Head guide of the Mluwati Concession inside the Kruger National Park (KNP), won the Best Photographic Experience and was runner-up of the Best Game Drive Experience at the awards. The concession has three lodges, Imbali, Hamiltons Tented Camp and Hoyo Hoyo under its supervision. “It means so much to me, it shows recognition for the hard work, sacrifice and dedication that I’ve invested in guiding,” Deyzel said.

Th e annual event is hosted by Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). Five guides are chosen to compete in several disciplines including vehicle-based guiding, walkbased guiding, a photographic safari experience, rifle handling, tracking, hosting, professionalism and storytelling. Deyzel said that his interest in guiding stems from his curiosity in nature and his passion for people. “After school I studied mechanical engineering as a tradesman and worked in the aviation industry.

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“I finally got the courage to follow my dream of being a safari guide. I never considered guiding as a real job, or a fruitful career, but I was wrong.” He said the FGASA has lifted the standards of guiding and has successfully created a platform where it can be pursued as a career. Deyzel grew up on a smallholding outside Johannesburg and was introduced to the KNP by his mother. “I have been visiting the park every year for the past 36 years.”

One of his best experiences as aguide was this year when he came across wild dogs on foot. “I was conducting a guided walking experience with eight guests in the northern region of the KNP. We stopped to interpret a natural wonder of a tree which had been pushed over by elephants. Seconds after we stopped, we heard something running towards us. I told my guests to stand still, keep quiet, and stay close behind me.

Suddenly, an impala came rushing out of the bush towards us, followed by six wild dogs running at full pace trying to take down the impala,” he said. “As soon as they had passed us, we followed them and tracked them to an open area where they had successfully killed the impala. We took cover and sat only meters away as they consumed the impala.

It was definitely the most exciting 45 minutes of my life,” he said. “Every day is a chance to experience something unique and special,” he said. “People always say jobs have their ups and downs, and they always ask if this job is as good as it looks. My answer is: no, it’s not as good as it looks, it is even better,” concluded Deyzel.