NJMORE FIELD GUIDE COLLEGE - Key Persons
Andy has been "guiding" the Operations of the MORE Family Collection for the past ten years and oversaw the birth of the MORE Field Guide College. Andy's experience hails from his Scottish hospitality roots that he has been able to adapt to the African bush, applying the key hospitality principles to the niched world of field guiding. Andy's goal is to continually improve the culture, standards, and guest experience through the steering role that the Board will play within the greater community of MORE Guides.
Job Titles:
- General Manager
- Member of the BOARD
- General Manager, MORE Field Guide College )
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."
Over the past 15 years, Candice has been actively involved in both the hospitality sector and as the head of a non-profit organisation, dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism in protected areas. Candice has become a valued member of the organisation WISE: Women In Safari Excellence, established in 2023. Candice has diligently cultivated expertise in delivering exceptional guest experiences, leading diverse teams, and upholding stringent quality standards. Concurrently, while leading the non-profit, she adeptly balanced the preservation of natural environments, with fostering community development and growth of individuals, always guided by a strong commitment to ethical and environmental standards. Throughout her journey, she has held an unwavering passion for skills development, which remains her constant driving force. Candice aspires to maintain the high standards of MORE Field Guide College, whilst making a positive impact in the realm of field guides.
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.
Job Titles:
- FGASA Assessor
- FGASA Assessor Content Manager MORE Family Collection
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 seven years guiding. After this he ventured into private photographic safaris before finding his feet at MORE Field Guide College. 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 aspects about his guiding career, as he is able to shape and mould new field guides into becoming ambassadors for the industry. Francois is also the Content Manager and wildlife photographer for the MORE Family Collection, supporting the marketing team by telling powerful and impactful visual stories for guest enrichment.
Together, our team conveys a well-rounded understanding of and passion for the environment, wildlife, field guiding, and safari hospitality.
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.
Jopie started working at safari lodges in 2008, initially based at a beautiful property in the Waterberg, where as a spa therapist she fell in love with the bush. Over the past 15 years, Jopie has worked alongside some incredibly knowledgeable, skilled, and exceptionally passionate field guides and trackers who have helped shape the safari experience. Jopie felt even more privileged to work with a strong team of field guides at MORE Family Collection's Lion Sands Game Reserve where she relished the role of General Manager for the past five years. She has borne witness to the growth of professionalism over the last decade or two and how this elevates guest experience and contributes to eco-tourism and conservation efforts. Jopie hopes to play a role in this continued evolvement over the next couple of decades by contributing her vast knowledge of the hospitality industry.
Job Titles:
- General Manager, Lion Sands Game Reserve, Kruger National Park )
Mark's earliest childhood memories revolve around holiday's outdoors and family holidays to the bush. Mark completed his National Diploma in Forestry at Saasveld and worked in forestry before the call of the bush and working with people encouraged him to successfully complete a guide selection course and gain a foot into the safari industry. Prioritising aligning his studies with practical experience, Mark was a field guide in high end commercial operations from KZN, Northwest and the lowveld over a period spanning more than 22 years. He further worked his way up through the various FGASA levels to become an assessor. The aim was to be able to mentor, train and assist other guides in the industry - his way of giving back.
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.
Job Titles:
- Operations & Enrolment
- Sales & Operations 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
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.
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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- General Manager, Safari Operations, MORE Family Collection )
Riaan entered nature guiding in 1999 and has a career spanning over 24 years with a tally of approximately 4000 hours spent on foot, with 1500 encounters involving dangerous game in Big 5 areas. Throughout his distinguished journey, he has enriched his expertise by working in prestigious 5-star establishments across diverse natural landscapes in South Africa, including the Kalahari Desert, the Succulent Karoo, the Madikwe Game Reserve, and the expansive greater Kruger area, where he has resided for the past 18 years. Riaan's unwavering commitment to personal development and ethical professional guiding propelled him to attain the highest echelons of guiding qualifications. In recognition of his exceptional skills and dedication, he was honoured with the title of FGASA Safari Guide of the Year in 2019. In early 2021, Riaan embarked on a new chapter in his illustrious career by assuming the role of Head Guide at Lion Sands. Here, he played a pivotal role in forging a united and highly proficient team of field guides. Under his mentorship, team members achieved remarkable success, securing top two positions in the Safari Guide of the Year competition for both 2022 and 2023.
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