A Competition That Celebrates the Best
The Safari Guide of the Year competition was founded in 2011 when Mike Karantonis approached the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) with the idea of hosting a competition designed specifically to recognize and celebrate field guides across southern Africa. Now in its fifteenth year, it has become the most anticipated event in the safari guiding world, drawing nominees from across the region and shining a well-deserved spotlight on the people who bring the African bush to life for guests every single day.
This year, five exceptional guides have been selected from a highly competitive pool of nominees to compete across eight skill-based events. These include game drives, bush walks, bird identification, track and sign, storytelling, advanced rifle handling, guided photography, and hosting and hospitality.
The competition returns to the Lowveld this year after last year’s event was held in the Eastern Cape. The venue chosen for 2026 could hardly be more fitting.
A Brand New Camp in the Heart of the Bush
This year, the action unfolds at the brand-new Amani Safari Camp, which opened in early 2026. It is nestled deep within the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and shares unfenced borders with the Greater Kruger National Park.
With sweeping bushveld views and understated, elegant amenities, it provides the perfect blend of nature and luxury for this year’s event.
Amani Safari Camp is the newest addition to the Klaserie Drift portfolio, a place where laidback luxury meets unfiltered nature. Sustainability is integrated into the experience, including solar energy, water-wise systems, locally sourced ingredients, and a low-impact design.
The heart of the lodge features a spacious open-plan living and dining area, expansive gardens, and a pool that looks out over the surrounding bushveld. Guests can unwind on wraparound decks, sip cocktails at the outdoor bar, or gather around the fire beneath the stars.
Follow the Competition
To follow the competition live and get real-time updates from inside Kruger and the surrounding reserves, join our WhatsApp Sightings Group. Here, we share what’s happening in the park as it unfolds.
For much of the year, guests can also enjoy access to a second lodge area featuring a large pool, expansive sundeck, sunken boma, and its own relaxed lounge and dining space.
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Why the Klaserie Makes the Perfect Stage
The Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, where Amani is situated, is no ordinary backdrop. Formed in 1969 when 36 farm owners came together to conserve the area’s flora and fauna, Klaserie was officially declared a nature reserve in 1972.
It dropped its fences with Kruger National Park in 1994, allowing wildlife to travel freely between the two areas. Now it is a greater free-flowing ecosystem
As part of the Greater Kruger, the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve is sometimes referred to as South Africa’s “best kept secret,” with a strong focus on conservation and low-density tourism. The commitment to keeping the wilderness wild and uncrowded makes it one of the most authentic safari environments in the country.
In his area, the Big Five are commonly seen during game drives, as are wild dog, cheetah, and hyena. Klaserie also has good populations of giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, and waterbuck, and hosts over 360 bird species.
For a competition built around testing the full breadth of a guide’s skills, it is difficult to imagine a richer environment.
Where Excellence Finds a Home
What makes a venue right for an event like this is more than just luxury. The environment demands the same qualities the competition celebrates: attentiveness, adaptability, and a deep respect for the wild.
The career path of a field guide is more than just a job; it is a lifestyle that requires passion and commitment not only to the natural world but also to hosting and hospitality. Amani Safari Camp, with its blend of genuine bush immersion and considered comfort, embodies exactly that spirit.
As the five finalists compete for the most respected title in southern African guiding, Amani provides not just a setting but a statement: that excellence in the bush deserves to be celebrated somewhere equally exceptional.