4x4 Guides

[Hoppy]

How many registered 4x4 guides do we have on the forum and in our new club?

[Family_Dog]

There's Engel, don't know who else...


-F_D

[Dadz Toy BFI]

I know of one....

Oh that's YOU Hoppy

[Okkie Van Wyk]

Ok now here is a question

How do I become a registered and accredited 4X4 guide and tour-operator ?

Okkie

[Hoppy]

You have to do a one week course and complete some tasks to be handed in later.
The courses are held at various places all over the country, can get you the contact details.
You get a number and badge isued by the department of tourism.
The course is very interesting and deals with all the legal and practical issues you would face as a guide.
Four years ago we paid R3500.00 for the course

[Okkie Van Wyk]

I would be very thankful if you would be so kind as to post me some contact details and some info as to how to become a 4x4 / off-road guide

Regards

Okkie

[OOOOMS]

Hi, also let us know what he criteria is, if any.

Can Clubs call on you and request you to assist them on trails etc. as a volenteer?

Just curious

[Spartan]

You get a number and badge

Is dit nou n Noddy badge wat sê jy weet genoeg

[Zantus]

Firstly, Engel is not a registered guide.

Secondly, this warning was posted on the guides forum along with the info for the next round on guides training. Something I wasn't made aware of when I did my course.

PLEASE NOTE:
Signing up for any 4x4 course at the present time, i.e. before the new Unit Standards are in place, is risky in that there are no guarentees that what you learn will be sufficient to allow you to pass an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) test against these new Unit Standards.
In fact you may be required to attend additional supplimentary courses.

I did the course in January, but I have not yet completed the assignments. The course was quick and easy, the assignments take a lot of time, time I haven't had in the last 6 months.

[Hoppy]

Die kursus gaan nie oor die "noddy badge" nie, jy leer ook bitter min oor 4x4 werk, dit gaan eerder oor al die wetgewing en die korekte manier om n roete bymekaar te sit, situasies te hanteer en om te weet wat jou regte is.
Ek het n hele paar mense in die regte plekke ontmoet, dit maak dit ook maklikker om permitte en goedkeuring vir gebiede wat deur natuurbewaring en ander instansies beheer word te kry.
Wetgewing kan en sal seker verander soos dit maar in die land gaan, gelukkig vat dit lank en ons sal dan daarmee deel.

[ThysdJ]

Nou wil ek net vra, is daar iemand in die Kaap wat sou belangstel om die kursus saam met my te doen en kan jy vir ons so iets reel Allan?

[Arno]

Ek stel beslis belang.

[Piesang]

You get a number and badge

Is dit nou n Noddy badge wat sê jy weet genoeg

Nou is dit 'n Hoppy badge...

So 2 jaar terug sou ek en nog twee ouens hier van Grabouw dit doen, maar nie een van ons het die geld daarvoor gehad nie, die een ou het wel in tussentyd dit gedoen en sodra ek kan wil ek dit ook doen.

[Hoppy]

Het met hulle gepraat, die volgende kursus in die kaap is in November, ons moet ten minste 6 mense wees en die koste is R3800.00 pp, dit sluit gewoonlik kamplek in, ek wag vir n mail van hulle af dan sal ek dit post.

[Mr_B]

Hoppy did you pass the course?

[ThysdJ]

Het met hulle gepraat, die volgende kursus in die kaap is in November, ons moet ten minste 6 mense wees en die koste is R3800.00 pp, dit sluit gewoonlik kamplek in, ek wag vir n mail van hulle af dan sal ek dit post.

Okay ek is beslis in.

Bretton hou op worry of Allan die kursus geslaag het, worry eerder of JY dit gaan slaag.... Put that in your rooinek pipe and smoke it...

[Hoppy]

i was 6% short, i had 94% i'll do it over in November, you can pay my fee and i'll be you translator

[Mr_B]

i was 6% short, i had 94% i'll do it over in November, you can pay my fee and i'll be you translator

It's got nothing to do with whether I'll pass or not, I just don't have the mulla Thys...

