Community development project to create black fly-fishing guides

[wksinclair]

We are working on a project to develop a core of guides from previously communities in South Africa. The personell will be trained on fly-fishing, birding, cultural tourism and then complete a Theta Tour guiding course so that they can be fully accredited with South African Tourism.

After the training we will provide mentoring for the guides so they can gain practical experience.

The guides will then be independant contractors. I have an extensive network of hotels, corporate clients and fly-fishing shops/operators that will provide employment for these guides.

Initially the aim is for the guides to provide a service in two inland provinces (Gauteng & Mpumulanga) - Top fresh water fishing destinations with a large portion of target clientele. Then they can expand their areas of expertise to be expanded to coastal and Zambezi areas.

This project requires the following assistance:

Funding to cover the fly-fishing and birding training
Funding to cover the tour guide course and accreditation
Funding for marketing material
Equipment (Fly-fishing rods/reels , birding books, binoculars) and uniforms for the guides
Vehicle to transport the guides to various locations to provide fly-fishing guiding service.


Any assistance would be appreciated.

We ran a guide training project approx 10 years ago at lodges in Zimbabwe, Zambia and mozambique that was quite succesful). This was generously supported by Thomas & Thomas fly-rods, Ross reels & The Fly-fisherman.

Regards

Wayne Sinclair
Sundowner Adventures & MBH Fly-fishing
sundown@iafrica.com