There are people who work in the bush, and then there are people who are truly shaped by it. The Safari Guide of the Year competition, run by the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and now in its fifteenth year, exists to celebrate exactly those people.
Founded in 2011 by Mike Karantonis, SGOTY has grown into the most respected and anticipated event on the safari guiding calendar, shining a well-deserved light on the profession that sits at the heart of every great wildlife experience. Latest Sightings is proud to be an official sponsor of this year’s competition.
This year, five exceptional guides have been selected from a highly competitive pool of nominees to compete across eight skill-based events, including game drives, bush walks, bird identification, track and sign, storytelling, advanced rifle handling, guided photography, and hosting and hospitality.
We are excited to see the competition coming back to the Lowveld after being hosted in the Eastern Cape last year, which was amazing, too!
This year, the action unfolds at the brand-new Amani Safari Camp. Opened in early 2026, this incredible camp is nestled deep within the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, sharing unfenced borders with the Greater Kruger National Park. Boasting sweeping bushveld views and understated, elegant amenities, it provides the perfect blend of unfiltered nature and secluded luxury for this year’s event.
Meet the Finalists
Jordan Davidson
Jordan Davidson has been guiding since 2013 and credits a long list of mentors for helping shape his career and values within the industry. Jordan is a firm believer in the responsibility guides carry, not just as hosts, but as ambassadors for conservation and professional standards.
“The best thing about being a guide is being able to connect people to nature and provide them with a safe experience that many may only ever experience once in their lives.” He sees competitions like SGOTY as vital in reinforcing what excellent guiding looks like on a public platform.
Jordan has submitted some incredible footage to us over the years, from astounding rhino and lion encounters to adorable elephants. You can see some of these videos here:
Sarah Barrat
Hailing from Thornybush Game Reserve, Sarah Barrat has spent 15 years moving through some of South Africa’s most distinct landscapes, from the Eastern Cape to the Free State to the Lowveld. That kind of range builds a guiding perspective that goes well beyond the vehicle.
Guided by FGASA’s standards throughout her career, Sarah approaches the bush through a deeply human lens, drawing on her love of anthropology and a belief that our belonging in nature is something worth rediscovering. Watching a guest genuinely shift the way they see the world is, for her, what the job is really all about.
Otto Scribante
Otto Scribante has been guiding since 2019 and has developed a reputation for drawing guests into the finer details of the natural world, the hidden threads connecting every creature, plant, and ecosystem. Shaped by mentors including Cameron Pearce, Massimo Rebuzzi, and Mike Meidlinger, Otto brings a depth of ecological curiosity that turns even a quiet moment in the bush into something meaningful.
Patrick Kepe
Patrick Kepe started his guiding career at Shamwari Game Reserve 13 years ago and has since built one of the most well-rounded portfolios of any finalist, adding NQF4, Tracker Level 2, Astronomy Specialist, Advanced Rifle Handling, and Trails Guide qualifications to his name. What sets Patrick apart, though, is his ability to read his guests. “I read the guests’ energy, understand what interests them, and communicate in a way that makes them feel comfortable and engaged.”
For Patrick, SGOTY represents an opportunity to push beyond personal limits and continue growing as a professional.
Samantha Snodgrass
Rounding out the class of 2026 is Samantha Snodgrass, who has been guiding since 2021 and has quickly made her mark through a passion for trail guiding, tracking, and the small details that most people overlook. “No moment in guiding can ever be replicated. Every sighting, every encounter, every experience is completely unique.”
That philosophy drives everything Samantha does in the field, creating experiences that leave guests with a genuine, lasting appreciation for the natural world.
What It Takes to Compete
To even be considered for SGOTY, nominees must have a minimum of five years of guiding experience, hold the NQF4 Nature Site Guide and Trails Guide qualifications, and be active, paid-up members of FGASA. From there, FGASA Director Michelle du Plessis and co-founder Mike Karantonis personally interview each nominee before selecting only five to advance.
It is a thorough and demanding process, which is precisely what makes this year’s finalists so deserving of recognition.
Stay in the Loop
Nadav Ossendryver, Latest Sightings founder and CEO, will be at the event. So we will be sharing live updates from the competition on WhatsApp, so if you don’t want to miss the action, then click below to join.
More Than a Competition
What makes SGOTY so important to the industry is not just the spectacle of competition, but what it represents. For a long time, field guiding was dismissed as a stopgap rather than a serious career.
This competition has steadily changed that narrative, year by year, by celebrating guides who have dedicated themselves to the craft with the same commitment and professionalism found in any high-skill vocation.
For the five finalists heading to Klaserie Drift Amani, the week ahead will be demanding, exciting, and memorable in equal measure. Each one has earned their place, and whichever name is called at the awards evening, the entire industry wins when guiding is celebrated this way.