Nightjar Training & Safaris

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Nightjar Training & Safaris

Est. in 2015, offering tailored onsite FGASA training, mentoring & assessments for the Guiding industry. FGASA endorsed with an in-house Assessor.

As an extension of this, we also offer unique Lowveld based safaris and privately guided experiences. Nightjar was established in 2015 when it was noticed that there was a severe lack of affordable training & advancement opportunities for the existing guide market. Particularly, the types of training which would allow staff to learn & gain qualifications on-the-job, without having to travel off-si

te for days, or even weeks, to conduct training and thereby hampering productivity levels for the employer. As we know, in the highly competitive world of tourism & hospitality, it is vital for game lodges to stay a step ahead of the competition to maintain their edge. One of the key aspects to achieving this is by retaining staff who have top-notch, relevant skills. For individuals, the same applies in order to ensure a long & prosperous career in the industry. Thus, Nightjar was created to provide this vital service to Game Lodges & Field Guides throughout Africa. Our main goal is to provide all inclusive & completely tailored, affordable on-site training packages with the highest standards in mind, without requiring down-time for the lodge and/or staff member. Nightjar's consultants are a unique blend of highly skilled, qualified and knowledgeable specialists in their respective fields, offering advice & training on everything from field guiding, trails guiding and rifle handling to front-of-house training & unique tailored private safaris & educational safaris throughout Africa. Nightjar is a FGASA Endorsed Specialist Training Provider with an in-house Assessor (Charles Delport). Visit www.nightjar.co.za or email [email protected] for more information.

01/08/2025

𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤.
Unethical guiding isn’t just a moment—it has lasting consequences for wildlife, guests, and the entire safari industry.

🚫 Let’s talk about what’s at stake—and how we can do better, together.
👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/HiddenCostofUnethicalGuiding

29/07/2025

Let’s talk about polyandry in the bird world. 🪶

In most bird species, females lay the eggs and males compete for their attention. But in the case of the African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus), it’s the males who take on the primary parental role.

These striking, long-toed birds, often seen delicately striding across lily pads in Southern Africa’s wetlands, practice a polyandrous breeding system. One female mates with multiple males, laying a clutch of eggs with each. From there, the males take full responsibility: building the nest, incubating the eggs, and raising the chicks.

And the most fascinating part?
When the chicks are small and vulnerable, the male jacana tucks them under his wings and carries them to safety, their tiny legs dangling beneath his body as he walks.

🦉 They’re not alone in this reversal of roles.

Other Southern African birds also challenge traditional breeding roles. The Black Coucal (Centropus grillii), Greater Painted Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis), and Common Buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus) all display varying forms of role reversal or polyandry, where the females are often larger, more brightly coloured, and leave the males to care for the young.

🦅 These behaviours not only defy the norms we expect in nature, but they also offer rich learning
opportunities for guides and birders alike. Observing these birds in the wild reminds us that evolution favours diversity and adaptability, not conformity.

🔍 Next time you're near a wetland or grassland, slow down and look closely, you might just witness one of nature’s most devoted dads doing what he does best.

26/07/2025

𝙂𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 — 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚.
This is a conversation we've all had in some form, especially over the last few years. Usually, quietly around campfires & staff rooms, with trusted friends - but it's time we said it out loud: 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨.

🧩 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙜: https://bit.ly/GuidingMentalHealth

#𝙂𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 #𝙈𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 #𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮 #𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨

22/07/2025

The unmistakable, raw presence of a black rhino.
A snort. A quick charge. Then stillness.

This was more than just a sighting - It was a moment years in the making.

For those of us who guide professionally, these are the encounters we live for. The ones earned through patience, tracking, and knowing when to trust a feeling over a map.

🎥 We’ve put together some footage and stills from that unforgettable morning.

To read the full story behind the encounter, head over to our blog:
👉 https://www.nightjar.co.za/some-moments-in-the-bush-are-years-in-the-making

20/07/2025

Success! 🎊 Happiness and celebrations all round, after a session of extensive collaborative tracking and trailing between guide & tracker, led to a very well-earned special sighting.

Stay tuned for more details on this sighting.

16/07/2025

On foot, it’s often the smallest things that offer the richest stories, and a simple dung ball can become a brilliant moment of interpretation for those who know what to look for. 🪲

We all recognise dung beetle activity: rolling, burying, and brooding, with many species crafting dung balls as chambers for their larvae. But what happens when those chambers are dug up?

These particular dung balls were found cracked open, each with a small, distinct entry point. What makes it interesting isn’t just the unusually small size of the balls (likely from one of the smaller dung beetle species), but the fact that they were unearthed and opened, exposing the larva inside.

The giveaway? Clear honey badger tracks in the surrounding sand.

Honey badgers are known to use acute hearing and scent to detect buried larvae and will actively dig up dung balls for the protein-rich meal hidden within. While this behaviour is more commonly seen with larger dung balls, this small-scale example offers a great opportunity to engage guests on food chains, insect ecology, and opportunistic foraging behaviour.

🟤 A simple dung ball becomes a talking point about:
– Seasonal insect activity, including dung beetles themselves (their navigation, species diversity, mites, etc.; they are incredibly fascinating creatures)
– Predator foraging strategies
– The role of scavengers and omnivores in the ecosystem

Whether you’re out on a bush walk or spotting signs near a resting point on drive, moments like this highlight why attention to detail is one of the most valuable assets a guide can develop.

