South African Tourist Guide Training Resources

To be a successful South African tourist guide you must have a love for South Africa and its nature, culture, people, and everything else that makes the country special. In addition to being able to work with people, you also need to know as much as possible about South Africa. 

©Roger de la Harpe
South African tour guide showing a butterfly to children in Kruger National Park.

A South African Tourist Guide must be registered with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and every province has its own Registrar of Tourist Guides. DEAT stipulates that the potential South African Tourist Guide must successfully complete a Tourist Guiding Course with a CATHSSETA accreted training provider. Once you are in possession of a Tourist Guiding Certificate you can register as a tourist guide with DEAT.

The Three Categories of Tourist Guides in South Africa

Site Guides are tourist guides that have attained the minimum qualification to allow them to guide in a limited geographical area. This is a site-specific qualification that  allows you to guide visitors on a hike on Table Mountain, a tour of the Kwazulu-Natal Battlefields, or a tour of the Apartheid Museum for example.

Provincial Guides are qualified to take tourists on a tour of an entire province such as Mpumalanga or the Western Cape for example. 

National Guides are qualified to conduct tours around South Africa and can work across provincial boundaries. These guides can accompany visitors to South Africa on a comprehensive tour of of the country.

Classification of Tourist Guides

Tourist guides in South Africa can be classified into three categories:

Adventure Guides guide a range of adventure experiences such as rock climbing, canoeing, or river rafting for example. 

Nature Guides conduct guided nature experiences in areas such as  Game Reserves, National Parks, conservation areas and include activities such as hiking or game drives for example.

Cultural Guides focus on cultural experiences in a limited geographical area such as a  museum or community with cultural significance.
 

South African Training Guide Resources

Below you will find a comprehensive guide that can assist you in successfully completing your tourist guide course in South Africa. The platform provides you with a range of resources that will build your knowledge of the country. The resource guide is available in all 11 South African languages.

Guide to South African Places

Discover the best places to visit in South Africa. Attractions, accommodation, things to do in towns, cities, game reserves and everywhere i...more

South African World Heritage Sites

South Africa boasts with eight World Heritage Sites, allocated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Thes...more

South African Nature Guide

SouthAfrica.co.za provides readers with educational information in our South African Nature Guide on marine life, mammals, reptiles, birds, ...more

South African Art Guide

The art of South Africa is as diverse and colourful as its many peoples and tribes. Through music, paintings, literature, dance, tribal clot...more

South African Culture Guide

South Africa is home to a wide array of vibrant, rich cultures, each with their own deep history. SouthAfrica.co.za tells the stories of the...more

South African Wine Guide

South African wine is renowned across the world, with South African wine estates producing quality wine vintages every year. South African w...more