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Regional hiringpublishedExternal employer
LLodgistics
LodgisticsSafari & Wildlife Tourism

Senior Guide

Location

uPhongolo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Work type

Onsite

Employment

Full Time

Experience

3-5 years

Compensation

Compensation not disclosed

Posted

1w ago

Summary and responsibilities

Role overview

Summary

The Senior Guide is responsible for delivering exceptional, safe, and educational safari experiences. This role involves supporting the leadership, mentoring, and development of junior guides, upholding conservation ethos, and ensuring compliance with reserve protocols in a Big 5 environment.

Job Summary The Senior Guide is responsible for delivering exceptional, safe, and educational safari experiences while supporting the leadership, mentoring, and development of junior guides. The role upholds the lodge's conservation ethos, ensures compliance with reserve protocols, and contributes to a consistently high standard of guiding within a Big 5 environment.


Duties and Responsibilities

  • Guiding & Guest Experience

    • Conduct professional, informative, and engaging game drives and bush walks (where permitted).

    • Ensure guest safety at all times in an unfenced Big 5 environment.

    • Deliver memorable wildlife encounters while maintaining ethical viewing practices.

    • Provide accurate interpretation of wildlife behaviour, ecology, and conservation principles.

    • Respond professionally to guest feedback and adapt guiding style to guest expectations.

  • Conservation & Ethical Guiding

    • Uphold and promote the lodge's conservation values and responsible tourism principles.

    • Ensure strict adherence to reserve rules, wildlife interaction protocols, and carrying capacities.

    • Act as a role model for ethical guiding behaviour and environmental stewardship.

    • Support conservation initiatives, data collection, and reporting where required.

  • Safety, Protocols & Compliance

    • Ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with lodge SOPs, reserve rules, and legal requirements.

    • Maintain clear radio communication and situational awareness at all times.

    • Respond effectively to emergencies, incidents, or wildlife-related risks.

    • Ensure guiding vehicles and equipment are checked and fit for use before each activity.

  • Leadership & Mentorship

    • Mentor, coach, and support junior guides and trainee guides.

    • Assist with assessments, training sessions, and on-the-job development.

    • Lead by example in professionalism, guest interaction, safety, and conservation ethics.

    • Support the Safari Manager with team coordination when required.

  • Operational Support

    • Assist with vehicle, equipment, and resource care and reporting of maintenance issues.

    • Participate in daily briefings, debriefings, and operational planning.

    • Support special activities, photographic safaris, walking safaris, and private drives where qualified.


Required Qualifications & Experience

  • FGASA Professional Field Guide qualification (minimum Level 2 recommended).

  • Valid Trails Guide qualification (advantageous, if applicable to operations).

  • Valid PDP and driver's licence (Code B / C1 as applicable).

  • First Aid Level 2 (minimum).

  • Minimum 3-5 years' guiding experience in a Big 5 reserve.

  • Clear criminal record.


Core Competencies

  • Strong Big 5 guiding and tracking skills

  • Excellent wildlife knowledge and interpretive ability

  • Strong leadership and mentoring capability

  • Calm, decisive decision-making under pressure

  • Excellent communication and guest service skills

  • High ethical and conservation-driven mindset


Working Environment

  • Remote Big 5 lodge environment

  • Flexible working hours including early mornings, weekends, and public holidays

  • Outdoor work in varying weather conditions

Updated 1w ago

Candidate fit

Skills and qualifications

Additional skills

FGASA Professional Field Guide qualification • 1+ yrs
Trails Guide qualification • 1+ yrs
PDP • 1+ yrs
Driver's licence • 1+ yrs
First Aid • 1+ yrs
Big 5 guiding • 1+ yrs
Tracking skills • 1+ yrs
Wildlife knowledge • 1+ yrs
Interpretive ability • 1+ yrs
Leadership • 1+ yrs
Mentoring • 1+ yrs
Decision-making under pressure • 1+ yrs
Communication • 1+ yrs
Guest service • 1+ yrs
Ethical mindset • 1+ yrs
Conservation-driven mindset • 1+ yrs

Experience

3-5 years

Certifications

FGASA Professional Field Guide qualification (minimum Level 2 recommended) • Required
Valid Trails Guide qualification • Required
Valid PDP • Required
Driver's licence (Code B / C1 as applicable) • Required
First Aid Level 2 (minimum) • Required

How this role is positioned

Role classification

Job domains

Operations
Administration & Office

Industries

Wildlife & Conservation

Employment

Full Time

Contract duration

Permanent

Hiring type

Direct

Global hiring

Location specific

Offer details

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Compensation not disclosed

VisibilityShared on listing
CurrencyUSD
PeriodYearly

Location, schedule, and role shape

Work setup

Work conditions

Primary locationuPhongolo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Work typeOnsite
Global hiringNo

Bandwidth profile

peopleHigh9/10
physicalHigh8/10
cognitiveHigh8/10
executionHigh8/10
creativityMedium6/10
uncertaintyHigh9/10
communicationHigh9/10

Context on the employer

Company snapshot

Company

Lodgistics

Team size

Growing team

Location

uPhongolo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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External

Senior Guide

uPhongolo, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaFull Time