Immersive guiding is about observation, yes, but also curiosity.

.guides.association.of.sa

13/07/2025

🍂 Lowveld Winter Has Settled In ❄️

For those of us out in the bush daily, the transition into true winter in the Lowveld is more than just a change in temperature, it’s a shift in rhythm, behaviour, and opportunity.

With crisp mornings, dry air and cloudless skies, the bushveld takes on a different kind of magic. Sunrises and sunsets become pure fire, and the clear skies reveal starscapes that are nothing short of spectacular.

Winter in the Lowveld is peak safari season; sightings are sharp, activity is high, and guiding opportunities are rich. For experienced guides, this is the time to sharpen your edge.

🔸 Longer activity windows – Cooler temperatures keep wildlife moving beyond the early hours, extending prime viewing time.
🔸 Enhanced visibility – Sparse vegetation brings tracking, trailing and behavioural observation to the forefront.
🔸 Water sources become key – With dwindling surface water, permanent waterholes become reliable hotspots for patient guiding and storytelling.
🔸 Behavioural shifts – Nocturnal and crepuscular species show adjusted patterns, a great time to challenge your understanding of predator-prey dynamics.
🔸 Astronomy opportunities – Winter skies are crystal clear and perfect for stargazing. Done well, an engaging night sky session adds huge value to your guest experience, and it’s a great skill to refine.

This is a season of clarity — in the air, in the bush, and in your guiding.

Whether it’s brushing up on your fieldcraft or expanding your knowledge areas, winter is the ideal time to push your professional growth.

📍 Based in the Lowveld and looking to grow?

Get in touch with us to discuss onsite upskilling, mentoring, FGASA assessment and advanced training modules, such as astronomy.✨

www.nightjar.co.za | [email protected] | 082 971 7654

28/06/2025

South Africa’s Lowveld is a raptor-rich region that offers one of the most rewarding birding experiences in the country. From the forested escarpments of the Blyde River Canyon to the open savannas of the Kruger National Park, these diverse ecosystems support an impressive variety of birds of prey.

For field guides pursuing their FGASA Birding or Specialist Birding qualifications, the Lowveld provides ideal conditions for immersive, in-field learning and targeted species identification. Nightjar Training offers mentorship, assessments, and exam facilitation to support your qualification journey.

For avid birders seeking a tailored birding safari in one of southern Africa’s top raptor hotspots, Nightjar Safaris can help you explore it all—responsibly and expertly guided.

📍Hoedspruit-based
🌐 www.nightjar.co.za
📧 [email protected]
📞 082 971 7654

22/06/2025

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 & 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 🐾
We were thrilled to assist Leigh & Hazel from the UK in planning their unforgettable birthday celebration safari at the beautiful Thabamati Luxury Tented Camp, nestled in the heart of the Timbavati Nature Reserve.

From golden sunsets and memorable sightings to tranquil moments by the waterhole in front of camp, their 5-night stay was filled with all the ingredients that make safari travel so soul-stirring.

💬 “𝐻𝑎𝑧𝑒𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑧𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑛𝑗𝑜𝑦𝑒𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡... 𝑊𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛’𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛!”– Leigh & Hazel

Thank you both for sharing these photos of your special memories and choosing to be part of this special journey – we can’t wait to welcome you back to the Lowveld again!

📍 Dreaming of your own tailor-made safari? We’re here to help you find the perfect lodge and experience to match your travel goals.

📧 [email protected] | 🌐 www.nightjar.co.za

19/06/2025

💪A powerhouse gathering of knowledge, mentorship, and passion for the wild.

When some of the industry's leading FGASA trainers and mentors come together, it’s a reminder that learning never ends, especially when nature still holds so many untold and unknown stories.

A fun and enriching day spent sharpening our skills in tracking, trailing, and botany. From ancient human habitation sites and tool-making with banded ironstone, to mopane psyllids, vulture foot structures, and even the primary feathers of a dark-morph Jacobin cuckoo — we discussed, debated, and explored it all!

By learning from each other, we grow as guides, trainers, and mentors — and continue to raise the standard of guiding across the industry.

Huge thanks to Lee and Kersey for hosting us for the day!

📸Left to right: Charles Delport, Chantelle Rhode, Brian Rhode, Kersey Lawrence, and Lee Gutteridge.

The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa

15/06/2025

Fatherhood may look different in nature — often defined by strength, territory, and the passing down of instinct and genes. From dominant male lions defending their pride, to territorial impala rams shaping herd dynamics, nature shows us that leadership comes in many forms.

Today, we honour all the fathers who lead with quiet strength, purpose, and presence — in the bush and beyond.

21/02/2025

Looking for a truly immersive safari experience? Aspiring to become a trails guide? Nightjar Safaris & Training offers both! We believe in exploring the wild in its entirety, and our guided bush walks provide a unique opportunity to connect with nature on a profound level. Guests will discover hidden wonders and learn from our expert guide, while mentees will gain invaluable experience in the field from a qualified Trails Guide Mentor & Assessor. Join us and step beyond the vehicle to unlock the secrets of the bush. 🐾👣

Nightjar Training is a accredited The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa Delivery partner lead by Charles Delport, a qualified Trails Mentor and assessor.

Image credit:

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Address

Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate
Hoedspruit
1380

Website

http://nightjar.co.za/

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