Frequently Asked Questions

Courses & Eligibility

Am I eligible?

Yes – anyone above the age of 18 can join! There are no specific qualifications or prerequisites required for our wildlife courses.

However, if you wish to participate in our underwater courses, you must hold a valid SCUBA certification. Please refer to the individual course details for specific requirements.

How long are the courses?

All courses run for 28 days, starting on the 1st of each month and ending on the 28th.

What will a typical day look like?

Each day combines fieldwork, lectures, and practical filming or photography sessions. Schedules vary depending on weather and wildlife activity, ensuring maximum hands-on experience.

How many participants are in each course?

To maintain a high-quality, hands-on and personalised learning environment, we keep our group sizes small – typically 3 to 5 participants per course.

Are group discounts available?

Yes! Please contact us at admin@africa-media.org to discuss options.

Do I need to speak English fluently?

All courses are conducted in English, so a basic conversational level helps you follow instruction and communicate with peers.

However, we have previously accommodated participants with limited English proficiency by providing additional support and guidance during the course. You’ll still be able to fully participate in field activities, workshops, and creative projects. If you’re concerned, please contact us in advance so we can discuss the best ways to support you.

What level of photography/videography experience do I need?

No prior experience is required – beginners are very welcome! Our courses are designed to accommodate all skill levels, from complete newcomers to experienced professionals. Our instructors provide hands-on guidance tailored to your experience, ensuring that everyone develops their skills and leaves with a strong portfolio and deeper understanding of wildlife media production.

Do I need to pay the full course fee upfront?

No. However, to secure your place, a non-refundable deposit of USD $750 is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance must be paid in full at least 30 days prior to the start of your course.

What does the course fee include?

The fee covers tuition, accommodation, in-country transportation, field excursions, and airport transfers. It does not include international flights, travel insurance, meals, or personal expenses.

Who owns the media I collect during the course?

All video, photo, and audio content you create during the course remains your property. However, the following licensing conditions apply:

Africa Media’s use: We retain the right to use your media for any non-exclusive purposes, including promotion, marketing, or publication, without additional permission or compensation.

Third-party licensing: You may license your footage to third parties, but only on a non-exclusive basis.

Will I receive a certificate after the course?

Yes. Upon completion, participants receive an Africa Media Certificate of Completion recognising their training and experience.

Will this open up opportunities in the industry?

Absolutely. Our courses are designed to bridge the gap between learning and working in the wildlife media industry. While we can’t guarantee employment, participants graduate with a strong professional portfolio, hands-on experience in the field, and industry-level training that stands out to employers and clients alike.

Logistics

Where will I stay?

Wildlife courses: Participants are accommodated at our on-site residence, Searle’s Manor, in the scenic town of Mossel Bay, South Africa. During the course, you’ll also spend one week at our exclusive safari camp at Bellevue Game Reserve.

Underwater courses: Participants stay at the Blue Wilderness Shark Centre in Scottburgh, South Africa.

What information do I need to make my travel arrangements?

Wildlife courses: If flying, please book your flight to George Airport (GRJ), South Africa. A member of our team will meet you at the airport for pickup and drop-off.

Underwater courses: If flying, please book your flight to King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban, South Africa. Our team will provide airport transfers to and from Scottburgh.

Are airport transfers included in the course fee?

Yes. Airport transfers (pickup and drop-off) are included in your course fee.

For wildlife courses, transfers are provided to and from George Airport, while for underwater courses, transfers are provided to and from King Shaka International Airport in Durban.

What should I pack?

We’ll provide a detailed packing list once you’ve been accepted into the course. Generally, pack comfortable field clothing, sun protection, sturdy footwear, and any personal electronics you’ll need. For underwater courses, you’ll also receive a list of recommended dive accessories.

Do I need to bring my own equipment or gear?

For our wildlife courses, most participants prefer to bring their own cameras and equipment. However, we can provide gear upon request in advance.

