Wilderness invests in the guides who protect people, wildlife and wild places

While they carry a different title, Wilderness's guides also share much of that same responsibility: keeping guests safe while protecting and interpreting the wildlife around them. This year, that purpose brought 21 Head Guides and trainers from six countries – Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa and Kenya – to Wilderness Linyanti Tented Camp, Botswana, for the company's annual Head Guide and Group Guide Trainer engagement.

The week focused on Impact, the guest experience, storytelling, teamwork and communication, and aligning guiding standards across the business. ‘This engagement gave our Head Guides the chance to learn from each other and work closely with our regional trainers,’ says Simon Collier, Group Head of Hospitality, Training & Development at Wilderness.

Sessions also covered food hygiene and safety and hospitality fundamentals, led by Simon alongside Cilas Mafuko, Wilderness Botswana Head Guide Trainer; Dr Mariëtte van der Walt, Wilderness Group Biodiversity Coordinator; and Frederic Ueberschaer, Wilderness Tanzania Guide Trainer. True to the rhythm of a working safari camp, training combined in-field and in-camp learning, often running from before sunrise to well after dark.

Guides were also split into four teams for a light-hearted challenge: the best bird list, setting up the best coffee stop, capturing the most unique image of a species via camera trap, and producing the best-quality animal track mould. The winners were awarded two copies of field guides, the PathFinder and Tracker Manual. ‘Creating teams and driving positive rivalry had a great impact on the group,’ says Simon, ‘and all four are valuable skills for elevating the guest experience.’ Each Head Guide has since returned to camp to apply the training, sharpening how their teams engage guests, interpret wildlife, and carry Wilderness's Impact work into everyday safari experiences.

The guides left with plenty to reflect on. ‘I feel really inspired by the engagement. It was intense and full on, and a reminder of how many amazing people we have in our team, and how fortunate we are to work in these rich, diverse areas,’ says Frederic. 

As the world marks World Ranger Day, Wilderness's investment in its guiding teams reflects the same commitment as that of rangers - to help protect Africa's wildlife and keep guests safe. Guiding remains a defining pillar of the Wilderness experience, and through ongoing training, the company continues to set the standard for expertly hosted safaris, led by guides as invested in conservation and safety as they are in the sighting itself.

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