35 Years of FGASA: A Legacy of Guiding Excellence

In August 2025, the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) proudly celebrates its 35th anniversary—a milestone that marks over three decades of dedication to setting and upholding the highest standards of guiding across Southern Africa. Since its founding in 1990, FGASA has remained committed to elevating the profession of guiding, transforming it from an informal role into a recognised, respected, and legally aligned career path. 

FGASA was established by a small group of passionate conservationists and educators who recognised the urgent need for a standardised framework in a field that, at the time, had no formal qualifications, regulation, or ethical benchmarks. Their vision laid the foundation for an association that would go on to define what it means to be a professional nature guide. 

Today, FGASA is proud to serve as a Professional Body for Field Guides and Trackers in Southern Africa. Over the past 35 years, we have not only developed and refined industry-leading training and assessment frameworks, but also played a vital role in shaping national guiding qualifications. FGASA’s contribution to the guiding sector has ensured that guiding is no longer just a job, but a career grounded in knowledge, safety, ethics, and professionalism. 

Through collaboration with industry partners, training providers, lodges, government stakeholders, and conservation organisations, FGASA has championed transformation, inclusion, and access to quality education. Our commitment to ethics, safety, environmental responsibility, and continuous professional development has set the benchmark for the tourism and hospitality sector. 

We would not be where we are today without the continued support and collaboration of our members, industry partners, endorsed delivery partners, and stakeholders. The dedication and insight of subject matter experts and experienced assessors have played a vital role in developing the highest standards of professionalism alongside FGASA. We are especially grateful to our members, who drive and inspire us every day. Representing you as a Professional Body is both an honour and a responsibility we carry with pride. Your ongoing commitment to the FGASA Code of Conduct and Ethics is what makes our standards of professionalism the preferred benchmark across the industry. We are proud to support you on your guiding journey . 

FGASA’s influence now extends well beyond South Africa, with guides from across the continent and around the world choosing FGASA career development courses to build their skills and credibility. Our international reputation reflects the calibre of our members and the robustness of our training and designation systems. 

As we look to the future, FGASA’s role as the Professional Body will continue to grow—professionalising guiding, advocating for the recognition of guides as skilled and ethical practitioners, and reinforcing the value of guiding as a cornerstone of conservation and tourism. 

Here’s to 35 years of guiding excellence—and the decades still to come.