Working with wild animals was always a dream of mine even as a child. I was a fan of Jane Goodall’s work and used to watch wildlife documentary films instead of cartoons. Not having many career opportunities in this sector in France, I turned to my second passion, psychology. After a trip to Botswana as a volunteer in a reserve, I decided to leave everything behind for South Africa, where I studied for one year at Bhejane nature training.

This training was particularly focused on the nature guide profession, but it provided me with the the essential knowledge about ecology needed for the fieldwork. forFor the duration of my course, I had the opportunity to study animal behavior in theory and practice, to learn how to track animals, medicinal uses of plants, and to gain 4x4 driving skills, basic survival skills …. I had an insight into research and conservation, doing the research assistant course focused on lions, cheetahs, leopards, butand also elephants and white rhinos at the Amakhosi game reserve. I’m also a back-up trails guide, I learnt how to navigate by foot in reserves with dangerous animals, sometimes in really harsh conditions.
We stayed in two different camps, one tented camp in a big five game reserve and another one in a small private reserve near Hluhluwe, KZN, with difficult living conditions such as cold showers,; long walks to the bathroom with hippos, lions and buffalos visiting the camp at night; and leaking tents most of the time during the rainy season leaking tents,; so I am sure that I’m ready to live in basic amenities. I enjoyed spending time with the other students and staff members,. We were about 50 students, doing everything together and that greatly helped to develop my team spirit.