During the week of (23-28 June), judging will take place for the title of Safari Guide of the Year 2019,  where the best safari guides in Southern Africa will compete.

This prestigious title is awarded every year by the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and represents a serious feather in the cap and career highlight for the winner. The contestants will be put through their paces by the judges during guided walks and game drives where they will be tested on track and sign identification, bird identification, rifle handling and shooting and their story-telling skills.

Kapama Private Game Reserve is proud to announce that Ranger, Rassie Jacobs, has been selected as a finalist to compete for this award. He will be up against 4 other guides from lodges across Southern Africa, so just being shortlisted is a huge achievement in itself.

A bit of background about Rassie:

Guiding for: 9 years
Current employer: Kapama, Hoedspruit
Qualifications and training: His FGASA Level 1 training provider was Bushveld Training Adventures in Nylstroom in the North West. FGASA Level 2, Back-Up Trails, Full Trails and Tracks and Signs Level 2 were completed at Kapama
Personal comment: The best thing about being a guide is to let the guest experience nature through your eyes as a guide. On a game drive, my guest may see a beautiful marula tree, but I will try to convey other important information like the age of the tree and to get them to think about how many elephants could have eaten the fruit from this tree and how many leopards could have used this tree as a resting place. My personal strength is communicating with guests and others about my passion for the bush and the animals. I will also try and turn something negative into a positive, and to learn from that experience.

We wish Rassie all the best and we are proud of his achievement.

More updates will follow.