Waarvoor Allan? Praat hulle Chinese of iets? Uk prat baia moei kan amper Afreakans ne'... Richards can put that through his translator!

B

[Hoppy]

Here is some more information on the 4x4 Tour Guide Course:

You showed interest in attending our 4x4 Trails and Overland Tourist Guide Course... first a few legalities before giving all the required information...

IMPORTANT LEGAL ISSUES:

If you are interested in becoming a Tourist Guide then we are sure you are aware of all the legal issues involved with training. The tourist guide regulations ask for the following (more details on these issues will be given during the course):
1. Training by a THETA accredited trainer provider.
2. When full competence via assessment is achieved for the various required Unit Standards, the relevant THETA Certificate is issued.
3. Then and only then can this THETA Certificate be taken to DEAT for registration as a legal guide – a much more lengthy process for 'newcomers/learners' than previous registrations.

The problem the 4x4 industry has (along with MOST of the adventure sector in RSA) is that the Elective Unit Standard(s) for this sector has not been registered. This leads to various problems with respect to the legal system described above:

1. NO trainer provider can achieve full THETA Accreditation... because there is no Elective Unit Standard... no minimum standard against which THETA can compare and therefore provide THETA accreditation as a trainer provider...

2. Therefore a THETA Certificate cannot be issued...

3. Therefore no-one can be registered under the 'new' legal system as a legal 4x4 Adventure Tourist Guide...

After a long battle, we have come to an agreement with DEAT and THETA – the entire 4x4 Adventure industry CANNOT be penalised for an incomplete system. Masazane Expeditions (amongst other adventure trainer providers) have been issued a letter from the then Head Registrar at DEAT saying that candidates attending our course will be registered provisionally directly by the DEAT so that they can work legally under the laws and regulations of RSA as a 4x4 Trails and Overland (Adventure) Tourist Guide - further details will be given during the course. The re-registration of guides (every two (2) years) that have previously attended our course will also therefore be renewed accordingly.

We attended a SGB Workshop on 21 June 2006 where this Unit Standard was discussed. According to a source, this Unit Standard was accepted by the SGB during their meeting in November 2006. This is unfortunately still at the embryonic stages of the process… but we are hopeful that the Unit Standard will be accepted by SAQA this year and be placed on the SAQA website for public comment…

Okay... back to the information you requested:

INTRODUCTION:
Masazane Expeditions will present the 4x4 Trails and Overland Tourist Guide Course as follows:

CAPE REGION COURSE : 12 TO 15 NOVEMBER 2009
LOUIS TRICHARDT COURSE : 26 TO 29 NOVEMBER 2009

The training course is very comprehensive and subscribes to the highest guide and 4x4 industry ethics and codes of conduct. The course is designed to accommodate any level of experience. Every person that completes this training course successfully SHOULD BE a better 4x4 Trails and Overland Tourist Guide and a benefit to the 4x4 tourism industry. The 4x4 Trails and Overland Tourist Guide Training Course covers all aspects of being a 4x4 Tourist Guide – 4x4 Driver Training Theory; 4x4 Vehicle Recovery Theory; Environmental Aspects; General Guiding Aspects; Expedition Planning and Organisation; Border Post Formalities, Navigation; Communications; First Aid (African diseases are covered); Basic Survival Skills; Cooking; etc. Wherever possible, Masazane Expeditions also include various lectures from various specialists in their fields on subjects of interest to us as 4x4 Trails and Overland Tourist Guides – Snakes; Scorpions; Insurance; Marketing; etc.

Please bear in mind that this course is not a 4x4 driving training course but a tourist guide training course. The course is designed around the assumption that you already can drive a 4x4 vehicle. However should it be required special arrangements can be made before the course – please contact Dave for more details. The progress of registering the 4x4 Driver Training Unit Standards (US) also seems to be taking a ‘millennium’ as this was supposed to be registered already in August 2007 but it is still not registered…!! Masazane Expeditions have decided to take an important stance based on this 4x4 Driver Training US in readiness for what is to come when these US are registered. Effective from 01 January 2008, all persons wishing to attend the 4x4 Trails and Overland Tourist Guide Course must be able to provide certified copies of a Level I and a Level II 4x4 Driving Training Certificate, i.e. basic as well as advanced 4x4 driver training, from a reputable driving school/organisation.


