Nightjar Training & Safaris

10/09/2024

Recently, we witnessed an interesting spectacle: a hyena clan on the move, relocating their den site. This is a critical event in the life of a hyena family, ensuring the safety and well-being of their young.

One particularly poignant moment unfolded as a young cub, reluctant to leave its familiar home, was gently coaxed by its mother. A combination of gentle nudges and, in some cases, a bit of maternal lifting, ensured the cub's safe transition to the new den.

Hyena den relocations are driven by a complex interplay of factors, including population density, den hygiene, and the availability of resources. By relocating their dens, hyenas can minimize the risk of disease transmission, ensure adequate ventilation, and provide their offspring with the best possible environment for growth and development.

This captivating display of maternal instinct and clan cooperation serves as a powerful reminder of the remarkable intelligence and social complexity of these often misunderstood creatures.

04/09/2024

The Grey-headed Bushshrike, often overlooked as a simple insect eater, showcases its adaptability in the wild. This opportunistic bird has been observed hunting larger prey, including rodents and even snakes, as demonstrated in this encounter with a Yellow-bellied Sandsnake.

The recent cold snap in the lowveld likely slowed the snake's movements, making it a vulnerable target. This incident highlights the importance of understanding the intricate dynamics of the ecosystem and the diverse dietary habits of its inhabitants.

28/08/2024

During a recent guiding skills development workshop in the Sabi Sands, we stumbled upon this Mopane bee nest.

These often overlooked (and guides will agree, somewhat annoying) creatures do play an important role in the ecosystem, and their unique characteristics make them a worthy subject for any guide.

Mopane bees are small stingless bees native to Southern Africa. Despite their fly like behaviour and appearance, they are not flies, but rather small, social bees. They are particularly fond of moist areas, often gathering on sweaty skin, hence the nickname "sweat fly/bee."

While these bees may seem insignificant, they are important pollinators for various species of fruit-bearing trees.

Their nests, typically constructed in trees or underground, are characterized by their small, waxy entrance tubes. Inside these tubes, the bees deposit eggs along with a droplet of dark honey to nourish the developing larvae.

Keep an eye out for these fascinating little nests on your next bush walk, it's a great conversation subject.🐝🐝🐝

23/08/2024

This incredible pangolin shows the power of nature's adaptations. Its tough keratin scales, which can account for roughly 20% of its body weight, are a truly impressive defense mechanism.

During a recent game drive, we witnessed the incredible resilience of this small pangolin. Lions attempted to "unroll" it, but the scales held strong against their powerful bites. We even see signs of saliva on the scales, a testament to the pangolin's successful escape!

This rare encounter serves as a powerful reminder of the vital importance of pangolin conservation. These fascinating creatures, with their unique adaptations, face numerous threats, mainly due to poaching. From a guide's perspective, we can assist conservation efforts in many ways, but properly educating guests on this topic will have a far-reaching & long-term impact on conservation efforts.

18/08/2024

African Wild Dogs are highly social canids that live in packs with a complex social hierarchy, where teamwork and cooperation are essential for survival. Play is crucial to strengthen these bonds among pack members.

August is usually a great month to view these special animals as we are approaching the end of the peak of their denning season, and pups are being introduced to the outside world.

14/08/2024

Assessment Tip: Sundowner stops are more than just a scenic break. Assessors often utilize these moments to evaluate a guide's ability to foster connections and engage with diverse guests on a personal level.

Beyond knowledge sharing, a guide's capacity to create memorable experiences through authentic interactions is crucial. Sundowners offer a unique opportunity to observe these skills in action.

10/08/2024

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆: 𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Today, World Lion Day, serves as a critical reminder of the iconic lion's precarious position in our ecosystem. For those of us privileged to witness these apex predators in their natural habitat, a deep understanding of their ecology, behavior, and conservation challenges is paramount.

As guides, we hold a unique responsibility to educate our guests about the complexities of lion conservation. It is essential to dispel myths, promote scientific understanding, and inspire action. By sharing accurate information about lion populations, threats, and conservation efforts, we empower our guests to become advocates for these magnificent creatures.

