How to choose the Perfect Private Safari Guide 101

The Ultimate Guide to choosing your Perfect Private Safari Guide for your next adventure

Understanding Your Private Safari Guide Needs

The first point of departure is to identify what you would like to achieve through booking a private safari guide. Are you looking at ticking off birds from a list - then you would need a Private Safari Guide that is an exceptional birder to ensure that you have the best possibility of adding to your lifer list.

Are you a budding or pro-photographer or have you always wanted to pick up a camera and don't even know where to start? Then you need a Photographic Private Safari Guide - it goes further, do you shoot with Canon, Nikon, Sony or your Iphone? It is best to pick a Private Safari Guide that is familiar with the brand of gear you use to make the most of your experience.

Are you an adrenaline junkie that wants to abseil of Table Mountain, or walk across the open savannas in search of the big 5? Then you need an Adventure Private Safari Guide.

If you are looking to get lost in the forests of Central Africa in search of Gorillas and Chimps, it would be best to select a private safari guide who has an intimate knowledge of the region, the family groups and the cultures of the country you would be visiting.



As a rule your Private Safari Guide should be a walking encyclopedia of the wilderness with a deep passion for nature, culture and conservation.

What Qualities should you look out for in a Private Safari Guide

As a rule your Private Safari Guide has obtained more experience and qualifications than a guide who is just based at a lodge, however the industry is changing with many lodge guides starting to guide private clients.

Expert knowledge of local Flora and Fauna
Your guide should be familiar with the region you are travelling to. No matter which country or eco-system you are visiting a private guide will know the region intimately. Your Private Specialist Guide will also have done intense research on the region prior to departure to ensure that they are up to date on the latest research being done

More than the Big5
A Private safari Guide will focus on more than just the Big5 - they will focus on the eco-system as a whole, and give you great insight into the region you are visiting and how your safari impacts the conservation efforts of the reserve. . A great Private Guide works as an interpreter for what you are seeing, narrating the intricate tales of symbiosis and survival in the vast canvas of the safari landscape.

Exceptional Tracking and Navigation Skills
A brilliant Private Specialist Guide will have spent many hours in remote wilderness regions, exploring on foot and by vehicle. This means that they are experts at reading the subtle signs that nature leaves behind for you to follow on Safari. These tracking and Navigation skills are vital for the success of any Safari.

Understanding local customs and cultures
A safari is not just about finding the big 5 and ticking animals or birds off a list. A safari is an immersive journey that allows you to learn about more than just wildlife. It is an opportunity to delve into the local cultures and customs, to embrace the singing, dancing and story telling that connects people together on a deeper level.

Continuous Professional Development
In order to become a field guide, there are rigorous tests, and field exams that a guide needs to pass before they are allowed to guide guests in the wilderness. Private Specialist Guides continually strive to develop their skills and gain further qualifications, they do this at great financial and personal costs.

These guides travel to remote regions, they invest in photographic equipment and they pay for expensive courses that allow them to qualify in specialised fields. These fields can be as diverse as Bird Guiding, Trails, Marine Nature Guiding or even Advanced Astronomy. Depending on your areas interest it is a good idea to select a Private Specialist Guide that has obtained further qualifications in this field.

Personality Matters
When travelling with a Private Specialist Guide - you are often together for long periods of time in remote regions. It is very important to select a guide that you feel you would get along with. The Perfect Specialist guide, will adapt to your pace, find a guide that you can build a rapport with.

Whether you know your guide from a previous safari or if you are electing to make use of the services of a private specialist guide for the first time, we encourage you to spend time getting to know your guide before your safari starts. Zoom, WhatsApp and Telephone Calls are a great way to connect prior to your departure.

Our guides are all experts in their fields and communicating your expectations prior to your safari, allows them to tailor make your journey so that you get the most benefit out of your entire experience.



Your Private Specialist Guide should share your enthusiasm and passion, it doesn't help choosing a guide who is a Marine Specialist for a Big5 Photographic Safari - while you may have a wonderful time together you won't necessarily get the insight you were looking for.

Language Proficiency and communication skills
In the multicultural tapestry of safaris, communication is key to having an exceptional safari experience. Should you not be a confident English speaker, it is a good idea to make use of a guide who is proficient in your home language. Your guide should not only speak your language fluently but should be able to convey the language of the bush to you.

The way your Private Safari Guide communicates with you should not be a lecture, it should be an engaging dialogue. Striking a good balance between information and entertainment, making every moment enjoyable and educational.

How to Select the Perfect Private Safari Guide

Many clients that have already been on safari, will have an idea of what they are looking for in a guide. Most will already have a relationship with a guide that they know and trust.

Over the last 15 years Martin Meyer Safaris has been building relationships with Private Specialist Guides across the continent. These hand picked individuals have been carefully mentored by experts in the industry to ensure that we are partnering with Guides who not only have invested considerable resources and time into crafting their skill but share the Martin Meyer Safaris ethos.

The first consideration when selecting a Private Specialist Guide is ensuring the guide has experience in the country or region which you want to explore. Choosing a Kenyan Photographic Specialist guide is not the best fit if you want to go Birding in the Okavango Delta.

The second thing to consider is the level of expertise that your Private Safari Guide has in the region or in your area of interest. Make sure you are picking someone that understands your goals, be it photographic, history, conservation etc.

The final thing to consider is your budget - fees for a Private Specialist guide range from US$100 per day to US$ 700 per day. The more a guide has invested in his professional development the more expensive their daily guiding fees are. It is important to remember that the cost of furthering their development is not covered by a corporation - these are fees, hours and costs that are borne by these guides themselves.

Safaris are priceless, but we understand that budgets are not limitless. With this in mind, find the sweet spot where quality and cost converge ensuring that your safari is an investment in unforgettable memories and unique experiences with great insights. A Private Safari Guide adds immense value to any safari, this means that no matter your budget, you can be assured that you are levelling up your overall experience when you choose to travel with a Private Safari Guide. At the end of the day, you are able to assess the overall value vs the cost of your overall experience.



So how do you choose if you have no previous experience or frame of reference?

Well quite simply, you speak to the expert Journey Designers at Martin Meyer Safaris. Our team works with our private specialist guides on a daily basis. We know where our guides excel, what their passions and personalities are and who they would be perfectly paired with.

Past Client Referrals and Testimonials
Don't just take our word for it! Many Private Specialist Guides rely on the Testimonials and referrals from past clients. Word of mouth is a trusted compass - we often put clients in touch with past clients for them to get a living reference and to know what to expect from their experience with a Private Safari Guide.