hospitality, but he always wanted to spend more time in the bush as a Field Guide.

Jenna Fowlds is a dedicated trainee Field Guide, committed to delivering engaging and authentic guest experiences anchored in traditional knowledge and storytelling.

Left: Cedric Mkhwanazi; Right: Jenna Fowlds

Kia Levy, like Jenna, is a creative soul with a fascinating background – she has worked on yachts, has managed stables, knows her way around kitchens and has experience as a bartender.

Along with the rest of the new apprentices, Murray Campbell can’t wait to get started and is ready and open to learn from the Royal Malewane Guiding team.

Left: Kia Levy; Right: Murray Campbell

No Holding Back

For Juan, passing on knowledge and investing in the future of guiding in Southern Africa was always part of the vision, but he says the apprentices need to bring everything they have.

“Along with a deep passion for nature and wildlife, you need to be completely committed to learning and growing to reach a point of obtaining exceptional knowledge within the field of guiding,” he says. “Paired with this are interpersonal skills, which need to be strong because you are taking people on a ‘journey’. Guiding isn’t only about how knowledgeable you are about the bush, but rather how well you reveal the bush to guests.”

* FGASA Field Guide (NQF4) Practical; Tracker Level 2, or higher, Full Trails Guide (total 150hrs with a further 50 dangerous game encounters on foot).