A tourist guide is the person who serves tourists by unlocking the significance of a locality or topic relevant to their travels. He/she serves tourists at a specific attraction / destination or may travel with them for an extended period of time. In our experience (Africa Deluxe Tours) a professional well qualified, and registered, tourist guide is the most important factor in the success of any guided tour product. A good tourist guide can make any experience memorable, even if something goes wrong (e.g. bad weather, etc.). A bad tourist guide, on the other hand, can ruin potentially wonderful experiences...

In South Africa the profession of tourist guiding is controlled by national law. A statutory sectoral training authority regulates the training and accreditation of tourist guides. Tourists are entitled to request anyone presenting themselves as a tourist guide, to produce his/her tourist guide ID. The ID is a laminated credit card size card with a photograph of the guide indicating provinces/ specialities registered for. Unregistered tourist guides are barred by law from guiding.

Africa Deluxe Tours will gladly assist in finding a professional tourist guide for your specific requirements if requested to do so.

EU definition of a tourist guide: "The person who possesses an area-specific Tourist Guide qualification issued and/or recognised by the appropriate public authority in the country concerned. The role of the Tourist Guide is to guide visitors from abroad or the home country, in the language(s) of their choice, interpreting the natural and cultural heritage of the area of qualification." (source: FEG*)