For our underwater courses, we supply all necessary dive and photographic equipment, though you’re welcome to bring your own if preferred.

All participants must bring their own laptop and an external hard drive with at least 1TB of storage. You will need Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing and Adobe Lightroom for photo editing.

Can I arrive early or stay longer after the course?

Yes, you’re welcome to arrive a few days early or extend your stay. However, accommodation outside the official course dates is not included in the course fee and must be arranged separately. We may be able to provide additional nights of accommodation at an extra cost – please contact us for details and availability.

Safety & Requirements

Is it safe to film the wildlife?

Yes. Your safety is our top priority. You’ll receive comprehensive safety training before any field activities and will always be supervised by experienced professionals. As long as safety guidelines are followed, the risk of injury is extremely low.

Do I need travel/medical insurance?

Yes. All participants are required to have valid travel and medical insurance for the duration of their stay in South Africa. While Africa Media provides thorough safety briefings and enforces strict safety protocols, our courses involve working in environments where accidents can occur. You will not be covered by Africa Media for any injuries, illnesses, or medical emergencies.

Although the risk of injury – particularly from wildlife – is extremely low when safety guidelines are followed, comprehensive insurance is essential to ensure you are protected in case of unforeseen incidents.

Please also ensure that your personal belongings and equipment are adequately insured, as Africa Media cannot be held liable for any loss, theft, or damage during your stay.

Do I require a work or volunteer visa?

No. You will not be employed by or receive payment from Africa Media, so a work or volunteer visa is not required. Participants typically enter South Africa on a temporary visitor’s (tourist) permit.

If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a volunteer visa through your local South African embassy or consulate.

Will I need any vaccinations?

Africa Media does not require any specific vaccinations to participate in our courses. However, we strongly recommend that you consult your country’s travel health recommendations for South Africa and ensure your routine vaccinations are up to date.

Signup

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This agreement describes the terms and conditions for participation in the Africa Media affiliate program. In this agreement, the term “affiliate” refers to you (the applicant). In this agreement, “Africa Media” refers to Africa Media Productions cc. You enter this agreement with Africa Media Productions cc. By applying to the Africa Media affiliate program you are confirming that you have read this agreement and agree to these terms and conditions.

Affiliate Programs
There is one type of affiliate program with Africa Media: affiliate program

Commissions
For a sale to generate a commission to an affiliate, the customer must complete the order form and remit a non-refundable USD750 deposit payment for the product. Commissions will only be paid on sales that are made when the customer clicks through qualified, correctly structured affiliate links (individually supplied to each affiliate). Properly coded links are the sole responsibility of the affiliate. Commissions can be viewed on the Affiliate Dashboard.

Payments to affiliates will only be made following requests by affiliates via a formal portal that is accessible on the Affiliate dashboard. Affiliates are entitled to accumulate commissions and commissions will not expire.

Payment
An affiliate can request a payment when their balance reaches a minimum balance of $200 USD. Payments can be requested once every 30 days. Payment processing can take up to 5 working days from the date it was requested. There are two types of payments that can be made in the affiliate program

Method 1. Payment into the affiliate PayPal account (as determined by email address supplied by an affiliate). Any fee applied by PayPal will be for the affiliate account.

Methods 2. Affiliates can transfer due commissions to their outstanding account with Africa Media. This is typically used to offset costs of upcoming participation of the affiliate in an Africa Media experiential learning program.

Refunds
In the event a customer requests and secures a refund for a transaction for which the affiliate has earned commissions, any commissions earned on the refund amount will be deducted from the affiliate’s balance.

Usage and Obligations
Affiliates are permitted to use the Africa Media brand and marketing resources available in the affiliates section of the Affiliate Program. Logos and other assets cannot be modified. The affiliate does not gain any trademark, copyright or any other rights to these materials.

