Campfire Academy

10/08/2026

Laetiia had an incredible sighting on the way to the main gate to pick up a student... 🐍 The live video didn't record her voice so here is the video with the audio 🤠

guides.association.of.sa

10/08/2026

01/08/2026

Wow Wow Wow... firstly, congratulations to those that correctly identified the bird as a Greater Painted Snipe!

To the non birders (!) some context of how special this sighting was... 5 guides with an amass of almost 100 years guiding experience, this sighting was a Lifer for 3 of those guides and only the 3rd time seeing it each for the other two!

The Greater Painted Snipe, a shy and elusive bird, easily hides in muddy wetlands; and thanks to the floods early this year, the northern side of our dam wall is just that!

This is such a stand out species... with reverse sexual dimorphism it is the female that is strikingly coloured - a deep reddish-brown color that stretches across the throat & neck, a distinct white patch encircling the eye and a bold white stripe that runs along the side of the breast and over the shoulder.

Unusually it is the male that is drab in colour... because nature makes a plan for everything! Soon after laying the eggs, the female leaves, leaving the male entirely responsible for incubating the eggs and raising the chicks... his bland colouration ensuring his camouflage for his Papa duties!

Breeding season for these birds is from September to March so we will just have to hope that our muddy wetland holds and doesn't dry out, forcing the birds to breed elsewhere !

An incredibly special sighting of an incredibly special species!

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31/07/2026

A fleeting glance before these photos was all we had to go on...a chance encounter with a breeding pair of birds that were in the reeds over our dam wall. They flew up and off so rapidly there was not much to go on; but with these photos we are sure you will be able to ID this incredible sighting!

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31/07/2026

Is this a recreational break on a Bush Walk?!

What do you think is going on here... 🤔

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24/07/2026

NQF2 FREE Online Exam Prep Workshop on 28 July from 19:00 🤠

Use the following link to access the NQF2 online exam prep.
Please share with anyone you know that can benefit from this workshop 🗣️

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/335147924025182?p=J7lZ74nMEghwpfzSQ8

21/07/2026

Rocking

These 6 elephant bulls were a day late to mark the 2 year anniversary of letting the elephants eat cake - the elephants had taken the fence down, again, and the decision was made that it stayed down!

Yes, camp has changed a lot since then but Campfire Academy strives to coexist with Nature and not just use her on our terms... elephants freely walking through our camp is one of the most magical things you could ever experience!

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14/07/2026

Dylan Mitchell, a working guide with an overland safari company, recently completed his FGASA NQF4 Nature Guide assessment.

The NQF4 assessment is a two-part assessment, undertaking both a morning & afternoon game drive and usually hosting guests over dinner; however, where this is not possible, instead of hosting dinner the guide must prepare a bush breakfast for their guests - and who can deny that a breakfast in the Bush on the banks of the Olifant’s River is a great treat!

After joining us for a week of prep, Dylan's wealth of knowledge allowed him to deliver a comprehensive guided experience for his guests.

Congratulations, Dylan, on passing your FGASA NQF4 assessment 🎊

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09/07/2026

Elzaan Snyman, a working guide in Balule Nature Reserve, recently completed her FGASA NQF4 Nature Guide assessment.

The NQF4 assessment is a two-part assessment, undertaking both a morning & afternoon game drive and hosting their guests over dinner.

On her afternoon assessment drive, Elzaan unravelled more the Bush mysteries for her guests, encouraging them to use their senses to deliver a holistic guided experience.

After hosting her guests at the sundowner spot, Elzaan further engaged her guests over a sumptuous dinner at the Lodge.

Congratulations, Elzaan, on passing your FGASA NQF4 assessment 🎊

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09/07/2026

Elzaan Snyman, a working guide in Balule Nature Reserve, recently completed her FGASA NQF4 Nature Guide assessment.

The NQF4 assessment is a two-part assessment, undertaking both a morning & afternoon game drive and hosting their guests over dinner.

On a chilly Lowveld morning Elzaan's drive introduced her guests to tracks, trees & termite mounds before entertaining them at the coffee stop. With rhino, elephants, lions and general plains game along the way, Elzaan delivered a very comprehensive and informative drive...

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