Umzantsi Afrika Tours

Have you always wanted to become a Tour Guide in the Eastern Cape and show our visitors our beautiful country and the famous Addo Elephant National Park? We can help you realise that dream.

Umzantsi Afrika Training Academy offers an exciting, specialist and practical training course that will get you well on your way to becoming a Tourist Guide. We partner with Tourist Guide Institute, the oldest and an experienced Tour Guide Training Institution in Cape Town, who are a CATHSSETA accredited National Service Provider.

The Tourist Guide Course Umzantsi Afrika Training Academy offers is Cultural Eastern Cape Regional Guide NQF Level 4 course (SAQA ID: TG/CultSiteGd/4/0031).

All courses are held in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) in a private venue, supplied with formal course materials, include facilitator-led practical tours and are professionally facilitated and assessed.

Full Time Short Course running over 8 days

What do I need to enroll in a course?

Certified copy of ID document / Passport and Work Permit, Resident
Permit, Refugee Status Document
A one-page CV containing information to your education and employment history
An original recently certified copy of your Matric Qualification certificate
Two colour ID sized photographs
An original recently certified copy of your Highest Education Qualification certificate

Upcoming Course Dates:

20 January
7th April 2025
7th July 2025
6th October 2025

Your Facilitator

Lyn has been in the tourism industry since 2003. She is a passionate, registered and qualified CATHSETA (SATOUR) Tourist Guide for the Eastern & Western Cape.

Lyn received her CATHSSETA Certificate as a qualified Tour Guide Training Assessor in 2021.

Apart from running her Training Academy she works as a Tour Guide Operations Manager / Director in the Tourism Business, Umzantsi Afrika Tours, managing the Western and Eastern Cape tourism business.

She has successfully worked with Nelson Mandela Bay Arts and Culture Department training tourism ambassadors and with ECPTA training NQF2 qualified site guides for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole.

Lyn is an active member of the Port Elizabeth Heritage Society in Port Elizabeth and frequently features in local tourism activities and forums

Module 1

Introduction to Tour Guiding:

Overview of the Tourism Industry, Communication, Guiding Techniques, Tourism Services & Problem-Solving

Background of Eastern Cape against the broad overall South African perspective, with reference to:

South Africa’s Physical Landscape
The periods of South African History
The South African Population
South Africa’s Cultural Heritage
Fauna and Flora of Eastern Cape
South Africa’s Government Institutions & Social Services
Introduction to Addo Elephant National Park

Module 2

Practical Skills:

3 Practical Tours are done under the guidance of an experienced tourist guide:

City Heritage Tour done by your Facilitator
Marine and Sunshine Saunter Tour done by the students for practice
Port Elizabeth surrounds and Addo Elephant National Park by the students for their practical assessment

The Program

Full time courses including practicals in Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha: 08:30 - 17:00

Mon Day 1 08h30 to 17h00 - Class

Tues Day 2 08h30 to 17h00 - Class

Wed Day 3 08h30 to 17h00 - Class

Thurs Day 4 08h30 to 17h00 - Class

Fri Day 5 Own time recce for Practical Tour No. 1. (Prep for Tuesday tour)

Sat Day 6 Own time recce for Practical Tour No. 2. (Prep for Wednesday tour)

Sun Day 7 Own time preparing for Cultural Exam on Thursday

Mon Day 8 08h30 to 17h00 – Formative City Heritage Tour by Facilitator

Tues Day 9 08h30 to 17h00 – Marine and Sunshine Saunter Tour - Formative Peer Assessment

Wed Day 10 08h30 to 17h00 - PE/Gqeberha surrounds & Addo Elephant - Summative Assessment

Thurs Day 11 08h30 to 14h00 – The way forward, Paperwork, sign off and Cultural Exam

Fri 5 weeks later- 09:00 to 10:30 – Addo Exam Day and hand in of assignments

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