Our River Guide training course is APA (African Paddling Association) accredited which is designed for potential guides entering the industry and aims to equip them with the skills and techniques required to function as part of the guide team.
The guide team is responsible for safety and rescue and group management on a swift water paddling trip. Swift water refers to all rivers. It will also be of great benefit to those who have worked as a guide but have not yet received any formal training.
The course runs over three days and two nights and comprises of practical exercises during the day and lectures and discussions in the evenings. The course is very practical and physical in nature. A reasonable level of fitness is required. The course prepares candidates to take the APA River Guide assessment, which is held separately at a later stage. The course is also suitable for anyone wanting to learn more about paddling, swift water safety and rescue as a whole.
Some of the aspects covered will be:
The course fees include instruction, catering, overnight fees, course material, boating equipment, an individual written assessment and if completed successfully a certificate of attendance. It is required of you to bring as much of your own equipment in order to be self-sufficient during the two nights of camping. A kit list of what is required in terms of equipment will be sent on request.
Even though training can take place on any river in South Africa, it mostly takes place on various sections of the Tugela River in KwaZulu-Natal.
Itchyfeet SA’s Mountain Leader and Walking Group Leader training courses and assessments are MDT (Mountain Development and Training Trust) accredited and intends to assist and guide individuals who wishes to lead others in mountainous environments in Southern Africa.
These awards are internationally benchmarked and is equivalent to the British Winter Mountain Leader, with the exclusion of practical snowpack analysis and snowhole demonstration. The main difference between the Mountain Leader Award and Walking Group Leader award would be the difference in altitude gain, rope work on steep terrain, and snow skills.
Since learning takes place better by ‘doing’ there is a strong emphasis on being practical.
The Mountain Leader aims at those wanting to lead groups into the highest and most remote mountain regions of Southern Africa.
In order to be self-sufficient in these areas the award equips the candidate with a wide range of skills and knowledge. To be a competent mountain leader strong leadership, decision making and problem solving skills, in addition to technical mountaineering skills is required.
Although this course does not cover technical climbing skills the mountain leader must be familiar with climbing equipment and be comfortable at moving over steep ground at height. This course does not cover any aspect of rock or ice climbing, and excludes the planned use of technical climbing equipment.
The following experience is required:
The Walking Group Leader award is designed for people who want to lead groups in mountainous areas, which is non-technical in nature, not overly remote and lower in altitude. The areas accessed are mostly characterised by well-defined boundaries and paths which is normally easily exited or accessed in a few hours. Such areas are subject to inclement weather and requires a fairly large element of self-sufficiency. With a strong emphasis on navigation, the award provides the leadership, expedition and organisational skills sufficient for single or multi-day walks or hikes.
The following experience is required:
The course takes place over three days of which one night and two days are spent on an actual walk/hike in an appropriate mountain environment.
With the exception of altitude gain, rope work on steep terrain and snow skills reserved for the mountain leader award, the following topics are covered in both awards:
The course fees include instruction, accommodation, overnight fees, course material and if completed successfully and certificate of attendance. It is required of you to bring as much of your own equipment in order to be self-sufficient during the two to three days spent out in the mountains. And extensive kit list of what is required in terms of equipment will be sent on request.
Even though training can take place in any mountain range in South Africa, it mostly takes place in the various areas of the Drakensberg Mountains, KwaZulu-Natal.
