The Woodland Ways Game Ranger Experience & CyberTracker Training is a composed, professional immersion into the African bush—designed for those seeking depth, authenticity, and first-hand exposure to modern wildlife conservation at the highest level. This is not a safari, a simulation, or an adventure holiday. It is a deliberately structured experience that offers rare access to the realities of ranger life, predator landscapes, and evidence-led tracking practice.
Delivered in partnership with Colin Patrick, one of South Africa’s most respected Master Trackers, the programme combines extended time on foot in big-game country with cultural context, conservation insight, and formal CyberTracker Track & Sign training. Throughout, the emphasis is on judgement, restraint, and understanding—qualities essential to working competently and ethically in wild systems.
For participants who wish, the internationally recognised CyberTracker assessment may be undertaken during the course. This is included within the expedition cost and represents a respected benchmark in professional tracking education.
"In 2014 I had the most wonderful privilege to join Colin on a CyberTracker Course and Assessment in South Africa. I was immediately blown away by his extensive knowledge of not just tracking, but also the African bush. It is no wonder that we immediately partnered up with him and his team, and have returned each year since. Colin was able to bring to life the sign of the bush that most people would not have even registered... including myself. He has an amazing ability to interpret track and sign and we believe can offer a truly life enriching experience to those interested in tracking. Colin is a real expert in his field and we are very proud to link up with him to offer a wonderful opportunity to our friends and customers to join us again as we venture out to learn about the incredibly rich Flora and Fauna of the African Bush"
Jason Ingamells, Company Director
1. Choose the number of places you want to book.
2. Choose to pay a deposit or the full amount.
The balance payment is required no less than 8 weeks before your course commences. You will receive an invoice shortly after booking for the balance payment.
Please pay in full if the course start date falls within that period.
3. Select course date.
4. Click ’Next’ and complete the attendee details for each place you have booked.
The Woodland Ways Game Ranger Experience & CyberTracker Training is a composed, professional immersion into the African bush—designed for those seeking depth, authenticity, and first-hand exposure to modern wildlife conservation at the highest level. This is not a safari, a simulation, or an adventure holiday. It is a deliberately structured experience that offers rare access to the realities of ranger life, predator landscapes, and evidence-led tracking practice.
Delivered in partnership with Colin Patrick, one of South Africa’s most respected Master Trackers, the programme combines extended time on foot in big-game country with cultural context, conservation insight, and formal CyberTracker Track & Sign training. Throughout, the emphasis is on judgement, restraint, and understanding—qualities essential to working competently and ethically in wild systems.
For participants who wish, the internationally recognised CyberTracker assessment may be undertaken during the course. This is included within the expedition cost and represents a respected benchmark in professional tracking education.
"In 2014 I had the most wonderful privilege to join Colin on a CyberTracker Course and Assessment in South Africa. I was immediately blown away by his extensive knowledge of not just tracking, but also the African bush. It is no wonder that we immediately partnered up with him and his team, and have returned each year since. Colin was able to bring to life the sign of the bush that most people would not have even registered... including myself. He has an amazing ability to interpret track and sign and we believe can offer a truly life enriching experience to those interested in tracking. Colin is a real expert in his field and we are very proud to link up with him to offer a wonderful opportunity to our friends and customers to join us again as we venture out to learn about the incredibly rich Flora and Fauna of the African Bush"
Jason Ingamells, Company Director
Leadership, Lineage & Credibility
The relationship between Woodland Ways and Colin Patrick was established in 2014, when Director Jason Ingamells trained with Colin on a CyberTracker course in South Africa. That formative experience led to a long-standing collaboration grounded in shared values of professionalism, humility, and ecological literacy.
Colin’s contribution to tracking and ranger training is widely acknowledged. His work supports anti-poaching initiatives, ranger development programmes, and the evolution of modern tracking standards across southern Africa. Members of his family—also highly accomplished trackers—regularly contribute to the course, offering participants the rare opportunity to learn within a living lineage of bushcraft, conservation, and applied field knowledge.