Let us use this day to recommit ourselves to ethical guiding practices, supporting research initiatives, and collaborating with conservation organizations. Together, we can contribute to a future where lions not only survive but thrive.

09/07/2024

Big congratulations to Charles Delport, our Head Trainer & Professional Guide, on achieving his SKS Astronomy Qualification! This is Charles's 2nd SKS qualification, and he's on track to completing his 3rd by year-end. 👏💪

06/07/2024

Winter is here and trails season is in full swing!🐾🥾👣

Nightjar Training boasts years of experience guiding aspiring trail guides towards their goals. Our expert mentor, is equipped with thousands & thousands of hours on foot himself, provides invaluable practical experience to help you excel and work towards achieving your trails qualification.

Don't let this peak season pass you by! Equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to navigate the bush on foot, with confidence.

28/06/2024

𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘: 𝗔𝗥𝗛 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆 (Hoedspruit area) - Tuesday, 9th July 2024.

Renew/complete your Advanced Rifle Handling qualification with FGASA Assessor, Charles Delport.

Please note: Bookings are essential & space is limited.

Nightjar Training is a FGASA-endorsed specialist delivery partner. Assessor: Charles Delport

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

.guides.association.of.sa

18/06/2024

Discover the versatile mineral, Mica!
Being silicate-based, Mica's layers can be effortlessly split into sheets. Found in various rock types, Mica is found mostly in, igneous, and metamorphic rocks, especially Granite.

Today, different varieties of Mica are still mined and put to use in drywall, paints, car parts, electronics, and cosmetics. Mica mining across the Northern parts of the lowveld started around 1946 and is still actively mined and exported. The sign of days gone by is still evident today and adds to the history of the area and how it came to be as it is today.

13/06/2024

The Lowveld boasts incredible avian diversity! 🦉🦅🦆🐦

Want to elevate your birding knowledge and add another qualification to your guiding repertoire?

Nightjar offers FGASA Birding Specialist training & assessments! Learn from experts & unlock your next guiding qualification.

Link in bio! Nightjar.co.za

10/06/2024

During a recent sighting, we observed a young male leopard in the midst of a successful hunt, having just caught a warthog. The guide's quick observation of the leopard's skittish nature prompted a response that prioritized the animal's comfort and safety. By advising guests to maintain a calm posture and minimize sudden movements and noise, we hoped to reduce the leopard's stress levels and allow it to enjoy its meal undisturbed.

However, wildlife interactions can be unpredictable, as demonstrated by the leopard's unexpected warning charges to protect its prize. In such moments, it's crucial to prioritize the well-being of the animal and respect its space by giving it the necessary distance. The guide's decision to move away and advise other vehicles to do the same exemplifies responsible and ethical wildlife viewing practices.

04/06/2024

‼️Attention all members and friends‼️

We are relieved and happy to announce that we have officially received the Government Gazette stating that some the current SETA skills programmes have had their expiry date extend until 2025! We are still waiting for the full list of qualifications that will be extended and are hoping the Nature Site Guiding qualifications will be included. 📅⏳

What this means is that while the new qualifications are being developed the pre-2009 qualifications and skills programmes are still open for enrolment. Essentially this means that all current and future learners will still be able to enrol, study, qualify and develop their careers. 🤠🌿🐾

Hit the link below to read the official Government Gazette publish on our website, all of the necessary and accurate information on this process and steps moving forward is clearly detailed! 👇

https://www.fgasa.co.za/update-extension-for-the-enrolment-in-guiding-skills-programmes-confirmed

Happy guiding everyone! 🤩

23/05/2024

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗷𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀, a natural extension of Nightjar Training & Guiding, specializes in exclusive-use safaris in the Lowveld/Greater Kruger area. Catering to groups of family and friends, we offer personalized safari experiences on a small scale, ensuring exceptional quality and attention to detail.

🌿Many of our lodge offerings allow our guests to be personally guided by our director and head trainer, Charles Delport, guaranteeing a tailored experience from start to finish.

