Guest: Michelle du Plessis, FGASA's Managing Director

FGASA is transitioning towards becoming a SAQA-recognised professional body, as the South African government formalises guiding qualifications and standardises training, to align with the country’s tourism goals to produce top-tier field guides.

In line with the South African government's 2021 Tourism Sector Masterplan and Professionalisation Strategy, the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) is transitioning from a CATHSSETA-accredited training provider to a SAQA-recognised professional body for the nature guiding sector. This shift marks a positive change in the professionalisation and recognition of field guides.

Since it was established as a non-profit organisation in 1991, FGASA has set professional standards for field guiding qualifications from entry-level to professional and specialist levels. More than 40 000 field guides have been developed through FGASA over the past three decades.