Candice Grover (General Manager)
Candice has vast experience of and is a specialist in the safari hospitality industry. She also has a passion for community projects, previously Head of Community at Thornybush. Candice loves to see young people grow into mature, confident, competent professional field guides. Mentoring our students towards a long and successful career within the safari industry is what drives Candice in her role.
“I believe a truly amazing field guide has the ability to not only educate guests about our wildlife, but to share the bigger picture too – the landscape’s biodiversity, current conservation efforts, the culture and history of our people, our rural communities on the peripheries of the protected areas, and how they are all intrinsically linked.”
Nikki Meiring (Operations & Enrolment Manager)
Nikki has more than 6 years’ experience in Front Office & Operations Management, Facilitating Training, Skills Development and OHS. She grew up on a farm in the North-West Province and since she could remember, always loved the outdoors. After school she did her FGASA NQF2 and realised she had a huge passion for nature which she wanted to combine with her strengths and enjoyment of working with people.
Qualifications: NQF2 Nature Site Guide, Health and Safety Officer, Lodge Management, ETD Practitioner
Tarryn Hennessy (Campus Manager)
Tarryn grew up travelling to nature reserves and national parks and visiting family in Vaalwater where her dream of working in the bushveld started. After finishing school, she went on to study Natural Resource Guardianship. In her second year of studies, she had the opportunity to study as a field guide which sparked a passion that still follows her too today. Tarryn has worked in reserves such as Dinokeng Game Reserve and Pilanesberg National Park. Five years later, Tarryn finds herself back in the Waterberg mountains, a place she likes to consider home.
Qualifications: NQF2 Nature Site Guide, Health and Safety Officer, Lodge Management, ETD Practitioner
Obakeng Medupe (Principal Facilitator)
Obakeng (known as Ob) travelled throughout South Africa as a youngster, and this sparked his interest in travel and wildlife. After finishing school, he went on to study Tourism Operations and on his last year he had the opportunity to study as a field guide, a life changing moment where his interest became his passion. Ob has worked at some of the top lodges and reserves in the country over the past 15 years and is a passionate conservationist.
Qualifications: FGASA Professional Field Guide, Professional Trails Guide, Tracking (Level 2), Range officer, Advanced Rifle Handling
Hugh Morris (Guide Facilitator)
Hugh was originally a student at the college graduating in 2017 and did his placement at Madikwe Safari Lodge. He started working at Marataba Luxury Lodges in 2020. After gaining his trails guide qualification this year he began his current position. Hugh originally hails from Cape Town but has found home in the Waterberg mountains.
Qualifications: FGASA Field Guide (NQF4), Trails Guide (NQF4), Tracking (Level 2), Savanah Biome Guide, Advanced Rifle Handling, Wilderness First Aid
Faith Shivamba (Campus Manager)
Faith was born in the tropical town of Tzaneen, and nature played a large part in her upbringing. Seasonal visits into the Kruger National Park with her parents set her future career path. After high school, and a gap year, Faith studied Nature Conservation at the University of Nelson Mandela. Obtaining her Diploma in Conservation in 2015, she immediately started working, gaining experience and skills in the field. In 2017 Faith did the FGASA Field Guide level 1 course, gaining her qualification and 4×4 advance driving skills within six months.
Now nine years in the bush, Faith has gained experience in research, guiding, camp management, as well as marketing. Faith believes that you can never stop learning and growing, and that nature is as gentle as you treat it.
Qualifications: National Diploma Nature Conservation, Field Guide Level 1 (NQF2), 4×4 Driving
Otto Scribante (Principal Facilitator)
Nature has been in Otto’s blood since a very young age, always playing in the garden rather than inside. Annual trips to his grandparent’s farms and Kruger National Park were always something to look forward to. After a “gap year” of sailing and sail training that lasted 8 years, Otto returned to the bush to become a guide, and has since worked in multiple reserves across South Africa appreciating the variety and diversity that South Africa has to offer. Birding has become a major part of his life. Otto loves to teach and feels there is something new to learn every single day.
Otto’s Qualifications: Professional Guide, FGASA Apprentice Field Guide (NQF2), FGASA Field Guide (NQF4), FGASA Trails Guide (NQF4), FGASA Regional Bird Specialist – Savannah, FGASA Regional Bird Specialist – Forest
Rector Nkuna (Guide Facilitator)
Rector grew up in Dixie Village near Manyeleti Game Reserve, Mpumalanga Province. At a young age he was passionate about nature and after finishing school he visited his father who worked at the lodge. It was there that he joined the field team for game drives and bush walks learning much from them. Rector has worked at Lion Sands Game Reserve for 18 years as a tracker.
Rector’s Qualifications: Track & Sign Level 3, Trailing Level 2, Apprentice Field Guide NQF 2
Francois Fourie (FGASA Assessor)
Nature has always been in Francois’ blood, and he has always been intrigued by the natural world. Francois has guided in many of South Africa’s well-known reserves, including the Kruger National Park, Manyeleti, and Timbavati. He found his feet in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, where he spent 7 years guiding.
“It is difficult to pinpoint my favourite part of guiding, but just being able to be in nature itself is already a win in my book.” Before his guiding career started he was fortunate enough to acquire a degree in Psychology as well as a diploma in Business Management. With his background in the guiding industry and his qualifications, he found himself back in the city but living the best of both worlds.
He believes that being a FGASA Assessor is one the most rewarding thing about his guiding career, as he is able to shape and mould new guides into (one day) becoming ambassadors for the industry. Francois is also the Content Manager for the MORE Family Collection.
Francois’s Qualifications: FGASA Professional Field/Trails Guide, FGASA Trails Guide Mentor, FGASA Assessor, SKS Birding – 14 years in the guiding industry
Mitch Bloem (Sales Manager)
Mitch was a student of the college in 2018, and thereafter gained six years of field guide experience at two of the MORE Family Collection properties – Marataba Luxury Lodge and Lions Sands Sabi Sand.
“Being able to experience two completely different parts of South Africa has truly been a special experience. One of the most rewarding parts of being out in the field is meeting and making lasting connections with guests from all around the world. Being a Field Guide is honestly an enriching experience that allows one to be the link between nature and the guests.”
Mitch loves sharing his experience and welcoming new students – local and international – to join the family.
Mitch’s Qualifications: NQF4 Trails Guide
