The Safari Guide of the Year – an annual event powered by the Field Guides Association of southern Africa (FGASA) – was held recently at Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. This was the first time the event has been held in that province, and it acknowledges and confirms the strides FGASA has made as the golden standard in nature guiding in southern Africa and beyond, more particularly the progress made in the Eastern Cape.
The event had five finalists from around South Africa: Cameron Schmidt from Pumba Private Game Reserve, Jason Gipson from Lion Sands – More Family Collection, Kalie Otimile from Tswalu, Matthew Derry from Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, and Megan Heramb-Smith from The Great Outdoors; all of whom applied themselves to the categories examined with great enthusiasm and professionalism. Each one of the finalists had this event on their bucket list for some time, and their participation and enthusiasm in the event was testament to that desire.
Finalists were tested in eight categories: game drive, track and sign, birds’ sight and sounds, hospitality, storytelling, game walk, advanced rifle handling, and photographic guided experience. At the end of the week, points were tallied and the runners up and winners of each category, and the overall runner up and winner were announced at an Awards Dinner.
All categories were difficult but keenly contested, and the going was tough. The Albany thicket is not to be laughed at. The rewards of the venue were varied and amazing, especially a 45-minute viewing of a caracal, for the fortunate ones that were on that particular game drive.
All finalists were winners at the end of the day. To put ones’ hand up to be counted takes courage, and all finalists displayed that innate courage, humility and professionalism – a testament to their training, mentorship and own guiding experience.
Kariega Game Reserve hosted the event on another level. We were all accommodated in the Main Lodge and wined and dined like kings and queens. All the staff were amazing and everyone welcomed us with open arms and could not do enough to ensure that our stay was superb. The warmth of the hospitality certainly combatted the ‘nip-in-the-air’ that was prevalent in the early morning, and once the sun set behind the Eastern Cape hills.
The results
The awards were given out at the Awards Dinner on the Saturday night, after a hard week of work.
Hospitality – runner up Kalie Otimile, winner Jason Gipson.
Photographic drive – runner up Matthew Derry, winner Jason Gipson.
Storytelling – runner up Matthew Derry, winner, Kalie Otimile.
Birds sight and sound – runner up Kalie Otimile, winner Megan Heramb-Smith.
Game walk – runner up Jason Gipson, winner Megan Heramb-Smith.
Game drive – runner up Jason Gipson, winner Kalie Otimile.
Track and sign – runner up Jason Gipson, winner Matthew Derry.
Advanced Rifle Handling – runner up Megan Heramb-Smith, winner Cameron Schmidt.
Overall runner up of the Safari Guide of the Year 2025 – Kalie Otimile.
Winner of the Safari Guide of the Year 2025 – Jason Gipson.
Once again, the training and dedication of all finalists and the alignment to the FGASA standard (and their own personal growth) was so evident to all that were there. It encouraged the local guides to persevere and attain their own ‘greatness’. It was also an inspirational spark to the finalists who all stated that it was the event of a lifetime, and was a spark to progress onwards and upwards in their training and perseverance to attain the next designation in their career path.
Well done to all finalists – as stated, they are all winners. A big shout out to the judges – all of whom give of their time for free, to ensure the standard and credibility of the event remains intact.
Thanks must also be extended to the CEO of South African Tourism, Ms Nombulelo Guliwe, whose presence and opening address – a message from the Minister of Tourism, Ms Patricia De Lille – hit home to all those present. Ms Guliwe stated that she wanted to celebrate everyone in the sector “for their unwavering commitment to ensuring that professional field guides meet the highest standards of training and ethical conduct”. She went on to congratulate FGASA and its team, on behalf of South African Tourism, “for over 30 years not only serving as a cornerstone of our tourism but actively shaping the heart of the South African visitor experience – thank you we are grateful”. She also thanked Mr Mike Karantonus for his vision in creating the Safari Guide of the Year event some 13 years ago.
Thanks must go out to the unbelievable hospitality of Kariega Game Reserve, to the local and international sponsors, media partners and again, the judges, and finally to the guests and everyone that was very privileged to witness and take part in this iconic event.
