Head Guide - Luxury Private Reserve - Sabi Sand | Lb

HotelJobs; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 650,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Live-in lodging

Meals provided

Job summary

Kendrick Recruitment is seeking an exceptional Head Guide for a legendary ultra-luxury private game reserve in the Sabi Sand, Greater Kruger. This senior leadership role oversees four camps, a team of 29 guides and two trainees, with full departmental administration and fleet oversight.

The Head Guide blends guiding excellence with strong people leadership, maintaining a visible field presence while driving rostering, reporting and training across all camps to deliver world-class guest

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements for a Head Guide across luxury safari camps.
• Strong leadership and rostering experience across multiple camps.
• Excellent written and verbal English; additional languages advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Guide leadership and guest experience across four camps.
• Team management, coaching and performance assessments.
• Oversee administration, rostering and reporting for the guiding department.
• Fleet management and safety compliance across the fleet.

Education

FGASA NQF4 (Level 2)

FGASA Professional Field Guide

Full Lead Trails Guide qualification

Advanced Rifle Handling

SAPS Firearm Competency

SASSETA registration

Wilderness First Aid certificate

PrDP

NDT registration

Job description

Head Guide - Ultra-Luxury Private Game Reserve - Sabi Sand, Greater Kruger

Kendrick Recruitment is conducting a search for an exceptional, experienced and administratively strong Head Guide for one of the oldest, most celebrated and most iconic ultra-luxury private game reserves in South Africa - a legendary Big Five destination in the heart of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, consistently ranked among the finest safari operations in the world.

This is a senior leadership appointment of real significance. With no Safari Manager in place, the Head Guide carries the full weight of the guiding department - overseeing four camps, a team of 29 guides and two trainees; managing all departmental administration, fleet maintenance and scheduling, as well as maintaining an active guiding presence in the field. This is not a desk role disguised as a guiding position, nor a guiding role that happens to have some admin. It is both - simultaneously.

Minimum Requirements

• FGASA NQF4 (Level 2) - essential and non-negotiable
• FGASA Professional Field Guide preferred
• Full Lead Trails Guide qualification - essential and non-negotiable
• Advanced Rifle Handling (ARH) - essential
• Valid SAPS Firearm Competency - essential
• SASSETA registration - essential
• Valid First Aid certificate (Wilderness First Aid preferred)
• Valid PrDP - essential
• NDT registration - essential
• Proven experience as a Head Guide or Senior Assistant Head Guide within a luxury Big Five safari environment - essential
• Prior experience managing a large guiding team across multiple camps or lodges - essential
• Strong administrative ability including roster management, departmental reporting and record keeping
• Fleet management experience - preferred
• Knowledge of the Sabi Sand ecosystem, traverse protocols and reserve regulations - highly advantageous
• Outstanding guest engagement, interpretive and hosting skills
• Excellent written and verbal English communication - additional languages advantageous
• Calm; decisive and professional under pressure
• Comfortable living and working in a remote, live-in bush environment
• Stable work history with outstanding, contactable references

Key Responsibilities

• Guiding Leadership & Guest Experience Maintain an active guiding presence in the field across game drives and guided bush walks Deliver world-class, interpretive safari experiences befitting an ultra-luxury international guest profile Set; uphold and continuously improve the guiding department's standards across all four camps Act as the primary reference point for guiding quality, conduct and guest experience across the reserve
• Team Management & Development Lead; manage and develop a team of 29 guides and 2 trainees across four camps Manage all guide and tracker allocations, back-up drives and standby duties Conduct regular performance assessments, coaching sessions and in-field mentorship Oversee onboarding and training for all new guiding staff Handle disciplinary procedures where required in line with the reserve's HR policies
• Administration & Operations Manage all guiding department administrative functions including rosters, scheduling and reporting Maintain accurate and up-to-date departmental records across all four camps Liaise with camp management teams across the reserve to ensure seamless daily guiding operations Coordinate with neighbouring lodges and reserve management on traverse and sightings protocols
• Fleet Management Oversee the logistics for maintenance, servicing and operational readiness of the guiding fleet across all camps Ensure all vehicles, equipment and firearms meet required safety and operational standards at all times Manage service schedules and liaise with maintenance teams on fleet requirements
• Conservation & Safety Champion ethical wildlife viewing and responsible guiding practices across the entire team Ensure full compliance with reserve safety protocols and emergency procedures Actively support the reserve's conservation objectives and messaging

Package

• Highly attractive, competitive salary - Dependent on experience & qualifications
• Live-in: Accommodation and meals provided