HJ Esterhuizen takes top award
Hoedspruit again showed why it is considered a leading wildlife destination after local rangers walked away with awards during the Safari Guide of the Year event recently.
HJ Esterhuizen of Royal Malewane bagged the Safari Guide of the Year title during an event hosted by the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). The win earned him R25 000 sponsored by Ruggedwear.
He also took the top spots in the guided bushwalk experience, track and sign, advanced rifle handling (ARH) and storytelling categories. He came second in the guided photographic experience and hospitality and professionalism categories. Themba Mabunda of Lion Sands Private Game Reserve was named runner-up for both the track and sign and guided game drive experience categories.
Also read: Rangers honoured during Ranger Day
Tracey Bruton of Thornybush Game Lodge was the runner-up in the bird slide and sound category. Lewyn Maefala, leader and founder of Transfrontier Africa’s Bush Babies environmental education project and an invitational candidate received a special mention from the judges.
She has educated countless community children (900 in 2023) on the importance of preserving the environment through embracing sustainable education, and hands-on experiences and inspiring them to become ambassadors for nature for their communities, they stated.
