Kukama Wildlife College – Celebrating Tourism Month

by Nikki Meiring | 21 Sep 2026

Tourism Month Edition

Tourism Month, wildlife careers and the journeys that begin in the African bush.

A Warm Hello from Kukama

September gives us a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the people, places and experiences that make South Africa such an extraordinary destination.

Here at Kukama Wildlife College, we see firsthand how a love for the African bush can grow into something much bigger.

It can become a career.

A calling.

An opportunity to teach, guide, conserve and create experiences that people carry with them long after they return home.

For students considering FGASA field guide training in South Africa, that journey can begin with a single decision to step into the bush and start learning.

September also gives us an opportunity to recognise the important role that field guides, conservationists, tourism professionals and local communities play in sharing South Africa with the world.

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Celebrating the People Behind South African Tourism

The 2026 Tourism Month theme, “Growing South Africa’s Tourism Sector in the Digital Era,” highlights how technology continues to change the way people discover destinations, plan journeys and share their experiences.

At Kukama, we also believe that while a journey may begin online, it is ultimately people who bring tourism to life.

It is the guide who shares the stories of the bush.

The lodge team that welcomes each guest.

The conservationists who help protect the landscapes people travel so far to experience.

And the communities that give those destinations their character, history and sense of place.

For Kukama Wildlife College, 2026 has been a year filled with growth, learning and new opportunities.

We have welcomed new groups of students, spent countless hours learning in the field and watched past students take their next steps into the wildlife, conservation and tourism industries.

One of those students is Samuel Gatti.

From Student to Safari Guide: Samuel Gatti’s Journey

Samuel is from Italy and works with a tour operator, bringing Italian travellers to Southern Africa and guiding them through the landscapes and wildlife of the African bush.

After completing his FGASA NQF2 qualification at Kukama Wildlife College, he was able to combine his existing tourism experience with his passion for Africa.

Samuel shares his journey:

“September marks Tourism Month, a time to celebrate the power of travel, discovery and our connection with nature. For me, this month holds a very special meaning. It represents the journey that transformed my passion for the African wilderness into my profession.

My journey began as a student at Kukama Wildlife College, where I completed my FGASA NQF2 training. It was an intense, immersive and unforgettable experience. From learning about animal behaviour and plant identification to understanding tracking and bush survival, those days in the bush built the foundation for everything I do today.

Now, working as a safari guide across Southern Africa, every day is a new adventure. Whether it is tracking wildlife at sunrise, explaining the delicate balance of our ecosystems, or sitting around the campfire sharing stories beneath the African sky, my goal is simple: to help travellers experience the authentic, raw beauty of this continent.

For me, being a guide is not only about showing people animals. It is about creating meaningful connections between guests and nature, while ensuring that tourism supports conservation and local communities.

As we celebrate Tourism Month, I want to thank everyone who has been part of this journey, especially Nikki and Chris, who have played a crucial role in what I am doing today.

The bush has a way of staying in your heart forever, and I cannot wait to share its magic with others on the next adventure.

Happy Tourism Month!”

— Samuel Gatti

Where Can an FGASA Qualification Take You?

Samuel’s story is a wonderful example of what can grow from a love for the bush, the right training and the courage to follow your passion.

Completing an FGASA qualification does not limit you to only one career path.

Depending on your experience, additional training and personal interests, it can contribute towards opportunities in areas such as:

Field guiding
Safari guiding
Conservation
Lodge operations
Wildlife rehabilitation
Environmental education
Tour operations
Wildlife and tourism-related careers

For some students, the goal is to become a professional field guide.

For others, guiding becomes part of a broader career in tourism or conservation.

Samuel’s journey shows how field guide training can complement existing experience and open new directions.

We are incredibly proud to have played a part in his story.

Knowing that he is now bringing travellers from Italy to experience the landscapes, wildlife and stories of Southern Africa is a wonderful example of what tourism can be about:

connecting people, sharing places and creating experiences that stay with them long after the journey ends.

What’s Happening at Kukama Wildlife College?

We are currently halfway through our final FGASA NQF2 course for 2026, and what a year it has been.

Our next intake begins on 20 January 2027, and at the time of writing, only four spaces remain.

If those spaces have already been filled by the time you read this, don’t worry.

We have another three FGASA NQF2 intakes planned during 2027, giving future students several opportunities to begin their own journey into the wildlife and tourism industry.

2027 FGASA NQF2 Course Dates

Our planned 2027 FGASA NQF2 intakes are:

20 January – 25 March 2027
3 April – 12 June 2027
26 June – 4 September 2027
13 September – 22 November 2027

Kukama intentionally keeps training groups small so students can benefit from practical learning, individual attention and meaningful time in the field.

Enquire today to reserve your place in one of our 2027 training groups.

Wildlife Research and Monitoring Course – November 2026

There is still one more adventure waiting before 2026 comes to an end.

On 1 November 2026, Kukama will present its seven-day Wildlife Research and Monitoring Course.

This practical programme gives participants an opportunity to step into the field and experience real wildlife and conservation monitoring activities.

It is ideal for anyone interested in:

Wildlife
Conservation
Field research
Wildlife monitoring
Gaining a deeper understanding of the natural world

Only five spaces are available.

If practical conservation and wildlife research interest you, this is an opportunity to gain real field-based experience in a short, intensive programme.

Start Your Own Journey into Wildlife and Tourism

Every career in the bush begins somewhere.

For some people, it begins with a lifelong dream of becoming a field guide.

For others, it starts with curiosity about wildlife, conservation or tourism.

And sometimes, one course leads to an opportunity that was never part of the original plan.

Samuel’s story began with a passion for Africa and a decision to complete his FGASA training.

Today, that training forms part of a career that allows him to share Southern Africa with travellers from across the world.

Your journey may look completely different.

But it still has to begin somewhere.

If you are considering FGASA field guide training in South Africa, wildlife research or a future career connected to the natural world, we would love to help you take that first step.

Until Next Month

As another month at Kukama moves quietly forward, we remain grateful for every student who chooses to begin their journey with us, every past student who carries a little piece of Kukama into the world and every person who continues to support what we are building here.

The bush continues to teach us that every journey begins somewhere — sometimes with one decision, one opportunity or simply a love for the natural world.

Wherever your journey takes you, we hope there will always be a little space in it for nature, learning and the African bush.

From all of us at Kukama Wildlife College, thank you for being part of our journey.

Until next month.