FGASA is proud to announce that Charles Delport and Paul Slyer have recently achieved the Specialist Knowledge and Skills Dangerous Game (SKS DG) Trails Guide certification — one of the most challenging and prestigious certificates within the guiding profession.
This accomplishment represents years of practice, dedication, discipline, and commitment to both personal development and the highest professional standards of guiding.
To reach this level, guides must already hold the Professional Field Guide and Professional Trails Guide certifications. From there, the pathway demands an exceptional level of skill, time, and effort. The candidates need to have logged at least 1200 hours walking in dangerous game areas as well as have 600 encounters with at least 30 encounters with each of the eight dangerous game category animals.
The candidates need to pass the SKS theory exam, SKS advanced rifle handling evaluation, this is an overnight shooting assessment that includes various advanced exercises such as the Hailey’s Hop and night shoot. Additionally the candidates must also hold a Tracker III certification (Track & Sign III + Trailing III). Two SKS DG candidates then need to complete the assessment, which is a multi-day wilderness backpack style trail accompanied by two SKS DG assessors. The reason two candidates are assessed simultaneously is to provide a mechanism for peer-to-peer review and feedback while on trail. At this level, the trails guides need to be able to provide constructive feedback to each other. Only once the assessment is complete and the candidates are found competent will they be awarded SKS DG Trails Guide status.
It is a process that takes years of commitment and demonstrates a guide’s ability to operate safely, ethically, and professionally in some of the most demanding wilderness environments.
By achieving this milestone, Charles and Paul join an elite group of guides who have proven their competence at the very highest levels of trails guiding. Their success highlights not only their personal dedication but also the rigorous standards FGASA sets for guiding professionalism and safety.
FGASA warmly congratulates Charles and Paul on this outstanding achievement. The journey to SKS DG Trails Guide is an inspiration to the entire guiding community, and we are proud to stand behind guides who embody the professionalism, ethics, and excellence that FGASA represents.
Well done, Charles and Paul — your hard work and commitment have set the bar for guiding excellence and inspired those guides around you and under your mentorship to continue to work towards their own career development.
Paul Slyer and Charles Delport pictured with FGASA Assessors, Alan Yeowart and James Steyn upon successfully passing the SKS DG Trails Guide assessment. Pictured from left to right: Alan Yeowart, Paul Slyer, Charles Delport, James Steyn.