The affiliate will never imply that they are acting on behalf of Africa Media. The affiliate is not an agent of Africa Media, nor employed by Africa Media. The affiliate will never bid for advertisements that compete with Africa Media.

The affiliate will never represent themselves, Africa Media or their relationship with Africa Media in a false or misleading way.

The affiliate will not engage in the distribution of an unsolicited bulk email (spam) mentioning or referencing Africa Media.

Term and Termination
Both parties have the right to terminate the agreement immediately without prior notice.

If the affiliate terminates the agreement, no further commissions from Africa Media will be paid for any past or future customer transactions.

If Africa Media chooses to terminate the agreement, any balance greater, or equal to $200 USD will be paid to the affiliate within 60 days of termination. Balances that are smaller than $200 will be forfeited.

Governing Law
This agreement shall be governed, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of South Africa, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

Arbitration
All claims and disputes arising under or relating to this agreement are to be settled by binding arbitration in South Africa. An award of arbitration may be confirmed in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Modification
We may modify any of the terms and conditions within this agreement at any time and at our sole discretion. These modifications may include, but are not limited to changes in the scope of available commissions, commission schedules, payment procedures and Affiliate Program rules.

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Terms and Conditions

Affiliate Programs

There is one type of affiliate program with Africa Media: affiliate program

Commissions

For a sale to generate a commission to an affiliate, the customer must complete the order form and remit a non-refundable USD750 deposit payment for the product. Commissions will only be paid on sales that are made when the customer clicks through qualified, correctly structured affiliate links (individually supplied to each affiliate). Properly coded links are the sole responsibility of the affiliate. Commissions can be viewed on the Affiliate Dashboard.

Payments to affiliates will only be made following requests by affiliates via a formal portal that is accessible on the Affiliate dashboard. Affiliates are entitled to accumulate commissions and commissions will not expire.

Payment

An affiliate can request a payment when their balance reaches a minimum balance of $200 USD. Payments can be requested once every 30 days. Payment processing can take up to 5 working days from the date it was requested. There are two types of payments that can be made in the affiliate program

Method 1. Payment into the affiliate PayPal account (as determined by email address supplied by an affiliate). Any fee applied by PayPal will be for the affiliate account.

Methods 2. Affiliates can transfer due commissions to their outstanding account with Africa Media. This is typically used to offset costs of upcoming participation of the affiliate in an Africa Media experiential learning program.

Refunds

In the event a customer requests and secures a refund for a transaction for which the affiliate has earned commissions, any commissions earned on the refund amount will be deducted from the affiliate’s balance.

Usage and Obligations

Affiliates are permitted to use the Africa Media brand and marketing resources available in the affiliates section of the Affiliate Program. Logos and other assets cannot be modified. The affiliate does not gain any trademark, copyright or any other rights to these materials.

The affiliate will never imply that they are acting on behalf of Africa Media. The affiliate is not an agent of Africa Media, nor employed by Africa Media. The affiliate will never bid for advertisements that compete with Africa Media.

The affiliate will never represent themselves, Africa Media or their relationship with Africa Media in a false or misleading way.

The affiliate will not engage in the distribution of an unsolicited bulk email (spam) mentioning or referencing Africa Media.

Term and Termination

Both parties have the right to terminate the agreement immediately without prior notice.

If the affiliate terminates the agreement, no further commissions from Africa Media will be paid for any past or future customer transactions.

If Africa Media chooses to terminate the agreement, any balance greater, or equal to $200 USD will be paid to the affiliate within 60 days of termination. Balances that are smaller than $200 will be forfeited.

Governing Law

This agreement shall be governed, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of South Africa, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

Arbitration

All claims and disputes arising under or relating to this agreement are to be settled by binding arbitration in South Africa. An award of arbitration may be confirmed in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Modification

We may modify any of the terms and conditions within this agreement at any time and at our sole discretion. These modifications may include, but are not limited to changes in the scope of available commissions, commission schedules, payment procedures and Affiliate Program rules.

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