South Africa’s top safari guides will compete to showcase their wildlife knowledge, hospitality skills, and deep commitment to conservation from June 16 to 22, 2025.
The Safari Guide of the Year Competition, powered by the Field Guides Association of South Africa (FGASA), will be hosted in Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape’s picturesque Kariega River Valley.
It is one of the very few family-owned and malaria-free reserves in the Eastern Cape, offering the most scenic landscape with 11,500 hectares of pristine African wilderness with Africa’s Big 5.
Kariega Game Reserve also has lodges at the top tier of hospitality service, so these elite safari guides will have to match their dedication, skill, and passion to what Kariega offers.
The competition started in 2011, spearheaded by Mike Karantonis. He aimed to host an event for the best in the safari industry, recognized and awarded through their expertise and commitment.
Each year, the competition grows fiercer as guides refine their skills to impress a panel of seasoned judges. The competition not only checks knowledge and expertise, but it also views the ethical practices being observed.
Nadav Ossendryver, our CEO and Latest Sightings founder, will be sharing all of the updates from the event with the community. So stay tuned to our pages if you want to follow along.
“It’s my favorite week of the year,” Nadav says. “You’re surrounded by knowledge and decades of experience that you just don’t find anywhere else.”
“You’re in the bush with people who live and breathe nature, not for work, but for the love of it, ” he adds.
Stay tuned on Instagram: @LatestKruger. We will be sharing stories of real-time updates right from the event.
The competition begins with a nomination, requiring contestants to be in the industry for 5 years with specific qualifications and an active FGASA membership.
The events themselves have been specifically chosen to test the top five finalists on a variety of skills. These events are:
- Game drive
- Bushwalk
- Guided photographic experience
- Bird slide and sound
- Track and sign
- Advanced Rifle Handling
- Storytelling
- Hosting and hospitality
“The judges open your eyes to the wild through a lens you’d never thought to look through,” Nadav shares. “This is the one week where guides can show off what drives them, beyond the job or the routine.”
Each event has its own set of judges who specialize in this aspect, making every event a unique set of challenges that push the guides to excel across the board.
This year’s panel, like every year prior, consists of some of the most respected voices in guiding and conservation. The panel includes:
Mike Karantonis – Co-founder of Safari Guide of the Year, Tintswalo Group Head Guide.
Michelle du Plessis – Managing Director of FGASA.
Lucas Mathonsi – FGASA Senior Tracker.
Juan Pinto – FGASA Scout and Director at Royal Malewane.
James Steyn – FGASA Scout and General Manager at Senalala.
Alan Yeowart -FGASA Professional Field Guide, Scout and Assessor.
Greg Lederle – FGASA Professional Field Guide, SKS DG Trails Guide, Winner of Safari Guide of the Year 2011.
Roger Machin – Product Marketing Manager of Canon South Africa.
Cameron Pearce – FGASA Assessor, Mentor and Professional Field Guide, Winner of Safari Guide of the Year 2022.
Meet The 5 Finalists For 2025
Cameron Schmidt
Cameron is the Assistant Head Ranger at Pumba Private Game Reserve with 10 years of experience in the guiding profession and a FGASA Professional Field Guide. He credits the FGASA for the mentorship he received, allowing him to turn his passion into a profession. For him, the competition is a place to learn, a space to grow, and a way to raise the bar for South Africa’s guiding industry.
Cameron has also been a consistent contributor to the Latest Sightings platform. He shares unique wildlife footage that shows his skills and expertise in tracking animals and guiding guests.
These Some of Cameron’s Coolest Sightings:
Jason Gipson
Jason is an FGASA Professional Field Guide at Lion Sands Game Reserve with 7.5 years of experience. He is proudly mentored by Dylan Panos, Ryan Hiller, and Richard Pearce. He views the competition as proof of the progress of safari guiding, and he wants to inspire the younger generation in this career path.
Moatlhodi Kalie Otimile
Moatlhodi has 17 years of experience, making him the most experienced guide in the competition, and is a FGASA Professional Field Guide at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. The FGASA helped him hone and practice his skills and reach industry standards in showing his knowledge in the bush to the hearts of his guests. He sees the competition as an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with fellow professionals in the rising industry.
Matthew Edward Derry
Matthew is currently the Head Guide at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve with 11 years of field experience in South Africa. His path started in the Nature College and began self-studying as his career progressed. He sees the competition as an avenue to inspire new talent, celebrate professionalism, and change the perception in the guiding industry.
Megan Heramb-Smith
Megan is a freelance guide and partner at The Great Outdoors with 16 years of experience in the bag. She is an FGASA guide, and her experience started in Botswana and up to South Africa. Also, she recently reached the FGASA Trails Guide Mentor, hoping to pass her knowledge and expertise to the new generation of talent. The competition for her is a testament to how far guides can go with passion and consistency.
More than Wildlife
“It’s not just about wildlife, it’s about being part of a community that shares your awe and curiosity,” says Nadav. “You’re learning constantly, but it never feels like a lesson. It feels like being let into a secret.”
With such a strong roster, the 2025 judges will face a tough decision ahead. Stay tuned for our live updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and the announcement of this year’s big winner, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.