Candice Grover (General Manager, MORE Field Guide College)
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.
Riaan Fourie (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.
National Diploma in Nature Conservation (Tshwane University of Technology) | FGASA SKS (Dangerous Game) Trails Guide | FGASA SKS (Birding) Guide | Accredited FGASA Trails Guide Mentor | FGASA Safari Guide of the Year (2019)
Francois Fourie (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.
FGASA Professional Field & Trails Guide | FGASA Trails Guide Mentor | FGASA SKS Birds | FGASA Assessor | BA Criminology/Psychology | Human Behaviour and Micro-expression certificate | Business and Marketing through SAIM (South African Institute of Management)
Mark Broodryk (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.
FGASA Professional Guide (full Trails Guide qualification), Tracker level 3, FGASA SKS-Dangerous Game, FGASA SKS-Birding, FGASA Mentor, FGASA Assessor
Andy Paterson (Operations Manager: Special Projects, MORE Family Collection)
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.
Jopie Van Rooyen (Operations Manager: Lodges & Hotels, MORE Family Collection)
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.
