The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) has decided to introduce a grading system for Corporate Lodge/Camp membership based on a Bronze, Silver and Gold membership category.
The purpose of the categories is to give recognition to a lodge or camp that promotes FGASA as an association and its standards, as well as providing support and creating career paths for its member guides.
There are fairly strict requirements to qualify along with a scale of benefits to the corporate membership categories.
“The most important aspect of a wildlife experience in a lodge or camp is the guide and it is felt by FGASA that the guides need to be recognised for what they do for the lodge in all aspects. It is felt that it is time that employers of guides make use of the quality of their guides to promote the particular wildlife experience they are offering,” said Grant Hine, managing director.
“In short, the lodge or camp is graded according to how it treats its guides and other staff members in terms of skills development, accommodation, salaries in relation to qualifications, years of experience and job requirements,” he said.
Two lodges have been graded under the scheme, both of which received Gold status. The lodges graded are Royal Malewane and Singita Game lodge.
“It is hoped that lodges/camps will make use of this grading system as part of their marketing strategy,” concluded Hine.