Skukuza: Field Guide posted by HotelJobs

Key Responsibilities

Conducting Safaris:
Lead game drives, bush walks and other activities to provide guests with an immersive and educational wildlife experience.
Ensure the safety of guests during all safari activities.

Wildlife Knowledge:
Possess in-depth knowledge of the local wildlife, including animal behaviour, bird species, and plant life.
Share information about the environment, ecology, community, and conservation efforts with the guests.

Guest Interaction:
Interact with guests in a professional and friendly manner, providing excellent customer service.
Answer questions and engage in informative discussions about the wildlife and surrounds.
Be sensitive to guests preferences such as birders, looking for specific species, and try and manage their expectation within the context of what nature delivers.
Ensure that you are able to adjust your engagement when you have a number of different nationalities and generations on your vehicle/walk.
Be sensitive to guests who want limited interaction with the guide and those who want more engagement and tailor your response accordingly.
Hosting guests at meals and/or for drinks, as required by the Camp Manager or your guests.
If guests reveal problems or additional special requirements that are not yet recorded in the day sheet or guest preferences, or that the management are not aware of, then these must be communicated to the Camp Manager as soon as they become known, and you are able to do so discreetly.

Food & Beverage:
Service of food and beverages by the guide must be in accordance with hygienic standards which must be adhered to in accordance with the SOP and general good hygienic practices.
Must have a knowledge of the wines and spirits served in the camps and be able to serve them correctly on game drives according to the SOPs for serving wine, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks.
Be familiar with the service of coffee and tea according to the set SOPs.
Must have a full understanding of the meals served in the bush and be aware of dietary requirements.

Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance:
Conduct routine daily checks of your vehicle and equipment in accordance with the Guides SOP and the requirements of the Maintenance Department.
Ensure your vehicle has all the relevant equipment as required by the SOP checklist and that the equipment is in working order.
Ensure you have all the right safety protocols in place according to the SOP checklist.
Ensure that you always have the prescribed refreshments according to the set SOP for cooler boxes and hot boxes and that you are familiar with your guests dietary and special requirements.

Environmental Conservation:
Ensure you are familiar with SANParks rules and regulations relating to the concession/reserve within which you operate.
Be sensitive to the environment and avoid off-road driving as far as is possible within the concession. Off-road driving is strictly prohibited in the Kruger National Park itself.
Comply with the Game Driving Protocol at all times.
When conducting walks and drives ensure that guests are educated on the importance of conservation and responsible tourism.

Emergency Response:
Be prepared to handle emergency situations and provide first aid, if necessary, in accordance with the company emergency protocols and first aid training protocols.
Maintain a calm disposition and act with decision ensuring your and the guests safety at all times.

In Camp Support:
Must be able to deal with problem animal control in accordance with the SANParks rules and always ensuring the safety of guests and camp staff.
Educate the camp staff on how to behave around dangerous animals.
Take on driver duties to facilitate smooth camp operations when not guiding by transporting staff between the staff village and main area.
Assist with guest luggage.
Assist with guest pick-up and drop-off to and from the airport/gates, even if these are not your assigned guests
Assist with staff transfers, as required.
Assist with game drive link-ups for guests who arrive late or need to leave early, and vehicle recoveries for vehicles that breakdown.
Assist with camp maintenance and the workshop when requested to do so.

Rifle Handling:
Ensure that you have made the request with the Head Guide to draw the rifle and ammunition from the safe in a suitable time before taking your guests out on a walk and ensure it is returned immediately upon getting back to the camp after the walking activity.
Handle your rifle according to best practice and the SOP ensuring that the right paperwork is completed for taking the equipment out of the safe, and that the bolt, rifle and ammunition are stored separately.
Ensure that the rifle is always clean and in perfect working condition.

Minimum Experience & Requirements

• A valid and current South African guides licence and valid PrDP special drivers licence.

• FGASA Qualification Minimum of NQF 4 with Backup Trails. Lead Trails will be a bonus.

• DEAT Registration (Mpumalanga).

• 3 Years Experience as a Field Guide/Ranger in a Big Five Game Reserve

• Self-disciplined, punctual and respectful.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for international guests with diverse cultures. Must have an outgoing hosting personality.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for staff, being respectful of their culture. A basic knowledge of Shangaan or another African language is recommended.

• Must be familiar with basic vehicle maintenance in order to communicate with the maintenance team to troubleshoot problems.

• Must be familiar with how to drive in a variety of on- and off-road conditions.

• Must be familiar with radio etiquette and able to ensure that radio conversations are kept short and direct, with no unnecessary chatter.

• Good initiative to cope with difficult situations in a remote environment.

• A valid first aid training certificate to handle trauma care.