Head Guide

About the role

The Head Guide leads the Guides and Safari department, ensuring safe, memorable wildlife experiences for individuals, families, and children. This senior position oversees all field‑guide activities, equipment, vehicles, and departmental licences while maintaining high standards of guest service and staff development.

Key responsibilities

• Direct and monitor all field‑guide functions, including guest safety orientations, game drives, bush walks, and interpretive talks.
• Allocate game‑drive schedules, back‑up drives and standby duties efficiently.
• Maintain departmental firearms licences, ensure safe weapon handling and proficiency across the team.
• Oversee workshop operations and vehicle maintenance programmes.
• Chair departmental meetings, record minutes and liaise with other lodge departments.
• Manage lodge social‑media platforms to promote wildlife and the reserve.
• Coordinate emergency response and evacuation procedures for medical, fire or flood incidents.
• Mentor, train and develop guides, including college students and trainees, and drive performance‑management processes.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in wildlife guiding and safari operations, preferably in a senior leadership role.
• Valid firearms licence and proven competence in safe weapon handling.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle maintenance and workshop management.
• Experience managing social‑media content for tourism or conservation brands.
• Ability to lead incident‑management and emergency response teams.

Required skills

• Firearms licensing and safe handling
• Vehicle maintenance and workshop oversight
• Social media platform management
• Incident management and emergency coordination
• Tracking and spoor identification
• Guided game‑drive operation