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Wilderness (company)
African ecotourism operator From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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History and impact
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Wilderness was founded in 1983 by safari guides Colin Bell and Chris McIntyre, originally operating out of Maun, Botswana, near the Okavango Delta. The company was the first tour operator of its kind to register a formal business in Botswana.[5] Bell and McIntyre began operations with a Land Rover and a small set of tents.[6]
The company has been recognised for its conservation work, including efforts to protect approximately 33 species listed on the IUCN Red List.[7] The company also reports managing and supporting conservation areas covering over 2.5 million hectares of wilderness across Africa.[8]
Through its charitable arm, the Wilderness Trust, the company supports over 20 conservation, anti-poaching, and community development initiatives annually. It is also the primary funder of Children in the Wilderness (CITW), a nonprofit that provides environmental education and leadership development programmes for children in rural communities. According to the organisation, CITW has reached more than 40,000 children across eight African countries, including over 2,100 participants in Botswana alone.[9]
Wilderness also supports wildlife conservation programmes such as the Shoebill Aerial Survey in Rwanda,[10] Desert Elephant Conservation in Namibia, and the Kalahari Wild Dog Study.[11] Its anti-poaching partnerships include support for Save the Rhino Trust in Namibia[12] and the Scorpion Anti-Poaching Unit in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park.[13]
In Botswana, Wilderness works with the CLAWS Conservancy (Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainably) to reduce human-wildlife conflict in communities near the Okavango Delta. Initiatives include lion collaring and the deployment of early warning systems in collaboration with the Okavango Community Trust (OCT). Between October 2023 and March 2024, Wilderness reported a significant increase in conflicts averted, lion population tracking coverage, and alert participation in the region.[14]
In Kenya's Masai Mara, Wilderness supports lion conservation through the Governors' Camp Collection, a group subsidiary. In partnership with the Mara Predator Conservation Programme, it has contributed to lion collaring efforts to help researchers gather behavioural data and promote sustainable coexistence with surrounding communities.
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Affiliated brands and acquisitions
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Wilderness has expanded through a series of acquisitions and partnerships with other travel companies. These include:
- Wilderness Air – A regional air charter service operating in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It provides aviation logistics for Wilderness and other safari operators.
- Jacada Travel – A London-based tour operator founded in 2008 by Alex Malcolm. The company entered administration during the COVID-19 pandemic and was acquired by Wilderness in October 2020."Wilderness Safaris acquires Jacada Travel". Travel Weekly Asia. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- Yellow Zebra Safaris – A UK-based travel company focused on tailor-made safaris. Wilderness acquired the company in early 2021."IBB Law advised Wilderness Safari on its acquisition of Yellow Zebra Travel". The Business Magazine. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- Governors Camp Collection – A safari lodge operator with properties in Kenya and Rwanda. In 2023, Wilderness and Governors’ Camp entered into a strategic partnership."Wilderness and Governors' Camp Collection enter partnership". Tourism Update. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- itrvl – A travel booking and technology platform used within the Wilderness group for distributing curated itineraries and travel products.
- Wayo Africa – A Tanzania-based safari operator specialising in walking and adventure-based trips. Wilderness and Wayo announced a partnership in 2023 to expand tourism offerings in Tanzania."Wilderness Safaris Joins Forces with Wayo Africa to Grow Tourism in Tanzania". Insider Travel Report. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
Non-profit initiatives
- Children in the Wilderness (CITW) – A non-profit environmental education programme for school-aged children in rural areas of Africa. CITW is supported by Wilderness and operates in several countries."Children in the Wilderness". Empowers Africa. Retrieved 7 August 2025."Projects: Children in the Wilderness". Different.org. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- Wilderness Trust – A conservation trust supporting projects in biodiversity protection and research. The trust publishes an annual report of its activities."Wilderness Trust Report 2018–2024" (PDF). Wilderness Trust. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
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Corporate location
In 2022, Wilderness Holdings Limited transferred its registration from Botswana to Mauritius.[2]
Gallery
A lioness in tall grasses in the Savuti region of northern Botswana, photographed during a Wilderness safari in April 2025.
Leopard resting in a leadwood tree near Mombo Camp, Okavango Delta (April 2025)
Sunrise over the floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Botswana (April 2025)
Properties
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Camps
Wilderness is present in eight countries across Africa, operating a collection of luxury safari camps. The table below lists all current properties by region, with premier camps linked to their official profile pages.
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References
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