Corporate 4x4 driver training sessions can be arranged – we in fact have completed many 4x4 driver training sessions for Anglo Platinum and Anglo American over the past few years – basic as well as advanced courses. If you are interested in a group training session please contact Dave for further details.

As you can see this is a very diverse course and covers a wide variety of subjects. Much hard work is anticipated. We will try and make the course as comfortable as possible but you must realise that we may be busy right into the evenings to be able to complete everything in a timely fashion. Please note that lectures may continue after supper, depending on how far we progress and how many questions/discussions there are. Masazane Expeditions tries to involve everybody as much as possible.

Please remember that one of the prerequisites to registration with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) is a VALID First Aid Certificate. If you do not already have such a qualification please make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible. The minimum requirement by law is Level I but we recommend at least Level II due to the environment that most of the guiding takes place. Please bear in mind that you CANNOT/WILL NOT be registered before DEAT receives this document!!

You do not have to complete the First Aid Course before doing our Course but it should be completed as soon as possible because you cannot be registered without a valid First Aid Certificate. First Aid Courses can be completed by any of the following organisations (as examples) – the organisation MUST be registered by the Department of Labour:

SA First Aid League:
Contact Number 012 333 0144 or 011 787 5873 (for your nearest branch and/or courses)

Red Cross:
Contact Number 012 323 1493 (for your nearest branch and/or courses)


St. John’s Ambulance:
Contact Number 012 324 1620 (for your nearest branch and/or courses)


VENUE AND COST:
Masazane Expeditions will present the courses as follows:



CAPE REGION COURSE AT TBA FROM WEDNESDAY, 11 (19:00) TO SUNDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2009

COST FOR COURSE = R 3 800 per person



LOUIS TRICHARDT COURSE AT CAMP AFRICA (LOUIS TRICHARDT) FROM WEDNESDAY, 25 (19:00) TO SUNDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2009
COST FOR COURSE = R 3 400 per person

The entire course is held at a 4x4 Trail where camping and roughing it form part of the training/assessment!! The cost for the 4x4 Trails and Overland Tourist Guide Training Course includes the following:
1. Theory for 4x4 Driver Training and Vehicle Recovery.
2. Camping fees for the entire period.
3. Use of the trail.
4. Three (3) meals per day.
5. Comprehensive Training Manuals to keep for future reference.
6. Coffee/tea.
7. Sharing of knowledge.
8. Registration and the first two (2) year membership fees with DEAT.



The cost does not include the following:
1. ALL camping equipment – tent, bed, chair, cutlery, crockery, etc.
2. All liquid refreshments.

BOOKINGS AND PAYMENTS:

Bookings to attend the course must be made with Masazane Expeditions as soon as possible. Only when at least the 50% non-refundable deposit is paid, will a booking be considered as confirmed. The remaining 50% must be paid on the registration day of the course but you are welcome to pay the full amount into our bank account, if preferred. Please use your surname and initials as a reference. Please note that since banks charge for cash deposits, should you prefer paying by cash, please add 1.5% for cash teller bank charges. Our bank details are as follows:
Nedbank Louis Trichardt (Makhado) Branch
Branch Code 134649
Account Number in name of Masazane Tours 1346034443


VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE

DUE TO PREVIOUS NON-ARRIVALS AT COURSES, THE FOLLOWING RULE WILL BE STRICTLY KEPT AND NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE!! WE WILL BE FORCED TO CANCEL THE COURSE IF WE DO NOT HAVE A MINIMUM OF SIX (6) CONFIRMED BOOKINGS. IN THE EVENT THAT MASAZANE EXPEDITIONS IS FORCED TO CANCEL THE COURSE, ANY DEPOSITS PAID WILL BE RETURNED. BOOKINGS CLOSE FOR CONFIRMED MINIMUM BOOKINGS THREE (3) WEEKS BEFORE EACH STARTING DATE.





