The Nature College

Meet the Team

 Johan Fourie had been part of the SA National Parks for 20 years. He started his conservation career as a trails ranger, doing duty for 4 years on the Wolhuter and Olifants Trails in the Kruger National Park . After that he progressed into the field of environmental education, social ecology, and later back to wildlife management, where he was responsible for developing the wildlife management skills of conservation staff.  Johan resigned from the SANP in June 2000.  He now runs his own business as MD of The Nature College Wild Life Training (Pty) Ltd. 

Johan is a National Nature Guide Dangerous Animals Areas (Level 4) with FGASA Level 3 SKS Dangerous Game. He is also a CyberTracker accredited Track and Sign Specialist and Evaluator, as well as being THETA Assessor and Moderator and SASSETA Assessor and  FGASA Evaluator.

Johan’s first love is to take people into the bush and to share to his passion for nature with them. He has developed a unique holistic approach to nature interpretation, which he applies in the fields of environmental education, training, development and personal growth. He is also a professional field guide with specialist skills in the handling of dangerous animals.  

Johan has assembled a team of experts associated with The Nature College.  Their collective skills and experience makes this a              formidable group.

Advisory Members and Co-Authors of our handbooks

• Izak Rust is a retired professor of Geology, and is our technical expert for geological publications and training programmes.  Izak also acts as specialist guide on his fascinating geology tours.   He is co-author of Introduction to Nature Guiding (SA and Namibian versions).
• Dr John Almond is a palaeontogist by training, having trained at Cambridge .  He has extensive experience of the South African geology and palaeontology, and his expert knowledge is used in presenting scientific field excursions.  He is co-author of the book Advanced Nature Guiding.
• Trevor Dearlove started wilderness trails in the Kruger National Park, and has retired from the SA National Parks after a distinguished career in research, field guiding and public relations.  Trevor's expert knowledge on guiding and interpretation is applied in training and scientific nature tours. He is a THETA L4 Guide and Training facilitator.  Trevor has extensive experience in equestrian guiding.

Directors and full-time staff

Kobus Lubbe is the Director Operations of The Nature College.  Kobus started our Nature Guide Development Programme in 2005.  After this he spent 3 years in the Delta area of Botswana, picking up very valuable and extensive experience.  Kobus is qualified as an Advanced Nature Guide (Level 4), with Tracking Level 3 as well as Dangerous Animals Level 4.  He also has extensive management and research experience.

 

 

 

 

JJ Minye is a Director of The Nature College, and one of a handful of Master Trackers in South Africa. He has distinguished himself during the pilot project which led to the development of the CyberTracker. At the time he was employed by SA National Parks in the Karoo National Park. His skills as Field Ranger also makes him an invaluable instructor in Field Ranger programmes. JJ is also a qualified Level 4 Nature Guide.

 

 

 

 

Jane Fourie is the Director Logistics.  Among her numerous tasks she is responsible for Financial Management, placement of guides and hospitality.  She has years of experience in tourism, hospitality and the lodge industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacques & Nadia Tredoux.  They met at Bushmans Kloof as friends and got married in August 2010.  Jacques is Student coordinator and Nadia is PA to the Directors.  Nadia studied as a Nursary School Teacher and moved to  Bushmans Kloof in January 2006 as Assistant Front Office Manager.  She later became Reservations Officer in the Head Office and then moved back to the Cederberg Mountains to become the Front Office Manager.  Jacques was born and raised on a farm near the Cederberg and attended Augsburg Agricultural High School. He then studied marketing, advertizing and promotion.  He completed the Development Programme (Level 4) at The Nature College in 2006 .  He started working at Bushmans Kloof as a guide in 2006 and then later became Head Guide. 

 

 

---

Freelance personnel

Danie Lourens is a highly experienced training facilitator and assessor. He operates as Level 4 Nature Guide and Trails Guide and is qualified as Level 3 Tracker.  He is also a Professional Hunter. 

Marius Brand has 21 years of experience with W-Cape Nature Conservation Board. He started his conservation career in the Cedarberg, before moving to Anysberg. Marius is a THETA L4 Field Guide Dangerous Animals Areas (qualified through The Nature College), Level 3 Tracker, and also a THETA Assessor and Trainer. He has a BTech in Wildlife Management and specialises in the training of Field Rangers.  He has developed expert knowledge in Leave No Trace application and training in parks.

Ed Hill is a Level 4 Nature Guide and a qualified ETDP assessor.  His experience includes field guiding in various regions of Southern Africa.  He has been an honorary ranger with SA National Parks since 1994 and has held the posts of chairman of iKapa Honorary Rangers and vice chairman of FGASA (Western Cape).  He is responsible for coordinating nature training programs that are run on a part time basis in the Cape Town and West Coast environs through the Mons Mensa Campus of The Nature College.  

---

In Memoriam

Oom (uncle) Dawid Bester was an expert tracker, recognised as one of the best in Southern Africa. Sadly Oom Dawid died on the 1st of August 2001. He was one of only three people to have obtained the certification of Master Tracker. His special inputs in our training programmes was invariably the highlight of many courses. His wonderful personality and superb tracking skills will be sorely missed. We thank Oom Dawid for the privilege of knowing him and working with him for all these years.

Vetpiet Kleinman was a legend in the Kalahari. He shared with oom Dawid Bester the rare distinction of being a Master Tracker. His incredible interpretive skills of the signs of the Kalahari desert was the highlight of our Kalahari tours. Vetpiet was also the chief instructor on our Advanced Tracker Training Programme. Vetpiet was tragically killed in a car accident on 28 March 2004. His skills are lost forever, and we cherish the moments that we have spent together.

---