The Safari Guide of the Year 2025 competition has officially wrapped up, and what a week it was!
Held for the first time ever in the Eastern Cape, at the beautiful Kariega Game Reserve, this year’s event brought together some of the top guiding talent in Southern Africa. The competition ran from June 16th to 22nd, testing guides across every possible skill set
A massive congratulations must go to the Safari Guide of the Year 2025 winner, Jason Gipson!
Jason was the most consistent, top-performing guide across the board. Officially, he walked away with wins in the Photographic Experience and Hosting & Hospitality categories, which already counted heavily toward his overall score.
But importantly, he was also the runner-up in key technical categories like Game Drive, Bush Walk, and Track & Sign, so he wasn’t just strong in one area.
The competition specifically looks for well-rounded guides who excel not only in technical skills but also in guest interaction, interpretation, safety, and overall presence.
Jason ticked those boxes. The judges also noted his ability to create memorable, fun experiences for guests while keeping things educational and professional.
Nadav Ossendryver – Right
Who were the Competition’s Finalists
- Jason Gipson, representing Lion Sands Game Reserve.
- Moatlhodi Kalie Otimile, from the iconic Tswalu Kalahari.
- Cameron Schmidt, Assistant Head Ranger at Pumba Private Game Reserve.
- Matthew Edward Derry, guiding at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
- Megan Heramb‑Smith, a freelance guide making her mark through The Great Outdoors.
All of the details about the competing guides can be found in our pre-competition post.
Our Personal Thoughts on The Competition for 2025
As usual, our CEO and founder, Nadav Ossendryver, was present at the competition, and these were his first-hand thoughts:
Arriving
Arriving at Kariega for the most exciting week of the year, you could feel the energy straight away. The nerves were definitely building for the guides, but Kariega’s atmosphere, the wild landscapes, and the open skies just made the whole thing feel even bigger.
The Boat Safari
Day 2 brought something seriously unique, especially for South African safaris. It was an early morning boat cruise along the Kariega River. You don’t often associate boat safaris with our local bush experiences, so starting the day drifting quietly down the river, spotting rare birds like the Palm-nut Vulture and Half-collared Kingfisher, made it properly memorable.
It wasn’t part of the scored assessments, but it gave the guides a chance to showcase their knowledge and interpretation in a more laid-back setting. After the calm start, the day ramped back into full competition mode.
Rifle Assessments and Team-Building
The morning and early afternoon of day 3 shifted into one of the most critical technical parts of the competition: the shooting assessment. Each guide had to demonstrate safe, precise firearm handling under strict, controlled conditions. It’s a serious part of guiding, and from what we saw, the finalists were dialled in and handled it like absolute professionals.
Then, to wrap up the day, there was some fun team-building to bring everyone together. The guides and everyone attending were split into groups for a good old potjie cook-off, laughs, a bit of healthy competition, and of course, some seriously tasty food around the fire to end the day on a high.
Quest for Caracals
Kariega is known for its caracal sightings, and this time, it didn’t disappoint. Nadav Ossendryver (Our CEO and founder of Latest Sightings) went out with one of the Kariega guides on a proper caracal quest. They searched all the usual hotspots, checked every thicket, but still came up empty.
Later, on the way back to camp to fetch a power bank for his camera, they took a detour and in a tiny open patch in the thicket, there it was. A caracal, sitting perfectly in the open for a few seconds. How incredible!
Celebrating Your Birthday During Your Favourite Week of The Year
Day 5 was extra special for the Latest Sightings team, as it happened to be Nadavs birthday, and what better way to celebrate than right in the middle of his favourite week of the year. Surrounded by passionate guides, great sightings, and the energy of the bush, it made for a birthday to remember.
During the day, the guides were put to the test identifying tracks, scat, and subtle signs of wildlife in the bush, with judges watching closely to see how well they could interpret the story nature leaves behind.
The Last Full Day
Then it was Day 6, the final stretch of the competition. The last scores were tallied, the tension was high, and all the hard work from the week came down to this moment. In the end, it was Jason Gipson who took the title of Safari Guide of the Year 2025, a well-deserved win after a week of consistently strong performances across the board.
Final Thoughts on The Competing Guides
Jason Gipson:
“I joined Jason for both his game drive and bush walk assessments, and he was outstanding. His humour kept everyone laughing from start to finish, and he had this effortless way of weaving information into the fun.”
“A standout moment?
Jason pulled out a game of “bush bingo” during the drive. It was a clever and engaging touch that had everyone locked in and enjoying every second. I came second…”
“His knowledge ran deep, but it never felt like a lecture, just like a curious friend showing you their favourite place.”
Matthew Edward Derry:
“I joined Matt on the photographic safari, and wow! We had the lions on patrol, perfect golden light, and some seriously powerful moments of roaring.”
“He guided us into a position lower than the lions, so we could photograph them from below. It was a simple shift that made them look like the true kings of the bush.”
“While the sightings were top-tier and the composition advice solid, he did get some tough technical questions from the judges, which made it clear just how high the standards are in this competition.”
Cameron Schmidt:
“I was lucky enough to do the bush walk with Cameron, and it was one of my personal highlights.”
“Mid-walk, we came across a fresh aardvark hole, and of course, curiosity got the better of me and I climbed in (yes, really 😅). The excitement was quickly followed by 30 minutes of trying to get biting termites off me, but hey, it’s all part of the fun!”
“Cameron handled everything like a pro and created a really immersive, safe, and engaging experience. Just before we got back to camp, we came across 3 rhinos, which we then approached safely. They didn’t even know we were there, and that’s the point of a successful walk.”
“I joined Megan on a short approach on foot to a group of rhinos, and although it was brief, it was incredibly well executed.”
“Her calm presence and focus on safety and ethics stood out, and she handled the moment with confidence and grace. You could tell she has serious field experience and presence.”
Moatlhodi Kalie Otimile:
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do any practical assessments with Kalie, but his campfire storytelling was a big standout for me.”
“Kalie’s passion for guiding and the bush came through in the way he shared his stories. Everything felt real and raw, and it was all packed with insight, and this is why it came as no surprise that he ended up as the runner-up for the entire competition.”
The Close of The Competition
Safari Guide of the Year is about recognizing the people who carry the soul of the wilderness and African bush. It’s about honouring the guides who aren’t just walking encyclopedias, but who can translate that knowledge into life-changing moments for their guests. And the ones who make you feel the energy of a lion’s roar, the silence of a sunset, the thrill of a fresh track in the sand.
Guides are the link between wild spaces and the people who visit them. Without good guides, a safari can seem like just animals in the distance. But with the right guide, suddenly every track tells a story, every bird call adds to the atmosphere, every encounter becomes part of something bigger.
The competition dives deep into that. It tests technical skill, but also how guides create experiences, how they host, how they share stories, how they inspire curiosity and respect for the bush. It’s about protecting the wild, too, because great guiding leads to people caring more about protecting these wild spaces.
Jason ultimately took the title of Safari Guide of the Year 2025 because he embodies all of that. And the title was honestly so well deserved! He was consistently strong across the board, winning in photographic guiding and hosting & hospitality, and placing as runner-up in several other key categories. More than that, he embodied what great guiding is all about: connection, curiosity, humility, and presence.