In early 2026, guides from across Zimbabwe and Botswana came together at Hideaways Nantwich Lodge for our cross-border safari guide training programme. Not just to revisit what they know, but to share it.
To compare notes from different landscapes, different camps, and the cultures and environments that shape each guiding experience, sharing knowledge across two countries and learning from one another.
“We learn a lot sharing different experiences…Zimbabwean guides, Botswana guides coming together as one.”
– JC, guide at Hideaways Nantwich Lodge.
Why We Started This Training
This training was created to bring our guides together in one place, to share knowledge and learn beyond their own environments and cultures. With guides working across Zimbabwe and Botswana, it builds a clearer understanding of how each region is unique, from its landscapes and wildlife to the cultures and communities connected to it.
It also plays an important role in how we operate across our multi-country safari circuits. By learning from one another, guides are better equipped to create a seamless, connected experience for guests travelling between camps and lodges, while staying grounded in conservation and local knowledge.
This is something we plan to continue each year.
Core Focuses of the Training
- Cross-border knowledge sharing between Zimbabwe and Botswana
- Supporting seamless multi-country safari circuits
- Strengthening guiding standards and guest experience
- Expanding local guide knowledge beyond one environment
- Interpreting wildlife behaviour, tracks, and ecosystems in the field
- A focus on conservation and responsible guiding
Training: In the Classroom
“We’ve learnt a lot…botany, flora and fauna, animals, and new ways of interacting with guests.”
– OP, Hideaways Mankwe Tented Retreat
Time in the classroom focused on strengthening the foundations of guiding. From geology and ecosystems to animal behaviour, birding, and even astronomy, guides explored how each element connects to the landscapes they interpret every day.
There was also a strong focus on the guest experience, from guiding ethics and communication to reading wildlife behaviour, interpreting tracks, and understanding how to approach sightings in a way that balances animal comfort with the guest experience.
Training: In the Field
Out in the field, that knowledge was put into practice. Moving through different areas of Hwange, guides worked through real scenarios, reading tracks, interpreting animal behaviour, and understanding how each ecosystem connects to the next.
It was here that discussions carried further, exploring how wildlife behaves across regions, and how each landscape, culture, and environment shapes the experience in the moment.
A Shared Way of Guiding
As this safari guide training came to a close, what stood out was not only the knowledge covered, but how it was carried forward by the guides themselves. Across different camps and levels of experience, there was a clear sense of alignment in how guiding is approached, shaped by both structure and time spent in the field.
This kind of work builds gradually. Skills are refined, perspectives shift, and a more consistent approach begins to take hold across the wider group.
“The highlight was seeing how the guides came to life from the moment they arrived to when they departed. From those with decades of experience, where you could see a renewed sense of interest and new knowledge, to the younger guides who absorbed everything at every moment. It was great to see how they bonded, shared stories, and built a new Hideaways guides’ brotherhood without borders.”
– Sulet, Head of Hideaways
Hear it From Our Guides
Take a closer look at how our guides experienced their training. Watch the video below.
