Safari Guide
of the Year
Welcome to
![](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SGOTY-2024-Higher-res.png)
Mhondoro Safari Lodge and Villa: Our five-star Host Sponsor for Safari Guide of the Year 2024!
Safari Guide of the Year 2024 Video Highlights
The Amazing Race Team Challenge
Safari Guide of the Year 2024 Day 1 Highlights
Safari Guide of the Year 2024 Day 2 Highlights
Safari Guide of the Year 2024 Day 3 Highlights
Safari Guide of the Year 2024 Day 4 Highlights
Safari Guide of the Year 2024 Day 5 Highlights
Safari Guide of the Year 2024 Day 6 Highlights
All video brought to you by the incredible Too Wild Productions!
Meet the Judges
![Mike Karantonis](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2-300x300.png)
Mike Karantonis
Co-founder of Safari Guide of the Year, Tintswalo Group Head Guide
Judges in categories:
• Game Drive
• Storytelling
• Hosting and Hospitality
![Lucas Mathonsi](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/4-300x300.png)
Lucas Mathonsi
FGASA Senior Tracker
Judges in categories:
• Track and Sign
• Storytelling
• Hosting and Hospitality
![Michelle du Plessis](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SGOTY-Judges-Images-300x300.png)
Michelle du Plessis
Managing Director of FGASA
Judging for categories:
• Game Drive
• Storytelling
• Hosting and Hospitality
![Juan Pinto](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/3-300x300.png)
Juan Pinto
FGASA Scout and Director at Royal Malewane
Judging in categories:
• Guided Walk
• Track and Sign
• Advanced Rifle Handling
• Bird Slide and Sound
• Storytelling
• Hosting and Hospitality
![James Steyn](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/5-300x300.png)
James Steyn
FGASA Scout and General Manager at Senalala
Judges in categories:
• Guided Walk
• Track and Sign
• Advanced Rifle Handling
• Storytelling
• Hosting and Hospitality
![SGOTY Judges – Images (1)](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SGOTY-Judges-Images-1-300x300.png)
Alan Yeowart
FGASA Professional Field Guide, Scout and Assessor
Judging for categories:
• Game Drive
• Storytelling
• Hosting and Hospitality
![Shannon Wild](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SGOTY-Judges-Images-300x300.png)
Shannon Wild
Award winning National Geographic Wildlife Photographer and Filmmaker
Judges in categories:
• Guided Photographic Experience
![Cameron Pearce](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SGOTY-Judges-Images-300x300.png)
Cameron Pearce
FGASA Assessor, Mentor and Professional Field Guide, Winner of Safari Guide of the Year 2022
Judges in categories:
• Guided Photographic Experience
Meet the winners
2024 Winner
![H.J. Esterhuizen](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/16-300x300.png)
H.J.
Esterhuizen
Runner-up
Ashley
Meintjes
![Ashley Meintjes](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/19-300x300.png)
Finalist
Tracey
Bruton
![Tracey Bruton](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/17-300x300.png)
Finalist
Themba
Mabunda
![Themba Mabunda](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/18-300x300.png)
Finalist
Phillip
Wessels
![Phillip Wessels](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20-300x300.png)
Invitational Candidate
Lewyn
Maefala
![Lewyn Maefala](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/21-300x300.png)
2023 Winner
![Kimberlee Le Hanie](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/24.png)
Kimberlee
Le Hanie
Runner-up
Jan
Dykema
![Jan Dykema](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/25.png)
Finalist
Pioneer
Moyo
![Pioneer Moyo](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/27.png)
Finalist
Warren
Deyzel
![Warren Deyzel](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/26.png)
Finalist
Ruan
Coetzee
![Ruan Coetzee](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/28.png)
Invitational Candidate
Francois
du Plessis
![Francois du Plessis](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/29.png)
2022 Winner
![Cameron Pearce Cameron Pearce, the 2022 winner of Safari Guide of the Year.](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Cameron-Pearce.png)
Cameron
Pearce
Runner-up
Ruvan
Grobler
![Ruvan Grobler](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ruvan-Grobler-300x300.png)
Finalist
Liam
Henderson
![Liam Henderson](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Liam-Henderson.png)
Finalist
Solomon
Ndlovu
![Solomon Ndlovu](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Solomon-Ndlovu.png)
Finalist
Nico
Brits
![Nico Brits](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Nico-Brits.png)
2021 Winner
![Togara Charingira](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Togara-Charingira-1024x1024.png)
Togara
Charingira
Runner-up
Shaun
D’Ároujo
![Shaun D’Ároujo](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Shaun-DAroujo-1024x1024.png)
Finalist
Wayne
Howarth
![Wayne Howarth](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Wayne-Howarth-1024x1024.png)
Finalist
Civilised
Ngwenya
![Civilised Ngwenya](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Civilised-Ngwenya-1024x1024.png)
Finalist
Mike
Meidlinger
![Mike Meidlinger](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mike-Meidlinger-1024x1024.png)
2019 Winner
![Riaan Fourie](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Riaan-Fourie-1024x1024.png)
Riaan
Fourie
Runner-up
Margaux
Langley
![Margaux Le Roux](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Margaux-Le-Roux-1024x1024.png)
Finalist
Antony
Collet
![Antony Collet](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Antony-Collet-1024x1024.png)
Finalist
Rassie
Jacobss
![Rassie Jacobs](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rassie-Jacobs-1024x1024.png)
Finalist
Julius
Mkhize
![Julius Mkhize](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Julius-Mkhize-1024x1024.png)
What to Expect
Below is an article from James Tyrrell, winner of Safari Guide of the Year 2018 on his experience.
I had never agonized for so long over the call of an African Fish Eagle.
“Surely that’s too easy?”
“What if it’s a trick?”
“Could be a drongo putting on a really good mimic…”
These were the ridiculous thoughts going through my head within minutes of the start of SGOTY 2018.
Identifying bird calls is normally such a treat when out in the bush, but now, only a few calls into our first assessment, I could barely hold my pen my hands were sweating so much; I was second guessing myself on every question, and at one point I panicked and just wrote down White Browed Scrub-Robin as an answer three times in a row, in the hope that at least one of them would be right (none of them were!).
It’s pretty hilarious that when your guiding abilities are being scrutinized by some of the industry’s finest, the pressure can feel like it’s suddenly been cranked up to 11.
Driving celebrity guests? No problem.
2 weeks with a high-profile international wildlife photographer on your vehicle? Piece of cake.
Identify a francolin call you’ve heard 5 000 times before, during the SGOTY birding assessment? Uh-oh.
![](https://www.fgasa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/35686724_1991329647586556_3308765040160538624_n.jpg)