The age-old conundrum facing enthusiastic young people embarking on a career is that it's hard to get a job without experience, but you can't get experience without a job.

Now Bushwise, which runs one of the most respected field guiding courses, is offering hospitality graduates and people embarking on a hospitality career, internship opportunities at some of the country's top luxury safari lodges.

Its 10- and 19-week hospitality internship programmes are available for chefs, food and beverage staff, front-of-house and receptionists and spa therapists. The programmes are open to anyone over 18 who has successfully completed a hospitality-related course. People within the industry who have at least a year's experience and would like to expand their career prospects can also apply.

The internships start with a fortnight at the Bushwise campus, close to the Kruger National Park. Here prospective interns will gain an understanding of South African wildlife and the Big Five, conservation issues and an overview of the South African safari industry. Topics include introductory courses on birds, mammals, trees and even wines to potentially dangerous animal behaviour, wilderness first aid, bush banqueting  and lodge policies and procedures.

The interns are then placed at a pre-selected lodge, depending on their interests and skill-sets. Here they work in lodge operations and participate in skills exchange programmes. Placement destinations include the Motswari Game Lodge, The Karongwe Portfolio, Nkambeni Tented Lodge, Rhino River Lodge and Ngama Tented Safari Lodge.

“The hospitality internships grew out of the successful internship programme we have in place for our field guides, on the strength of which the majority are able to secure future employment. Discussions with some hospitality schools suggested that there was demand for similar placements for their graduates. As we have good existing relationships with a number of lodges, it seemed a natural progression,” says Sophie Niemann, Bushwise co-founder.

She adds that now is a good time to be considering a career in hospitality. Amongst the recent swathe of poor economic growth data the hospitality sector stands out as one of the few exceptions. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' hospitality outlook report 2014 – 2018 for the first time since 2009 the industry is poised for solid growth.

The next internships are start on 5 November 2014, 8 March 2015 or 12 July 2015. Discounted rates for South African citizens are R25 995 for the 10-week course and R28 745 for the 19-week course. The fees include guaranteed placement, two-week orientation, skills exchange, accommodation and food during working hours on placement, first-aid certificate and 24/7 support.

For more information go to: http://bushwise.co.za/course/hospitality-internships