What do I need to guide?

I am just wondering what is needed too guide in south africa and eventually become a ph. I'm 18 years old and live in Alberta, Canada. Any info would be apprieciated greatly.

There is a thread on this very subject, somewhere in the forums. I don't mean to rain on your parade but the PH and outfitter trade is pretty saturated already in Africa. Many young guys that live in Africa would love to be in the business, but because of the economy...their dreams will never become reality. I believe it is way to hard for someone from North America to become a PH...I know someone who did it...but he had a ton of people behind him and he had some money. I come from a farming background, know what it is like to work until your dead and not get paid for it. In a lot of ways becoming a PH in Africa is just a dream. My advice is to get a good job, and save to hunt in Africa.

Just trying to be honest and sincere.

To my knowledge, the final test exams are limited to residents only, therefore to fully qualify as a licensed P.H in R.S.A you will need to immigrate to R.S.A.

You can undergo one of several courses provided by the educational Colleges, The Goss Institute being one of them.
If you would like contact details p.m me.

Goss Institute, well know and respected, run several courses each year, I believe they are currently two week courses, though there was some suggestions of the course being extended to 180 days.

As a foriegner, before you commit, you will need to have, at very least, an exsisting knowledge of the fauna as well as some concept of other aspects such as Trophy evaluation, tracking etc etc.
The requirements of the curriculum are fairly extensive and certainly no push over.

As a foriegner you will find the process quite demanding as it will not only require you to immigrate from your current country, you will also most certainly be aided by learning another local language and will have to extensively add to your knowledge of legal requirements, running camps, liason with clients plus all of the knowledge you will be expected to learn of the native flaura and fauna.

If you make it through these requirements, the financial return for a P.H on wages to a company are not tremendous.

This is an occupation based lifestyle, motivated by passion for hunting and the outdoors, not income.

If you have the neccessary grit to get through and excell in all of the above you will make a top P.H, and experience a wonderfull outdoor career.

This sort of reminds me of my misspent youth. In 1973, freshly married and working for Boeing in Seattle, making big ones out of little ones, my dad told me to get off my ass and do something worthwhile! He suggested since I liked to hunt that I should perhaps pursue a guide career. Sounded good to me so I hooked up with the Del Cameron School for Guides in Victor, Montana for his two week very intensive course covering most aspects a budding guide would need to know. Long story short, graduated from the school, worked for an elk outfitter in northern Idaho for two years and bagged the whole idea as basically a huge amount of work for little monetary reward or for that matter any kind of reward. I often wonder though what might have happened if I had linked up with a different outfitter who was a little more user friendly shall we say! Oh well! Things can be done with the right amount of dedication and desire.

BOWEN

PHASA has a link of the associated/accredited PH schools located throughout South Africa:
PH Schools

Many have web pages and lay out the information required to participate.
Many schools will allow you to attend, you do not need a study permit for these very short courses (under 2 weeks). When the proposed "longer version" comes to fruition you may need one to stay for 6 months to study.
By the way, from what I understand before you can get your license you will need experience on top of the course!!!

Most courses are under $2500 CDN

The books required (at least the list suggested to me) were about $400 shipping included, as you can not get them in N.A.
You will have to fly over obviously, so there is another $2500 to $3000

The biggest hurdle you will have is the residency issue. Need to citizen of RSA or what we call in Canada a landed immigrant.
If you have at least $250,000 CDN dollars equivalent to invest in RSA you should be able to meet the grade and emigrate.

As Enysse says it is a tough job. Any of the PH's and business owners on this site can attest to that fact.
It is a lifestyle not a job, so if you really want it. Go for it!

Good luck.

Thanks too everyone for all the input, I am aware of the amount of money or lack of that guiding, outfitting, and being a PH will produce but it's what I want to do. I have been guiding since I was fifteen, I will be guiding in three different provinces and one territory over the eight months, its what I love.

Do I need any courses to work at a lodge or for an outfitter in africa as a skinner or similar position just to get my foot in the door?

One thing to consider is guiding in a Country other than RSA. I am not sure but maybe someone on here knows if you have to be a citizen to guide in Namiba or Tanzania. If not that may be a way to get into the game.

BOWEN, if you are that determined please send me an email and when I am done with my PH course material and books (I am taking the PH course this July) I will give them to you to get you on your way. I can also send you all the research I have done. You likely don't live to far away from me!!

I ment too type out just Africa, not South Africa. Sorry for the confusion.

Buckhunterbowen,
You have to be a South African Citizen in order to get a PH licence. You might be able to do the course and learn what it is all about. But you will not be allowed to sit in the Regional Nature Conservation Exams in order to obtain your licence. Thus, you will not be able to guide in South Africa. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

Best regards
Marius Goosen