Once again, the Safari Guide of the Year (SGOTY) competition is upon us. This very prestigious event is powered every year by FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) and a major location sponsor – this year Kapama Private Game Reserve, a premium, five-star, luxury, wildlife destination in the Greater Kruger area. There are other co-sponsors involved, including Ruggerwear, Canon SA, Armadillo Media, Sapmok, FreeGo, Kruger2Canyon News and international guest sponsors. Key media partners include Kruger Sightings, Getaway, Out On Air, Kruger2Canyon News, and Chris Tosi. It takes place from the 2 – 8 June 2023.
The event showcases and recognises the very best guides in the safari industry. Guides are nominated, and the gruelling selection process is geared to select five finalists to compete against each other for the prestigious title of ‘Safari Guide of the Year’.
The competition is structured into eight categories and is held over one week. All categories are individually judged, and the results finally collated to determine the winner. The competition categories are game drive, guided walk, track and sign, advanced rifle handling, birding slide and sound, guided photographic experience, hospitality and professionalism, and last but not least, storytelling.
This year the finalists (in no specific order), are Warren Deyzel, Pioneer Moyo, Kimberlee Le Hanie, Jan Dykema and Ruan Coetzee. I managed to get in touch with each of them to find out a little more about them in a fun way, to scratch under the surface, and reveal a little more than just the professional guide that they all are.
Warren Deyzel
Warren is 36 years old and is single. He hails from Johannesburg. Every year from as far back as he can remember, his mother took him to the Kruger National Park. In fact, his first word, ‘look’, was uttered in the park much to the astonishment of his family. The Kruger Park was destined to be a big part of his life – which it now is.
Warren is a qualified Mechanical Engineer and Tool and Die Maker, and he gave up a six-year career in the aviation industry to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a nature guide. He now works at Imbali Safari Lodge and has been a guide for the past six and a half years.
He loves walking, and for him, his best is being able to explore the Kruger Park. Nothing challenges him more than being able to walk in unchartered areas. He explains that walking requires one to pay a lot of attention to many variables, have spatial awareness, process the environmental status, the vegetation, the animals, and there is the challenge of holding together your attention span over the duration of the walk. All that for him is very rewarding. And this is over and above the required protection that he must ensure for the guests that he is guiding.
Warren is excited at the prospect of being surrounded by the very best in the industry during the competition. He is looking to learn as much from them every day, and he also hopes to be mentored where necessary. He is viewing the whole experience as a measuring tool for his progress as a guide – where, and how far would he still need to go (in his mind) to get to be the very best. He states that “you can only assess that if you challenge yourself in a situation like SGOTY”.
Warren is most looking forward to two categories of the competition, track and sign, because it’s something he loves and does every day of his life, and the rifle handling. He is most ‘concerned’ about the birding side of the competition and feels that this section of the competition might expose a chink in his armour.
He is ecstatic about being a part of SGOTY and winning may not be the ultimate goal – it’s being in the competition, and learning, that is important for him. However, if he were to win the competition, for him it would be proof that all the sacrifice that he has made would have been worthwhile and proof that he had learnt and mastered something along the way.
On a lighter side his favourite colour is blue, he loves prawns and would wash them down with a healthy glass of water or fruit juice. His favourite animal is a leopard, and bird is a woodlands kingfisher.
A word of wisdom from Warren comes from the Bible, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Pioneer Moyo
Pioneer is 47 years old, is married, and has a 16-year-old daughter. He hails from Inyathi near Buluwayo in Zimbabwe. He works for Bushwise Field Guides and is stationed at the Southern African Wildlife College. Pioneer has been guiding since 2007 and is a man of few words but plenty action.
His best part of guiding is the interpretation of track and sign. Here he finds his ‘mojo’ and always loves the challenge of the interpretation and expression of the story. It’s a never-ending learning curve.
Pioneer believes that having qualified as a finalist for this year’s SGOTY, his hope is that this will inspire young guides to have the courage to really commit themselves to the journey of self-betterment as a guide. He would like to share that betterment route with other colleagues as they progress in their journey to a career in guiding.
For him to be able to share his experience of the week out in the field, will be very important. Mixing with the top guides in the industry, sharing stories and learning from them, is a once in a lifetime chance, and he hopes to make the best of it.
Pioneer is least looking forward to the rifle handling section of the competition. He’s not exactly a fan of rifles but obviously understands the importance of it and the importance of rifle handling competency for the guide in his everyday work. But the Zimbabwean history of intertribal factions has impacted his psyche, such that the sound of rifle-fire brings back bad memories for him. This is the reason for his adverse feeling towards rifles.
If Pioneer were to win the competition it would change his life. “It would make me well known and I would feel very proud.” Having said that, he already feels very proud to have been chosen as a finalist, where he will do his level best, enjoy it and nurture the experience.
Pioneer’s favourite colour is olive green, he enjoys the traditional samp, meat and beans, and his favourite drink is Coca-Cola. His favourite animal is the gemsbok, and his favourite bird is the white-browed robin chat.
His mantra is that “If you do anything you like, all good things will follow”.
Kimberlee Le Hani
Kimberlee is 32 years old, single and hails from Benoni. She is currently positioned at Lions Sands in the Sabi Sand. She has been guiding for five and a half years.
Clearly a very motivated, focussed, and driven woman, Kimberlee dropped a five-and-a-half-year career as a pharmaceutical representative to follow her passion and dream of becoming a nature guide.
She enjoys many aspects of guiding. She admits that she learns something every day and loves imparting her knowledge onto guests. She is thrilled to see the look on guests faces when they are in the wild, and to fulfil the hopes and dreams of her guests on safari. Seeing guests shed tears of awe and happiness is for her the best feeling, and then getting the guests return for another bush experience is very fulfilling. As she said, “we live this every day – they will only hold the memories of their time with me”.
