Module1 - Guiding Skills Flashcards
Give two considerations for animals and two for clients perspective when positioning the vehicle on a sighting.
For Animals: 1. Approach to an animal and stay at a safe distance to not influence the animals’ behaviour. 2. Do not position the vehicle in a way that you alter the animals direction, block the escape route of the animal or separate a family group.
For clients: 1. Park an open-top vehicle in the shade. 2. At a sighting try to position the vehicle with the sun on their back, so your guests are not dazzled.
What is an ethical guide?
An ethical guide has passion, knowledge and respect for wildlife, environment and cultural heritage. He or she gives their guests the best possible guided nature
experience without interfering with, influencing or damaging the natural environment.
Give five ways to enhance a guiding experience.
- Give a holistic view of the environment;
- Involve your guests;
- Communicate your intentions;
- Use your clients senses;
- Show the spiritual aspect of the environment;
What is situational awareness?
Being constantly aware of the current situation and changes to those conditions in which you find yourself and your clients.
You should constantly be scanning your surrounding, for weather, remaining daylight hours, where you are, how far your destination is, resources, how your clients feel.
Never assume that you always have everything under control. Anticipate what could happen in the next moment and stay aware of the situation.
Name three methods of effective communication.
- Explain in a clear and easy manner;
- Empathy and wider perception;
- Natural enthusiasm.
What do you answer if a guest ask for an animal (nocturnal) that is not often seen in this area on an afternoon drive?
You explain to your guest, that this animal is not often seen in this area (always be honest), but that you will do your best to find it or maybe some tracks of the animal to get back to your guest. If it makes sense you can recommend to your guest another area where the animal is more common or an early morning game drive.
What do you do when a guests ask for birds and the other guest ask for “Big 5” on a guiding experience?
Treat each guest and their interests equally. Get back to both interests and try to find intersections between them. In a sighting of buffalos you can point out the symbiotic relationship between buffalo and the Red Billed Oxpecker.
When should you be prepared for your guiding experience?
When your guests arrive, the equipment and the vehicle should already be checked, hot/cool box and everything else you need for the guiding experience should be prepared and packed. Always be at the meeting point before your guests arrive.
Explain how to determine direction using of one (1) of the following natural
phenomena: Weaver nest, termite mound, vegetated north slopes, moss and lichen growth, prominent topographical landmarks, sun position.
Termite mounds are often built on a north-south axis with the tip often inclined towards the north. (Use more references to be sure).
(Moss and lichen usually occur on the southern side of tree trunks. But this is also a factor of shade rather than direction.)
Explain how to determine direction using one (1) of the following constructive methods: Watch method, stick and shadow method, positioning of roads,
telephone lines, radio masts, use of a compass.
Watch method: Hold your watch horizontally, so that ’12’ points towards the sun. Bisect the angle between the ’12’ and the hour hand (here: 10). The bisected angle indicates north (here: 11). From here you find south on the other side (5 o’clock). With a digital watch, draw a watch on the ground and use as described above. This method does not work at noon. Use it a few hours before and
What is meant by sustainable tourism?
Is a key concept in the definition of guiding, qualifying the way in which present generation should utilise the earth and its resources. It is important to be in balance and live in harmony with nature inside the various wildlife reserves. Not just in the present but for many years to come.
A client reports about his game drive:
“The guide was extremely knowledgeable and knows the bush like the back of his/
her hand. He showed us the Big 5 in one game drive and we experienced an
elephant charge. We crashed through the thick bush, chasing a leopard. I could not believe that the vehicle could do that!”
Name 5 reasons why this guide is not ethical.
- Chasing a leopard
- Enter the critical zone of the elephant
- Damage the environment
- Spending less time with a particular animals
- Does not handle the equipment (vehicle) professorially.
A good and ethical guide would never chase a nervous leopard. How the leopard felt, and secondly, how much damage was being done to the environment as the guide crashed through the bush. The guide do not have respect for the environment and wildlife. How was the clients understanding of the entire ecology of the area improved when the guide was rushing to find all of the big 5? Spending more time with a particular animal means an increased amount of knowledge that is being shared with the clients.
What are the aims of nature guiding?
Reveal and expose people to the natural heritage, history, folklore & beauty of an area; create awareness; share knowledge and meaningful interpretations.
What is biodiversity?
Describes the variety of life:
- Number of different species
- Genetic wealth within the species
- Interrelationship between these species
- Natural areas where the species occur
How do you review a guided experience
- Report incidents and negative feedback
- Adress safety issues
- Make suggestions for the future
- Check equipment for damage