We take the time to understand our guests' needs to match them with the perfect lodge. Both self-catered and catered options are available to suit various budgets.

Get in touch to discuss your next unique Greater Kruger safari stay! 🐾

08/05/2024

03/05/2024

With today being , we decided to go back and reflect on some of our favourite leopard sightings from the archives.

27/04/2024

𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘: 𝗔𝗥𝗛 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆 (Hoedspruit area) - Thursday, 23rd May 2024.

Renew/complete your Advanced Rifle Handling qualification with FGASA Assessor, Charles Delport.

Please note: Bookings are essential & space is limited.

Nightjar Training is a FGASA-endorsed specialist delivery partner. Assessor: Charles Delport

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

.guides.association.of.sa

24/04/2024

18/04/2024

Here's something you don't see every day, wallowing Wild Dogs! 🐾 We're sure it seemed like a good way to cool down at the time, but can't imagine the drying mud felt too great on their coats afterwards.

📷 Charles Delport

📍 Walkers River Camp, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve


guides.association.of.sa .delport

01/04/2024

🐾Trails season is back in full force.👣
The cooler weather has allowed the trails guides to rack up some great mentored hours and encounters so far.

Congrats to the guides who successfully passed their Lead Trails Guide assessments this past week. 💪

Here's to many more hours of exploring the bush on foot in 2024.

26/03/2024

At Nightjar, we provide a wide range of services to help guides & guiding teams succeed. From assessments and Trails Guide mentorships to expert consulting services, we are committed to helping uplift the guiding community & achieving career goals. 🙌

As an extension of our guiding services, we also proudly offer unique safaris & privately guided experiences to guests who are as enthusiastic & passionate about nature as we are! 🌿🐾

Visit our website at www.nightjar.co.za for more info.

Nightjar Training is a The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa endorsed Specialist Delivery Partner, with an in-house FGASA Assessor - Charles Delport

17/03/2024

The Lesser Bushbaby, also known as the Lesser Galago, is always a favourite find on any game drive. This was a lucky sighting, as, being nocturnal primates, they are not often seen out and about during the daytime as well.

They have well adapted hearing and excellent nocturnal vision due to the size of their eyes. Their eyes, in fact, are so big that they can not be rotated in their eye sockets.

15/03/2024

15/02/2024

Celebrating today. Although Hippos come with a misunderstood reputation for being one of the most dangerous mammals on earth, they do play a vital role in our aquatic water systems. Game drives, as well as bush walks, just would not be the same without their distinctive pathways along rivers. 🦛

06/02/2024

Stand out from the competition by enhancing your guiding qualifications and honing your skills. A new year presents an opportune moment to reassess the trajectory of your career and identify areas for refinement to maintain your competitive edge. Our dynamic industry thrives on continuous learning and growth, offering a wealth of opportunities to deepen expertise and broaden horizons.

Should you be considering your next assessment, seeking trails or guiding mentorships in the Lowveld area, I invite you to reach out for a chat. Your journey toward professional advancement awaits. 💪

🌐 www.nightjar.co.za
✉️ [email protected]
📞 082 971 7654












The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa

02/02/2024

Interspecies collaboration at its best.

Egyptian geese, red-billed buffalo weavers, lesser-masked weavers, and village weavers - four distinct nests, intricately intertwined in the same tree, showcase how diverse bird species can come together to create a communal space.

In this instance, these birds are working smartly to utilize available resources and numbers, forming a collective defense against predators.

By sharing a common habitat and resources, they enhance their chances of survival.

This cooperative behavior highlights the efficient strategies wildlife employs to thrive in their environments.

30/12/2023

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, the Nightjar team extends heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated guides, exceptional lodges, and valued guests for a remarkable 2023. Your unwavering support has been the cornerstone of our success, and we are truly grateful for the incredible moments we've shared together.

Here's to the adventures ahead, the memories to be made, and the continued journey together. Wishing you all a Happy New Year! 🎉