game lodge management · 2020-05-21 · hosting guests is your business and “hosting” them...
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Game Lodge Management
Important note: Because this course and assessment comes to us from
Wilderness Safaris, many of the questions, their answers and contents reflect
their internal policies, procedures and protocols and are therefore highly
subjective. Each lodge will function per their own internal procedures, within
the laws of their country.
- WildlifeCampus - Game Lodge Management Course
This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or
reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus
2
Philosophy of Game Lodge Management © Copyright
This is the most comprehensive theory course of its kind offered anywhere in the world.
This course is the best possible preparation you can undertake to begin a career in
Game Lodge Management.
The philosophy behind WildlifeCampus is quite simple - it is about conservation and
how the average person really can make a difference. The whole concept of
WildlifeCampus can be summed up by a very simple idiom:
- Tell them, and they may forget.
- Show them, and they may remember.
but
- Involve them, and they will understand.
We hope you will come to a greater understanding of the incredible wonders that our
world has to offer, and the fragility of that world.
Take with you the fact that just by participating as you are, you will already have
helped in the great battle that is conservation.
Enjoy the course and welcome to WildlifeCampus!
Welcome to The
Wildlifecampus
Game Lodge
Management Course!
- WildlifeCampus - Game Lodge Management Course
This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or
reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus
3
Philosophy of Game Lodge Management © Copyright
The call of Africa, a poem by C Emily-Dibb When you’ve acquired a taste for dust, The scent of our first rain, You’re hooked for life on Africa And you’ll not be right again Till you can watch the setting moon And hear the jackals bark And know that they’re around you Waiting in the dark. When you long to see the elephants, Or to hear the coucal’s song, When the moonrise sets your blood on fire, You’ve been away too long. It’s time to cut the traces loose And let your heart go free Beyond that far horizon, Where your spirit yearns to be. Africa is waiting… come! Since you’ve touched the open sky And learned to love the rustling grass, The wild fish eagle’s cry, You’ll always hunger for the bush, For the lion’s rasping roar, To camp at last beneath the stars And to be at peace once more.
©Wilderness Safaris
- WildlifeCampus - Game Lodge Management Course
This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or
reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus
4
Philosophy of Game Lodge Management © Copyright
d Introduction
The philosophy of successful Game Lodge Management can be based on five
principles:
To provide the best adventure safaris possible, profitably.
Tourism through the revenue brought into the country and job creation is one way
to preserve the fast dwindling wilderness areas in Southern Africa and makes it
beneficial to the country.
All employees should obtain long-term personal fulfilment as well as future growth
prospects within the company.
The company, its directors and employees should derive short, as well as long term
financial benefits.
The lodge must always maintain sound conservation principles.
Module # 1 – Component # 1
Philosophy of
Game Lodge
Management
©Wilderness Safaris
- WildlifeCampus - Game Lodge Management Course
This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or
reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus
5
Philosophy of Game Lodge Management © Copyright
Your objective
To ensure that the standard of your safaris is well above that of your competitors. Your
long-term objective is to build your safari company to become nationally and
internationally recognized as one of the finest adventure companies on the market in
that region. To do this your short-term objectives are to achieve the following:
1. Competitive advantage
2. Quality and innovation
3. Productivity
4. Profitability
©Wilderness Safaris
- WildlifeCampus - Game Lodge Management Course
This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or
reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus
6
Philosophy of Game Lodge Management © Copyright
General statement of intent
Your lodge should strive to be a “low impact” safari company that does not contribute
to the degradation of the area.
To achieve this, there are a few basic rules:
Guides must obey all park rules.
No harassing of animals.
No disturbing of breeding areas.
No burying of rubbish.
All trash must be removed from campsites and handed over to the park disposal
area or burnt and lodges must have adequate rubbish pits, all bottles and cans to
be recycled.
When leaving a campsite, the area must be clean and fire ashes buried.
Burning of wood should be minimal.
©Wilderness Safaris
- WildlifeCampus - Game Lodge Management Course
This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or
reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus
7
Philosophy of Game Lodge Management © Copyright
Minimum standards
Should your lodge company have more than one camp, you must have agreed
standards for as many activities, services, equipment and materials as possible. You
cannot leave as important a factor as guest satisfaction to chance, so set
performance standards on different tasks, services and procedures. Your standards
should be based on guest requirements, levels of service, accommodation and
personal attention.
It is your responsibility to ensure that these standards are maintained and provide
regular feedback to your concession manager. This is necessary to monitor and adapt
standards as guest requirements change.
