Hunting is in
Our DNA
There are no short cuts to knowledge and experience, it takes decades of boots on the ground
Are you ready for
The Adventure Beyond?
Once in a lifetime
The Hunting Advenutre
Meet Your Guides
Ewan Black
Born and raised in the rugged West Coast rainforest of New Zealand’s South Island, Ewan developed a passion for hunting from a very young age alongside his grandfather and father, who were both professional hunters. Those early years laid the foundation for a lifetime spent in the mountains and backcountry, developing an exceptional understanding of New Zealand’s wild places and game animals.
With over 18 years of professional guiding experience, Ewan is the sole owner and founder of Southern Lakes Safaris. He has built a reputation for delivering authentic, safe, and unforgettable hunting experiences for clients from around the world.
Ewan’s extensive knowledge of animal behaviour, seasonal patterns, and New Zealand’s diverse terrain, combined with his professionalism and unwavering commitment to safety, ensures every hunt is tailored to give clients the very best opportunity for success. Whether you’re pursuing red stag, tahr, chamois, fallow deer, or elk, you’ll be hunting alongside a guide whose experience has been earned through thousands of days in the field.
Friendly, approachable, and passionate about sharing New Zealand’s wilderness, Ewan is committed to creating an experience that extends far beyond the trophy—one you’ll remember long after you’ve returned home.
Meet Your Guides
Ash Charles
Ash Charles has been passionate about hunting from a young age and has spent years exploring and hunting some of the toughest backcountry terrain New Zealand has to offer. His extensive experience has given him an exceptional knowledge of New Zealand’s game animals and the spectacular country they inhabit.
Ash lives in Lake Hāwea with his wife and young child. When he’s not guiding, he specializes in the construction of high-end homes, a profession that reflects the same attention to detail, work ethic and pride he brings to every hunt. Clients will quickly appreciate his kind, honest and professional nature, along with his genuine passion for helping them enjoy an unforgettable hunting experience.
Exceptionally fit, hardworking and passionate about the outdoors, Ash is a fantastic addition to Southern Lakes Safaris. We are proud to have him on our team and look forward to seeing him share his knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm with clients from around the world.
Real life
Endless Adventure
Discover
The Backcountry
A Southern Lakes Safaris specialty, these are the hunts we live for. Flying into our public land concession, situated in New Zealand’s most remote and scenic public land hunting grounds, we’ve spent our whole lives gaining the knowledge to be able to make our clients successful in harvesting a truly mature tahr or chamois on public land.
We can adapt these trips to virtually any level of fitness and sense of adventure, but a good base level of fitness will see you enjoy this hunt so much more. We are proud to say we are the only New Zealand outfitter serious enough about mountain hunting, that we have our concession directly with the New Zealand Government, and that our guides have high level avalanche qualifications and experience.
Our commitment to client safety is such that we have developed our own Health and Safety System specifically for backcountry hunting, which has been audited to a much higher level than our industry peers.
Our Guests
Love Us
“2 years ago I bid on a New Zealand red stag hunt, which was donated by Southern Lake Safari’s. I was lucky enough to win the auction, at a very reasonable price. I went back and forth with Ewan about gear, flights, hotels, etc. I was able to take Christy along, which made it all that more special. Let me just tell you, these guys worked their tails off, not only for the hunt, but the meals, accommodations, and idea’s on sightseeing. This was a tough hunt, very steep and a lot of scrub brush with thistles, but worth it all. I knew we would be walking a bunch, when Ewie said, This was going to be a leg stretcher. I finally found someone more sarcastic than myself, Ewie. If you want an affordable hunt and tons of fun, you need to call these guys. They went the extra mile for us every part of the trip. I was lucky enough to harvest both of these animals, but the best part was gaining 2 friends. Thank you again Ewie for over exceeding any expectation so had. Steva the Diva”
— STEVEN MYERS – DILLSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
“New Zealand had always been at the top of my hunting bucket list. When my uncle and a friend invited me on the hunt of a lifetime, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. Ewan runs an outstanding outfitting business and is an exceptional guide. He consistently put us onto incredible stags and fallow deer, making the experience even better than I had imagined. The lodging and hospitality were A+, and every part of the trip exceeded my expectations. Thanks again, Ewan, for making a dream come true!”
— JORDAN HORVAT – HOLDEN, ALBERTA, CANADA
“My wife Wendy and I met Ewan, owner/operator of Southern Lakes Safaris, at the 2025 SCI convention and began planning a hunt for two. We’ve never been to New Zealand and did not know what to expect. Ewan put it together and made everything effortless for us. The hunting area was an amazing experience; the terrain was rough with abundant game and unbelievable panoramic views. By the end of the hunt, we felt like we had gained new friends in Ewan and his family.”
— TOM AND WENDY AYRES – MICHIGAN
