About
FGASA

The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA), a professional body for guides and trackers, was formally established in 1990, by a group of professional guides aiming to set standards of professionalism for the nature guiding practice. It was registered in 2005 as a Section 21 Company not for gain (Registration no. 2004/003844/08).

FGASA represents individual Tourist Guides, Nature, Culture and Adventure guides, Trackers and organisations involved in offering professional guiding services to members of the public.

The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa has set guiding standards for over 35 years and continues to maintain industry preferred standards within the guiding sector. FGASA promotes professional standards of guiding throughout southern Africa in the form of:

A code of ethics and a set of guiding principles

An assessment system based on industry preferred standards of competence

An effective training-course endorsement system

Guides obtain all legal requirements and are legally compliant in terms of the Tourism Act

The Aims of FGASA

Provide FGASA certified guides and members a structured career pathway and professional development opportunities to promote industry required standards of guiding excellence in southern Africa.
To maintain and serve a professional network of highly-trained tourist guides, tour operators and hospitality institutes.
To promote, set and maintain standards of professional guiding based on a strong ethical, well-informed, safety conscious approach that provides the visitor to southern African wilderness areas with an immersive, memorable experience.

To maintain inclusivity, promoting the development of all tourist guides including historically disadvantaged individuals, as a part of the South African transformation process.
To actively encourage professional career development of guides by providing continuous professional development opportunities and access to a professional network of FGASA-endorsed Assessors, Mentors, subject matter experts and tourism industry stakeholders that exceed the tourism sector’s benchmark standards for the guest experience.
To promote professional guiding standards by ensuring guides are legally compliant and are assessed through comprehensive practical assessment tools by highly experienced, FGASA-endorsed Assessors.

FGASA Promotes standards of professional guiding of excellence through;

Promoting the development of guiding skills through progressive levels of professional qualifications and practical guiding experience.
Promoting the nature guide career path through professional designations and continuous professional development.
Ensuring FGASA-certified, professional career guides adhere to an ethical code of conduct strongly aligned with reserve, employer and guest expectations.
Setting a framework of professional guiding principles.
Quality assurance of guides, trackers, trainers and assessors through a structured framework of theoretical and practical competence informed by industry preferred standards of professionalism and legal compliance.
The requirement for FGASA certified guides to achieve the legal guiding certification, and maintain valid first aid certifications and registrations with the National Department of Tourism (NDT) through a provincial tourism agency.

Validating the endorsement of guide and tracker training delivery institutions.
A professional-standard evaluations system that promotes the continued, professional career development of guides through board examinations and assessments.
Promoting the training of guides through the endorsement of training delivery partners who conform to FGASA’s standards of professionalism and the National Training standards. FGASA’s goal as a professional body is to have guides and trackers formally recognised, through prefessional designations, as dedicated career professionals committed to industry preferred standards of professional excellence, continuous knowledge and skills development and adhering to a strict code of conduct.