Top South Africa Safari Guides

South Africa is blessed with some of the best safari guides on the continent due to the exceptional training and experience available in the country.

This is important because the guide makes a huge difference to the quality of your safari experience at the end of the day. A top safari guide has the ability to transform a commonplace experience into a life changing one, an average trip into an unforgettable adventure.

So don't take the risk of getting an ordinary guide, make absolutely sure you go with an extraordinary one.

Get The Very Best South Africa Safari Company and Guide For Your Trip

Our recommendation service pinpoints an exceptional operator and guide for your safari based on your own unique requirements.

Best Company & Guide Recommendation

Choose the budget you have allocated for your South Africa safari below and the top guides in that rates category will be listed. Then click on the picture of the safari guide for more detailed information about them and the reserve or park they operate in...

The rate indications below are in US Dollars and exclude international and inter-Africa airfares but include accommodation, food, activities and guiding.

  • Rates: = BUDGET & STANDARD Less than $300 pppn*
  • Rates: = LUXURY: From $300 to $450 pppn*
  • Rates: = ULTRA LUXURY: From $450 to $600 pppn*
  • Rates: = OUT OF THIS WORLD: Higher than $600 pppn*

(*pppn = per person per night spent on safari)

Kruger Guide 2

Kruger Park

Rates: $$$
Sabie Sands Guide 1

Sabie Sands

Rates: $$$
Sabie Sands Guide 2

Sabi Sands

Rates: $$$$$
Sabie Sands Guide 3

Sabi Sands

Rates: $$$$$
Sabie Sands Guide 4

Sabi Sands

Rates: $$$$$
Timbavati Guide 2

Timbavati

Rates: $$$
Timbavati Guide 1

Timbavati

Rates: $$
Timbavati Guide 3

Timbavati

Rates: $$$
Thornybush Guide 1

Thornybush

Rates: $$$$
Madikwe Guide 1

Madikwe

Rates: $$$$$
Madikwe Guide 3

Madikwe

Rates: $$$$
Madikwe Guide 2

Madikwe

Rates: $$
Thornybush Guide 2

Thornybush

Rates: $$$$$
Phinda Guide 1

Phinda

Rates: $$$
Shamwari Guide 1

Shamwari

Rates: $$$$
Nambiti Guide 1

Nambiti

Rates: $$
Family Safari Guide

Walking

Rates: $$$$
Hluhluwe Imfolozi Guide

Hluhluwe Imfolozi

Rates: $$$$
South Africa walking safari guide

Walking

Rates: $$$$
South Africa Horseback Guide

Horseback

Rates: $$$
South Africa Horseback Guide 2

Horseback

Rates: $$$$
Kruger Park Guide 5

Kruger Park

Rates: $$
Kruger Park Guide 7

Kruger Park

Rates: $$
South Africa walking safari guide 2

Walking

Rates: $$$$
Kruger Park Guide 8

Kruger Park

Rates: $$$
Qualification

South Africa Safari Guide Grading And Assessment Qualification

CATHSSETA (The culture, art, tourism, hospitality and sport sector education and training authority) accredits training providers and registers qualified assessors to train and assess recognised unit standards, skills programmes and qualifications.

FGASA is an accredited provider with CATHSSETA and they are responsible for grading and assessing field guides in South Africa.

They award three qualifications after practical and theoretical assessment and examinations, the most basic being the Apprentice Field Guide (NQF2), followed by the Field Guide (NQF4) and the highest qualification being the Professional Field Guide.

CATHSSETA also accredits other providers to train and award the Nature Site Guide (NQF 2) and Nature Site Guide (NQF 4) qualifications.

To qualify for the South Africa Top Safari Guides list and recommendation eligibility, guides need a FGASA Field Guide (NQF4) or CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide NQF4 certification or higher and a minimum of five (5) years experience, or at least eight (8) years experience if they have the basic FGASA or CATHSSETA qualification.

They also need to have all the relevant legal qualifications to practice as a guide in South Africa such as a first aid certificate and a public drivers permit (PDP).