Safari Guide
of the Year
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Watch our Highlights from 2024
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!
Nomination Criteria
FGASA member, fully paid up and qualified
5 years or more working bush experience
Trails Guide (NQF4) qualification
Minimum NQF4 Nature Site Guide qualification
Meet the Judges

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
FGASA Senior Tracker
Judges in categories:
• Track and Sign
• Storytelling
• Hosting and Hospitality

Michelle du Plessis
Managing Director of FGASA
Judging for categories:
• Game Drive
• Storytelling
• Hosting and Hospitality

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
FGASA Scout and General Manager at Senalala
Judges in categories:
• Guided Walk
• Track and Sign
• Advanced Rifle Handling
• Storytelling
• Hosting and Hospitality

Alan Yeowart
FGASA Professional Field Guide, Scout and Assessor
Judging for categories:
• Game Drive
• Storytelling
• Hosting and Hospitality

Shannon Wild
Award winning National Geographic Wildlife Photographer and Filmmaker
Judges in categories:
• Guided Photographic Experience

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
Runner-up
Ashley
Meintjes

Finalist
Tracey
Bruton

Finalist
Themba
Mabunda

Finalist
Phillip
Wessels

Invitational Candidate
Lewyn
Maefala

2023 Winner

Kimberlee
Le Hanie
Runner-up
Jan
Dykema

Finalist
Pioneer
Moyo

Finalist
Warren
Deyzel

Finalist
Ruan
Coetzee

Invitational Candidate
Francois
du Plessis

2022 Winner

Cameron
Pearce
Runner-up
Ruvan
Grobler

Finalist
Liam
Henderson

Finalist
Solomon
Ndlovu

Finalist
Nico
Brits

2021 Winner

Togara
Charingira
Runner-up
Shaun
D’Ároujo

Finalist
Wayne
Howarth

Finalist
Civilised
Ngwenya

Finalist
Mike
Meidlinger

2019 Winner

Riaan
Fourie
Runner-up
Margaux
Langley

Finalist
Antony
Collet

Finalist
Rassie
Jacobss

Finalist
Julius
Mkhize

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.
