Oakview Consultants Ltd is extending its outdoor educational services to include week long conservation courses at Nhacainga Reserve in Mozambique. 

​

Called ACET, it is aimed at school groups of 14 to 18 year olds. The purpose of the program is to engage the younger generations in the challenge of conserving the wildlife in Africa.

Without a fundamental understanding of the challenges, the future of African wildlife is in  real doubt.

​

Based out of Nhacainga Lodge or Kudu Bushcamp, the week’s program will enable school groups to:

• Develop an understanding of African fauna and flora, tracks and tracking through presentations and practical exercises from on-site experts

• Experience the bush and wildlife whilst on foot – a rare opportunity not available in most reserves.

• Camp out overnight in the middle of the bush

• Be embedded in an anti-poaching patrol for a day

• Work alongside local school children

• Take part in a scientific survey to support the lion tagging program

Participants will be required to attend a pre-expedition training program at our site here in Cornwall, or at an alternative site in the New Forest. Here they will learn the fundamentals of bushcraft and camp security to ensure they are prepared for their week in the bush.

Mozambique on site staff will include:

John Clark

Owner of Oakview Consultants Ltd, he is responsible for the ACET program. Born and brought up in Zambia, John is a former Game Ranger. He completed the Level 1 Course with the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and is co-owner of, and instructor in, the Dangerous Game Course, a Fire Arms Course for Zoo & Expedition companies based  in the UK.

A Safety Consultant to the outdoor industry, John also runs bushcraft and survival courses and his Company provides outdoor educational programs to main stream and special needs schools in Cornwall.

Holly Rosier

Holly is a qualified Zoologist responsible for setting up the lion tagging program. In addition to being a qualified Zoologist she is a Level 2 Guide with the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). Prior to joining the reserve, Holly worked as a guide in Kruger National Game Reserve

ACET is developing courses for adults

Aimed at either groups or individuals, we will also be offering

• A conservation awareness program similar to that offered to the schools, but with greater exposure to the bush

• An anti–poaching course

These experiences have been designed as ‘behind the scenes’ exposure to the actual role of a Game Ranger and Field Guide in a wildlife setting.

​

Pre-Expedition Training

Purpose

To develop and teach the skills required to plan and execute and take part in unsupported expeditions in remote areas.

The course content has been designed to build the knowledge and skill to take part in conservation weeks in Mozambique.

​

The weekend will concentrate on the fundamentals of camp craft, camp security and safety whilst in the bush

It will include presentations on the typical fauna and flora of Mozambique

There will be particular emphasis on the common hazards associated with

the bush and the arrangements and

 behavior required to mitigate the risk they pose.

All expedition members will be required to attend at least one weekend at the bushcraft centre prior to their leaving dates.

​

Game Ranger and Field Guide

​

People often confuse the terms “game ranger” and “field guide”. They differ, and here is how:

A game ranger is mainly responsible for the physical and resource management of national parks and private game reserves. S/he acts as a custodian of the wildlife and maintains the game reserve on which the wildlife is kept – the biological populations of the animals as well as  roads, fencing, water resources, erosion control, alien plant control, burning programmes, population control and bush clearing, among other tasks.

A field guide interacts with the tourists visiting national parks and private game reserves, sharing his/her knowledge about nature and the environment with these visitors. These guiding experiences are either conducted in a vehicle or on foot. A field guide acts as an interpreter between the environment and the guest, with the ultimate intention of promoting conservation and environmental protection to the tourists through instilling an appreciation for nature in them.