HOEDSPRUIT – Two safari field guide professionals from Hoedspruit were honoured during the Safari Guide of the Year awards ceremony that was hosted over the weekend at Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.

The hotly contested event brought together five of South Africa’s top field guides, each vying for the coveted title in one of the country’s most respected competitions.

This year’s finalist nominees included Cameron Schmidt from Pumba Private Game Reserve, Jason Gipson from Lion Sands Game Reserve, Kalie Otimile representing Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Matthew Derry of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, as well as Megan Heramb-Smith, a freelance guide and partner at The Great Outdoors.

Over several days, the finalists were put through their paces in eight rigorous challenges designed to test their bush knowledge, guiding skill, and guest engagement.

These included a guided game drive, bush walk, photographic safari, bird slide and sound test, track and sign identification, advanced rifle handling, storytelling, and a hosting and hospitality assessment.

Hoedspruit’s Gipson and Heramb-Smith, grabbed awards with Gipson earning the top honour as Safari Guide of the Year on Saturday night, impressing across multiple categories and standing out for his commitment, presence, and skill not only throughout the challenge, but in his role as a deeply passionate field guide and life-long student of the bush.

With over seven years of active guiding experience, he currently works at Lion Sands with a passion rooted in connection.

“The most rewarding part of guiding is being the link between guests and the natural world,” he said. “That moment when someone sees a lion or elephant for the first time, it reminds you how lucky we are to do this work.”

Gipson stood out across the board, winning the guided photographic experience and hosting and hospitality categories, and earning runner-up positions in game drive, guided bush walk, and track and sign.

Heramb-Smith won the bird slide and sound category, a guided bush walk category and was the runner-up for the advanced riffle handling category.