Being a finalist in SGOTY will allow her to learn from the masters, and to pick their brains when she can. She hopes to be able to soak it all in and always be present. She looks forward to developing a close friendship with the fellow contestants, being fulfilled, proud, and happy. There is also the camaraderie, exploring the reserve, and of course being close and personal with the mentors.
For such a confident and focussed person it was interesting to find out that she is most nervous about the story telling – but she looks forward to grasping that opportunity and to push past her limits and deliver!
She openly admits that it has taken a lot to get where she is today – financially, emotionally, and socially. But she is proud to have pushed the limits, and she hopes to inspire more females to put their names out there, to be vulnerable and strive for the best within themselves.
Kimberlee’s favourites are as follows: colour – yellow, food – sushi, beverage – iron brew. Her favourite animal is the spotted hyena and favourite bird is the violet-eared waxbill.
Kimberlee’s words of wisdom are quite straightforward: “When you are passionate about something and it comes from the heart, naturally you’ll give everything you’ve got. Stay disciplined and always find good in every moment, and then keep your focus there”.
Jan Dykema
Jan is a larger than life individual. He is 37, married to Lize-Marie, and has a son. Originally hailing from Vryheid in Kwa-Zulu Natal, he spent most of his informative years in Kroonstad, in the Free State.
His story of progression to this stage in life is a long one. From selling Tupperware, to being in the military, and cashing in all he had to attend a selection course at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. He accepted the offered post (after selection) with them 13 years ago. He has never left.
For Jan the best thing about guiding is seeing guests experience wild animals for the first time, being out in the bush with the wind in their faces and seeing their excitement, is for Jan a priceless experience. Jan loves people, getting to know them, communicating with them, giving them a special, sometimes once in a life-time experience. Seeing guest leave, satisfied at having learnt something and having memories etched in their minds, is what gives Jan a thrill. He views it as having changed the guests lives forever.
For Jan SGOTY is not about the winning, but about giving back to the industry. Setting the awareness out there that this is in fact a career path of fulfilment, love and passion. One should never hold back, only give it all. Jan appreciates the recognition that will be exposed worldwide, where people will be able to see what guides are made of. He views this as a chance to gain from the experience and hopefully the Eastern Cape will be boosted by his participation. He looks forward to meeting the fellow competitors and judges, many of whom he has only heard of by name, the camaraderie, and the sharing of experiences.
The thing that Jan is least looking forward to about SGOTY, is the road trip from the Eastern Cape! Sixteen and a half hours is not something to look forward to. Having said that he is wary about the photographic section of the competition, for Jan his camera lies in his memories.
Jan’s favourite colour is blue or black (he could not choose), a braaied steak is his favourite food and coffee his favourite beverage. His favourite animal is the elephant, and his favourite bird is the narina trogon.
Jan honestly feels that SGOTY is earthmoving for him, and if by chance he could bring the trophy back to the Eastern Cape, it would be the most amazing achievement for him in the world. It would open a new world for guides in the area and motivate them to strive for the stars!
Jan’s words of wisdom: “Win the morning, win the day”.
Ruan Coetzee
Hailing from Johannesburg, Ruan is 30 years old, engaged to Debbie. He studied theology before becoming a guide. The move into guiding was courtesy of a lightbulb moment in Mozambique, whilst on an outreach program. Ruan realised that he had a passion for nature, and that is where he wanted to be.
Ruan works at Kapama Private Nature Reserve and has been guiding for 8 years. He revels in the fact that no day is ever the same when guiding. There are always different experiences, new people to meet, leaving footprints behind on a trail not done before, and every day offers opportunities to grow and better oneself.
He is a deep thinker, and he is looking forward to SGOTY because he views it as the next step in pushing him out of his comfort zone. He wants to inspire colleagues to push and better themselves and to also, one day, be part of SGOTY. Ruan is of the opinion that all guides are ambassadors of nature and FGASA, and all guides should carry forward those ethics both environmentally and socially that FGASA subscribes to.
Ruan is looking forward to spending time with the iconic individuals in the industry, sharing in the camaraderie and having fun. He states that being a guide is not at all stressful (generally), and it’s about teaching, loving, humility, and passion, and to continue in that mindset is what being a guide is all about.
Ruan is not looking forward to all the cameras and being in the spotlight because that is when is English gets tested, and the stress of all those cameras could cause a language breakdown for him – although there is absolutely nothing wrong with his English!
Should Ruan win the competition he believes he’ll brag at first, for a bit … jokingly said. He’ll grab it, as he will the experience with both hands, and hopefully, and humbly be a role model for others. He will push himself to continue with the bigger dream and grow into the SKS (Special Knowledge Skills) status. Overall, he is proud and grateful for what FGASA has done for him, and the others on this incredible journey. It would be a dream come true, confirming that all the work and sacrifices done and made have paid off, and making a positive input into the industry, whatever that might be.
Ruan’s favourite colour is brown, his favourite food is pizza, and his drink is a ‘healthy’, rum and coke. His favourite animal is a pangolin although he relates most to lions. His favourite bird is a violet-backed starling.
Ruan’s words of wisdom: “Don’t wait for something good to happen in your life before you become happy – live each day as if it were your last. Making people happy and excited enriches your own life – believe me you get back far more than you give”.
Keep up with all the Safari Guide of the Year action on social media, FGASA Instagram Account, FGASA Facebook, and Safari Guide of the Year Facebook page. There will also be LIVE daily broadcasts on all social platforms as well as the Safari Guide of the Year YouTube channel.