©Wilderness Safaris
- WildlifeCampus - Game Lodge Management Course
This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or
reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus
8
Philosophy of Game Lodge Management © Copyright
Characteristics of a lodge manager
Unlike a hotel manager who is more of an administrator, a lodge manager is constantly
involved with their guests. A manager must be able to educate and entertain his
guests as well as run a professional operation.
Some characteristics to look for when employing someone for this position, for
individuals already in this position or those striving for such a position:
Ability to confidently deal with and communicate with guests and staff from
different backgrounds and cultures.
Love of lifestyle - you must love living and working in the bush and be driven by
the love of the outdoors, not monetary funds. You must be able to handle the
isolation of being cut off from the comforts of modern town living.
Broad education either formal or informal - you should be knowledgeable in all
topics including fauna and flora. Self-improvement by taking extra courses and
earning extra certificates not only helps broaden your knowledge, but also puts
you in a good position towards employment, as it shows you are driven and
determined.
Ability to deal with staff i.e. leadership qualities. You must be able to accept and
delegate responsibilities. Motivate your staff and be trusted and respected by
them.
©Wilderness Safaris
- WildlifeCampus - Game Lodge Management Course
This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or
reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus
9
Philosophy of Game Lodge Management © Copyright
Organizational skills - Organize your office, staff, time, workshop, catering,
accommodation, maintenance and all other aspects of managing the lodge
professionally and profitably.
You must be presentable - neat, clean and pleasing to the eye.
Initiative - You must be able to handle all types of emergencies and crises calmly
and efficiently and constantly plan.
Self-motivated - Be positive and have the right attitude, remain motivated, caring
and level-headed through all situations - this requires strong work ethic, loyalty and
honesty.
You cannot afford to be moody or take personal problems to work.
Be prepared to work long hours - seven days a week.
People-pleasing - You must enjoy working with and pleasing people and be
outgoing.
Service orientated - You must know what guests want, what pleases and
disappoints them.
©Wilderness Safaris
- WildlifeCampus - Game Lodge Management Course
This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or
reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus
10
Philosophy of Game Lodge Management © Copyright
The Lodge Credo
Your lodge or lodge group should strive to provide the finest possible safaris in the
Earth’s wild places. Your company should be holistic, conservation-orientated, non-
consumptive, caring and ethically driven.
Low volume, low impact, non-consumptive tourism is the finest way to create a
sustainable engine for economic growth for the country, its people, your staff and
partners. Your activities must help stimulate these economies so that all
stakeholders help protect the environment and its wildlife.
Everything you do as a travel and safari company must add value: to the countries
in which you operate; to the environment; to the communities who live around the
wild places where you operate; to the people who work for you; to your guests; to
your partners; to your company.
Put the environments in which you work above everything else. Your ethics should
rely on you to say “no” to guests’ requests if that request compromises your
principles (i.e. is harmful to the environment, their safety or the safety of your
employees).
Recognise that one of your primary resources is your staff. They are, in every
respect, the interface between your products, the environment, your guests and
your clients.
Believe that it is your responsibility to employ from, train and help uplift the
communities in the areas where you are represented. Ensure the prospering of
these rich cultures, the wildlife that surrounds them and the wild places they
occupy. Aim to provide the framework to enable these communities to fully
embrace their environmental and cultural heritages and become the custodians
of the future.
On your safaris and in your camps, you host, entertain and educate your guests,
striving to give them holistic experiences that will produce new (or re-affirmed)
conservationists and create guests for life. At the end of the safari, your guests
should become the new ambassadors for your lodge company and Africa. To take
Africa’s messages of hope and conservation around the globe.
Hosting guests is your business and “hosting” them means making them feel at
home. Create an atmosphere and an ambience in your camps that makes your
guests feel as though they are in their hosts’ home. Your employees must enjoy
interacting with guests and understand that your future depends on how well they
look after your guests and how much they enjoy their stay with you.
- WildlifeCampus - Game Lodge Management Course
This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or
reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus
11
Philosophy of Game Lodge Management © Copyright
The safety of your guests and employees and their enjoyment of their travels with
you are paramount.
If you are not nurturing the environment or looking after your guests, (or the people
who support your people who do), then you may not be best suited for this business.
Looking after people is what you do. If you do not like dealing with guests (or your
customers - i.e. agents) then you do not have a long-term future in this industry.
Always live by the principle of “under-promising and over-delivering” and always
act in all your dealings with integrity!
If you are happy with these core values and guiding principles,
you will find your life in the lodge and safari industry rewarding,
enriching, educational and fun!
©Wilderness Safaris
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