REGISTRATION AND EXAMINATION:

Registration (all necessary forms will be supplied) and lectures on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and Unit Standard systems start on the stated day at 19:00. You will be given a list of assignments and these assignments MUST be sent to us by overnight service or registered post by no later than three (3) weeks after the course!! The written examination is two (2) to three (3) hours and will be on the last morning of the course at 08:30. Please take the assignments and written examination seriously because we cannot register you, should you not achieve the minimum percentage. A minimum percentage of 70% for both the written examination and assignments as well as a minimum of 80% for the practical is a prerequisite to passing. An overall pass mark is 70%.


IMPORTANT ITEMS TO REMEMBER:
Please bring the following items along to the course:

A4 Hardcover notebook and/or A4 writing pad
Pens/Pencils
Highlighter pens
Eraser
Calculator
Gloves for possible working with recovery equipment and in mud
Hat and sunscreen
Sunglasses
Camping equipment
Own 4x4 Vehicle (optional but preferable)
GPS (optional)
Direction compass (optional)

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE VERY IMPORTANT – PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THESE AS THIS WILL DELAY YOUR REGISTRATION – YOU CANNOT / WILL NOT BE REGISTERED WITHOUT THESE ITEMS:

Six (6) IDENTICAL, COLOUR passport size photographs.
x3 Certified Copies of VALID First Aid Certificate.
x3 Certified Copies of bar-coded identity document.
x3 Certified Copies of driver's license (and Professional Driver's Permit (PrDP)). Please note that a PrDP is NOT a pre-requisite to registration.
x3 Certified Copies of letter/certificate of proficiency of any foreign languages from training institute – this letter is NOT necessary for any of the eleven (11) official languages of RSA. Please note that a foreign language is NOT a pre-requisite to registration.
x3 Copies of passport – if you still have the old-type passport please remember to also copy the front page with the passport number and any endorsements, e.g. extension of the expiry date!!

If you are not a RSA citizen, then please send x3 certified copies of your permanent residency and/or your work permit. WE CANNOT REGISTER YOU IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THESE ITEMS – IT IS A PRE-REQUISITE OF DEAT!!!!

If you have been previously registered as a "TOURIST GUIDE" then x3 CERTIFIED copies of the back and front of the ID card.

[ThysdJ]

I see we have some homework to do before we can go....

[george]

Effective from 01 January 2008, all persons wishing to attend the 4x4 Trails and Overland Tourist Guide Course must be able to provide certified copies of a Level I and a Level II 4x4 Driving Training Certificate, i.e. basic as well as advanced 4x4 driver training, from a reputable driving school/organisation.

Where are we going to do this Thys?

[ThysdJ]

I dont know yet, we will have to find out. Coenie is also interested. I also want to do the 1st Aid course. You can help with that cant you George?

[Piesang]

I see we have some homework to do before we can go....

en dan lyk dit my nog 'n ou sal dit in egels ook moet doen. Eina........

[george]

I dont know yet, we will have to find out. Coenie is also interested. I also want to do the 1st Aid course. You can help with that cant you George?

I did mine through the NSRI.I heard St John's is good.

[ThysdJ]

Cool ek sal by St Johns hoor..

[JohanM]

How many registered 4x4 guides do we have on the forum and in our new club?

I am...

[Clarence]

Well that counts me out as i have not done a level 1 or 2 or advanced driving course. As a matter of interest does one swop papers

[Hoppy]

Sounds like a good idea, or maybe i'd ask one of the driving schools to test me, i think one of those tazz's with the signs on the roof will look good flying over an atlantis dune!

[Dadz Toy BFI]

Sounds like a good idea, or maybe i'd ask one of the driving schools to test me, i think one of those tazz's with the signs on the roof will look good flying over an atlantis dune!

Hy and Syyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy