Head Guide

Wild Dreams Hospitality; Pongola; On-site; ZAR 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Wild Dreams Hospitality seeks a senior guide to lead a luxury safari operation. The role combines hands-on guiding excellence with genuine leadership, mentoring a team of guides while upholding five-star standards across every guest interaction.

The successful candidate will manage daily game drives, guest engagement, and team development in a high-end wildlife setting, ensuring safety and exemplary guest experiences.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years guiding experience in a luxury safari lodge
• Supervisory or Head Guide experience preferred
• FGASA Level 2 with Full Trails and valid First Aid

Responsibilities

• Lead daily game drives, bush walks, and safari activities
• Provide wildlife interpretation tailored to guest interests
• Mentor, coach and develop the guiding team, including rostering and performance reviews
• Support recruitment and onboarding of new guides
• Record wildlife sightings and report conservation concerns
• Ensure safety, vehicle maintenance and equipment readiness

Skills

Leadership

Guest relations

Wildlife knowledge

Safety & risk management

Mentoring

Recruitment

Education

FGASA Level 2

Full Trails

First Aid

Driver's Licence & PrDP

Rifle Competency

DEAT/NDT registration

Job description

This is a senior guiding role within a large-scale luxury tented safari operation; the successful candidate will combine hands-on guiding excellence with genuine leadership, mentoring a team of guides while upholding five-star standards across every guest interaction.

Core Criteria

• Minimum 5 years' guiding experience within a luxury safari lodge; previous supervisory or Head Guide experience preferred
• FGASA Level 2 qualification plus Full Trails
• Valid First Aid Certificate
• Valid South African Driver's Licence and Professional Driving Permit (PrDP)
• Valid Rifle Competency (where required) and DEAT/NDT registration (where applicable)
• Experience hosting international luxury guests
• Strong working knowledge of Southern African wildlife, ecology, animal behaviour, birding, and flora and fauna
• Sound understanding of conservation principles and reserve operating procedures
• Proven leadership, coaching, and team development ability
• Excellent guest relations skills and a genuine commitment to luxury hospitality standards

Core Responsibilities

• Lead daily game drives, bush walks, and other safari activities, ensuring safety and professionalism throughout
• Deliver engaging, informed wildlife interpretation tailored to guest interests
• Plan game drive routes according to wildlife movement, weather, and operational risk
• Welcome guests personally and introduce the safari programme
• Handle guest concerns and requests with efficiency and warmth
• Mentor, coach, and develop the wider guiding team, including rostering and performance reviews
• Support recruitment and onboarding of new guides
• Record and monitor wildlife sightings and animal behaviour
• Report poaching activity, injured animals, fence damage, and other conservation concerns
• Oversee the condition and maintenance of safari vehicles and guiding equipment
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and legislative requirements, including regular safety briefings
• Complete daily safari reports, vehicle logbooks, and training records