It’s 6:00am, a sliver of the waning moon gleams in the haze between the pitch-black night and blood-red sunrise, hung in the frigid winter air over the spacious verandah of our astounding Host Sponsor Mhondoro Safari Lodge and Villa. The scent of coffee and home-made rusks wafts among lively conversations about the day’s exciting new adventures.
Mhondoro mornings.
H.J. Esterhuizen, Ashley Meintjes, Tracey Bruton, Phillip Wessels and Themba Mabunda are preparing for their assessment activity while attending to all the guests’ coffee orders. They’ll be competing against each other in eight different categories; Hospitality & Professionalism, Storytelling, Track & Sign, Guided Game Drive Experience, Guided Photographic Experience, Guided Bushwalk Experience, Bird Slide & Sound, and Advanced Rifle Handling (ARH).
The Five Finalists (from left to right): Themba Mabunda, Tracey Bruton, H.J. Esterhuizen, Phillip Wessels, Ashley Meintjes
Mhondoro Safari Lodge and Villa is located in the Welgevonden Game Reserve. This pristine reserve shines as a wilderness jewel among the rocky slopes and jagged cliffs of the Waterberg Mountain Range. The incredible biodiversity and abundance of wildlife offers a unique experience in nature that will have you observing klipspingers in boulder lined valleys while 10 minutes later you’ll be marvelling at a cheetah effortlessly floating through vast oceans of grassy plains. An ideal setting to put the top five guides in Southern Africa to the ultimate test!
Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg
Winter in the Waterberg is not for the faint of heart, cold bites unprotected skin in valley dips while the sun beats down atop exposed ridges. Ruggedwear, our apparel and main prize sponsor for the event, had us covered with a selection of top-quality gear, proudly made by South Africans in South Africa. From thick, insulated, windbreaking jackets to their rip-stop vented safari shirts, Ruggedwear ensured all the finalists, guests, VIPs and staff were at peak comfort and style from sunrise to sunset.
Ruggedwear keeping our heads warm
Safari Guide of the Year 2024 was a resounding success. The music of laughter and the artwork of smiles transformed the event into flourishing journeys of adventure and growth. Each of the five finalists displayed exceptional skills and knowledge, professional and ethical excellence, but most importantly, strength, determination and resilience that would make even the mountains proud. The event is less about competition and more about celebrating the achievements of the guides competing. It is a resounding “Thank you!” from an industry that can feel seemingly thankless at times. It recognises the guides career achievements, their motivation for development, their ever-curious minds and their unwavering dedication to their love and passion for nature.
Special Guests, Sponsors, VIPs, Staff and Finalists during the Amazing Race Team Challenge (watch highlight video here)
Huge congratulations to H.J. Esterhuizen of Royal Malewane in the Greater Kruger for taking this year’s grand prize of R25,000 sponsored by Ruggedwear as well as the Safari Guide of the Year trophy and title for 2024. H.J. cleaned up this year’s competition taking the number one spots in the Guided Bushwalk Experience, Track & Sign, ARH and Storytelling categories. He also came second in the Guided Photographic Experience and Hospitality & Professionalism categories.
H.J. Esterhuizen accepts the title of Safari Guide of the Year from Howard Rogerson, Managing Director of Ruggedwear
Ashley Meintjes, of Lalibela Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, performed remarkably as a guide and truly allowed his warm, vibrant personality to shine throughout the competition. He took second overall in the competition taking home a R15,000 cash prize sponsored by the organisation; Women in Safari Excellence (WISE). He also claimed the winning places in the Guided Photographic Experience and Hospitality and Professionalism categories. Ashley came runner-up in the Guided Bushwalk Experience, Storytelling and ARH categories. Congratulations to you again Ashley!
Ashley Meintjes accepts Safari Guide of the Year runner-up trophy from WISE’s Candice Pretorius and Jody Cole
Phillip Wessels of Cheetah Ridge Lodge in Nambiti Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal brought deep wisdom and philosophy to this year’s competition. Claiming the top spots in the Guided Game Drive Experience and the Bird Slide & Sound categories. Phillip, your gentle approach and thoughtful words uplifted everyone at this year’s event, congratulations on your astounding achievements!
Phillip Wessels accepts his trophy for winning in the Guided Game Drive Experience category, from Judge Alan Yeowart
Themba Mabunda’s smile is enough to turn even the darkest night into the brightest day and is a glimmering diamond in the MORE Family Collection’s Lion Sands Private Game Reserve. Themba took the runner-up spot for both the Track & Sign and Guided Game Drive Experience Categories.
Themba Mabunda accepts the runner-up prize for the Track & Sign category from Judge Juan Pinto
Tracey Bruton of Thornybush Game Lodge, Thornybush, Greater Kruger, showed all of us the true meaning of the word courage. Her skill and attention to detail, her unyielding spirit and her relentless determination is the personification of the Safari Guide of the Year spirit. Tracey came runner-up in the Bird Slide & Sound category. Thank you, Tracey, for putting your hand up and saying “Yes!”. We hope the competition gave you the thanks and appreciation you deserve for admirable commitment to your career!
Tracey Bruton accepts the runner-up prize for the Bird Slide & Sound category from Judge Mike Karantonis
Last, we’d like to acknowledge and give a special thanks to Lewyn Maefala, this year’s invitational candidate. Lewyn is the leader and founder of Transfrontier Africa’s Bush Babies Environmental Education Project. An endeavour that has educated countless community children (900 in the year 2023 alone!) on the importance of preserving our natural environment through embracing sustainable education, hands-on experiences and inspiring them to become ambassadors for nature for their communities and beyond. Lewyn’s participation in the event has reignited her passion for guiding, as you read this, she is currently enrolling to complete her Nature Site Guide NQF4 qualification and is organising for some extra time, practice and mentorship in the field. This is exactly the reason why we invite bright, young guides as invitational candidates, to inspire and motivate further growth and development along the guiding career path. You are making all of us proud Lewyn, keep it up!
Lewyn Maefala, Safari Guide of the Year Invitational Candidate
Ultimately, Safari Guide of the Year would not be possible without the very people the event celebrates, guides. We thank each of you for your commendable efforts and your standards of excellence. Each of you were already winners prior to arriving. Know that even though it may not be obvious, your hard work and career commitment is hugely appreciated and does not go unnoticed. We see you!
