Campfire Academy

Welcome to Campfire Private Academy

Campfire Academy is part of the 65,000Hct. Balule Nature Reserve which in turn is incorporated in the Greater Kruger National Park. Our aim is to open your eyes to look at the world and your natural environment in a new way. If this interests you, we can offer you the most authentic wildlife training and nature experience through accredited training programs or the volunteer learning experience.

Announcement : Nature Guiding course starts 1 APRIL 2012 until 25 MAY 2012 

Programme options:

GAP year learning experience

People of all ages have been visiting Campfire Safaris Academy for the past 11 years. Our program offers you the opportunity to experience nature and wildlife in a true open system of over 2 million hectares in the world renowned Greater Kruger National Park.  Surrounded by the BIG 5 and all that the Southern African bush can offer, you will learn, experience and put into practise basic bush skills and more in-depth teachings.

Internship research or educational program

We offer university and college students in any field of nature and wildlife related study, the opportunity to come to Campfire Safaris Academy to do their “Internship and/or Practical Traineeship” under the guidance and supervision of our highly qualified wild life and conservation educators.

Nature guiding course and/or mentorship

Are you a nature enthusiast wanting to learn more about our natural environment, wanting to become a field guide or need practical experience as a field guide? This is the program for you!

• We offer accredited FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) courses to get you started. Our comprehensive Level I course offers theoretical and practical training in the Greater Kruger National Park.
• Mentorship and practical experience is offered to field guides with a Level I qualification (subject to a selection process).
• Horseback guiding is an exciting course that combines FGASA Level I theory and practical with in-depth training on horseback (subject to a selection process).
• MFJ Cronje sponsorship program offer experienced guides and trackers the opportunity to obtain the FGASA Level I qualification (subject to a selection process). All our courses and mentorship programs are small groups, never exceeding 10 pupils to ensure personal attention to each student.

Wildlife and marine program

One of our new ventures combines wildlife and marine life to give students, interns and volunteer the opportunity to explore both worlds. The wildlife experience is held at our camp in the Greater Kruger National Park, where students will learn and practise bush skills, conservation and gain knowledge of Africa’s wildlife. The marine life experience is held in Mozambique. Students can qualify in PADI openwater and advance diving certification, learn about Southern African marine life, while leisure on the unspoiled beaches of Mozambique.

PADI Divemaster internship

Full time internship held in Mozambique. During the course you will expand your knowledge of diving theory your diving skills to a professional teaching standard. Divemaster candidates are involved in the training and supervising of other diving activities.   This provides candidates with ‘hands-on’ experience in real life situations that will prove invaluable to those candidates choosing to embark on the Instructor Development Course or wishing to provide the highest quality Divemaster..