Arrival & Base
Participants are met at Johannesburg International Airport and transferred north through changing Highveld and bushveld landscapes to the first base in Limpopo Province.
Accommodation is provided in a discreet, comfortable lodge within a private reserve dedicated to environmental education and conservation. Wildlife moves freely through the area, allowing immediate immersion without artifice.
There is no rigid daily itinerary. Each day responds to weather, animal movement, and opportunity. Time is spent predominantly on foot, developing fluency in reading track, sign, and behaviour while learning to move safely and confidently in big-game territory.
Specialist instruction during this phase may include: - Safe and appropriate movement in dangerous-game environments - Firearms handling and professional safety protocols - Anti-poaching operations and scene awareness - Reptile and snake identification and handling - Flora, fauna, and ecological interpretation - Vehicle-based and foot-led patrols
Range time is used to contextualise firearms within conservation and ranger work, emphasising responsibility and control.
Rhythm of Life in the Bush
Days begin early, aligned with peak wildlife activity. Mornings are spent on foot patrols or game drives, followed by a substantial late breakfast or brunch.
During the heat of the day, when animal movement slows, learning becomes more analytical. Tracks encountered earlier are examined in detail, behaviour patterns discussed, and plant species identified and contextualised within the wider ecosystem.
As temperatures ease, afternoons return participants to the field. Evenings may include night walks or drives, offering insight into nocturnal species and behaviour. On clear nights, instruction may extend to navigation and orientation using the southern hemisphere night sky, adding depth to environmental awareness.
Wildlife Rehabilitation & Conservation Reality
Midway through the programme, participants relocate to a wildlife rehabilitation centre with which Woodland Ways has established trusted access.
Here, the experience moves beyond observation. Under expert supervision, participants may assist with daily care routines and gain candid insight into the complexities of rehabilitation, veterinary intervention, and human–wildlife conflict. Talks delivered by conservation professionals provide a grounded understanding of the pressures facing wildlife and those tasked with protecting it.
Balule Reserve: Working in Big-Game Country
The second phase of the programme is based within the Balule Reserve, part of the unfenced greater Kruger ecosystem. This is a true predator landscape, shared with lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, hyena, and buffalo.
Accommodation is in a traditional tented safari camp, offering comfort without separation from the environment. From this base, participants conduct daily foot patrols and tracking exercises, operating with increasing confidence and composure in close proximity to dangerous game.
This phase focuses on: - Extended tracking and trailing exercises - Wildlife monitoring and behavioural interpretation - Applied conservation and patrol tasks - Advanced CyberTracker training and preparation
For those undertaking it, the CyberTracker assessment is conducted during this phase—an exacting but rewarding evaluation of tracking ability under real field conditions.
The Nature of the Experience
No two courses are ever the same. Wildlife dictates the agenda. Previous participants have: - Followed wild dog packs across open terrain - Assisted during live anti-poaching operations - Experienced elephant encounters on foot - Listened as hyena and leopard moved through camp at night - Witnessed complex predator behaviour and kill sites - Worked alongside highly trained conservation dogs deployed operationally across southern Africa
These moments are not staged or guaranteed. They arise through time, attentiveness, and professional access.
In Summary
The Game Ranger Experience & CyberTracker Training is one of the most serious and rewarding programmes offered by Woodland Ways. It develops far more than technical skill; it cultivates judgement, humility, and an informed respect for complex wild systems.
Participants leave with sharpened perception, deeper ecological understanding, and an authentic insight into the realities of modern conservation and ranger work. For those seeking a premium, professionally grounded immersion into the African bush, this experience stands apart for its integrity, depth, and lasting impact.
Safety & Professional Standards
All Woodland Ways expeditions operate in accordance with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, ensuring financial protection where applicable. Overseas expeditions are aligned with the British Safety Standard BS8848, reflecting our commitment to rigorous planning, risk management, and professional delivery.
Expeditions into extreme environments require experience, preparation, and accountability. Woodland Ways and our trusted partners are long‑established, highly regarded, and operate to exacting professional standards. We welcome informed questions and are confident in the systems in place to support you throughout this exceptional expedition.
