Welcome to
Honeyguide Academy
Come & See. The land. The life. The guide within you.
Start Your Journey
Are you ready to become a skilled guide and connect others to the beauty of the natural world?
Honeyguide Academy
Located in the wild beauty of Brandwacht Game Reserve in the Western Cape, HoneyGuide Academy is more than just a training facility — it’s where storytellers of the natural world are made.
We specialize in nature guide training, deeply rooted in the unique ecosystems of the Western Cape, with a strong focus on the fynbos biome. Whether you’re beginning your journey or refining your field skills, our immersive programs prepare you to guide with confidence, curiosity, and care.
What we offer
Are you ready to become a skilled guide and connect others to the beauty of the natural world?
- Visit Us at Brandwacht Game Reserve
- Contact Us Today to learn more or apply
Two-Month Nature Guide Course
Offered throughout the year, this immersive course prepares you for:
- Bushwalks
- Vehicle-based safaris
- Equine safaris
Conducted entirely on a working reserve, you’ll develop practical skills in tracking, ecological interpretation, and guest engagement.
Short Courses
Perfect for focused development or deep dives into specialist areas:
- Fynbos Ecology & Plant Identification
- Birding and Avian Interpretation
- Tracking & Signs
- Wilderness Skills & Bushcraft
Professional Mentorship & Personal Development
Our programs go beyond technical training — we help you grow into an ethical, informed, and inspiring guide ready for the world of conservation tourism.
Come & See. Honey Guide Academy.
Why Train with Honeyguide?
- Based in the heart of the Western Cape’s wild landscapes.
- Immersive, hands-on learning within Brandwacht Game Reserve.
- Small-group training for individual attention.
- Deep focus on fynbos, endemic species, and Western Cape ecology.
- A community built on support, passion, and purpose.
Words from our Honeyguides
“Stephan Knoetze has been a mentor and close brother to me for two consecutive years of near daily cooperation in the field of guiding. He’s direct, honest and remarkably patient in approach, and teaches from first-hand experience. Stephan has a rare authenticity and equips a person to exceed not merely in their career in a significant way, but exceedingly, their personal self. As Conservation Manager (along other hats) of Brandwacht Game Reserve, he has led major commendable conservation efforts on the property as an overflow of his heart for lavish wilderness and thriving natural environments.”
Eon Grobler
Guide and Resident Photographer,
Brandwacht Game Reserve
“Sjoe, where do I begin. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I started working under Stephan – he seemed like a genuine guy; always got a smile, knows his job, drives like the president’s body guard, and is always there to give a helping hand…
But what I was soon to find out is that he would have a major impact in my life. In my 2 and a half years at Brandwacht Game Reserve, I gained numerous qualifications, lots of experience and knowledge. But what topped it all for me as an aspiring guide was PASSION. And that you cannot can’t learn by studying; for me it came by gaining experience and I cannot explain how he did it but purely that spending time with him in nature and sharing love for the outdoors with him filled me with passion – and this drove me to work hard and aspire to be a better nature guide!”
Mark Heystek
field guide-barefoot buchwacking
Honeyguide Academy Mentorship program
“I started my mentorship program with Honey Guide Academy situated on the Beautiful Brandwacht Game Reserve in a October 2021 just before busy/peak season. From growing up in Cape Town and not having all the resources available to me it was a big jump from city life to bush life, Stephan the head guide of Garden Route Safari Camp and my mentor made that jump seem very small with all his knowledge, experience and skills. His underlying passion for conservation and education regarding nature and the bush was really amazing to see and later on understand as well. Needless to say the busy season went well and was a huge success for my guiding career but couldn’t have been done without the help of the team.
My course originally was 3 months which got extended through to 6 months and after attaining my FGASA NQF2 qualification there was opportunity to study further through the academy to further qualify and get my FGASA NQF4 which i later did.
Throughout my time studying whilst working, Honey Guide Academy didn’t just help me get my qualifications it helped with so many other things within the tourism industry, it ignited many passions and hobbies such as photography, birding, conservation and more. The course also then later on led for new job opportunities at other reserves in the surrounding areas.
For people who are wanting to get into the guiding industry and become a field guide I could not recommend Stephan and Unelle at Honey Guide Academy more! An amazing team.”
Jared Meyer
NQF04 field guide
Visit Honeyguide Academy
“Showing You Nature’s Gold”
We Take Small Groups Of People On An Adventure Of A Lifetime, Immersing Them In Nature’s Classroom, Guiding Them To Develop An Understanding And Interpretation Of The Natural World.
Head Office
Garden Route Safari Camp, Brandwag, Mossel Bay, Western Cape
- +27 10 001 4254 – Office
- +27 65 606 5475 – Unelle
- +27 60 575 3916 – Stephan
- info@thehoneyguide.co.za
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