Bush Skills Course, Zambia - run by Derek Solomon

Day 1
You will be met at Mfuwe International Airport and transferred to Mfuwe Lodge for first night. Here you will meet your course instructor and have a briefing on the day-to-day activities for the remainder of the course. You will also receive your course manuals. After dinner you will prepare for an early departure the following morning for the bush camps.

Day 2
An early wake up call for the departure to the bush camp. Course instruction begins almost immediately as you drive to the bush camp (or on the first morning drive around the lodge) with excellent opportunities to observe and learn about a wide variety of wildlife. You will arrive at camp in time for brunch followed by the first lecture on mammals found in South Luangwa National Park. There will be time for a short rest before afternoon tea, followed by a walk and an introduction to night drives. Each course participant will learn to use the spotlight to find nocturnal wildlife during the course.

Day 3
The next few days will follow roughly the same format:
05h15 - Wake-up call and light breakfast.
06h00 - Walk with your instructor and armed scout covering course topic for the day. Stop for tea break to discuss sightings and spoor seen during walk.
10h00 - Return to camp for first lecture of the day.
12h00 - Brunch.
13h00 -14h00 - Free time/siesta.
14h00 - Afternoon lecture.
16h00 - Tea.
16h30 - Afternoon walk/drive/sundowner/night drive with participants spotting for animals.
20h30 - Dinner followed by a day overview.

Topics covered will be:
- Approaching Dangerous Game - driving and walking skills in big game country
- Tracks and Signs - Spoor identification
- Game Drives, Spotting and radio procedures - spotting nocturnal animals and correct radio procedures
- Game Drives, Spotting and radio procedures - spotting nocturnal animals and correct radio procedures
- Weapons - basics and safety - how and where to use a weapon
- Survival Skills - how to find water, make fires, rope making, direction finding and night skies
- Bush cuisine - cooking in the bush
- First aid in the bush - dehydration, snake and insect bites, bee stings
- Mammals - identification and behaviour, habitat requirements
- Reptiles - Crocodiles and snakes - identification and behaviour
- Birds - Identification and calls. Use of a bird book - how to identify unknown species
- Insects and their relatives - Common insects, spiders and scorpions
- Vegetation - Common trees and shrubs and use by wildlife. Local medicinal uses.

Day 7
Today you will be quizzed on knowledge and skills acquired on the course followed by a field based quiz. In the evening all the participants will produce the evening meal together with no gas or electric oven or other modern facilities putting into practice some of the skills they have learnt. After dinner you will receive your certificates for completing the Bushcamp Company course.

Day 8
Today you will return to Mfuwe Lodge and airport to connect with flights home.

Includes:
7 nights accommodation
Internal flights
Comprehensive manual
All activities and lectures with a qualified guide
Drinks

Does not include:
International flights to and from Zambia
bar at Mfuwe Lodge
Imported wine in bushcamps
Airport departure taxes
Items of a personal nature