Pushing the limits of ecotourism | IOL Travel



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It all started in Botswana 35 years ago with Colin Bell, Chris McIntyre, an old Land Rover and a mission to help conserve and restore Africa's remote places.

The guides sought to provide authentic mobile photographic and ornithological safaris.

Soon they opened camps in the Okavango Delta, expanding their luxury safari experiences to Namibia, Rwanda, Kenya and Seychelles.

More than three decades later, Wilderness Safaris has pushed the boundaries of ecotourism, making progress in wildlife conservation and community development.

They make no compromises on luxury. They have more than 40 ecolodges, including BisateLodge.

With its presence in seven African countries and its rare experiences combining wildlife, culture and cuisine in its 40 eco-lodges of luxury, Wilderness Safaris will not stop until it has an impact on the continent.

Balloon safari in Namibia and Zambia, gorilla tracking at Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda or an underwater adventure in Seychelles, travelers will discover unexplored territory and play a role in shaping this particular destination.


Bisate Lodge in Rwanda. Picture: CROOKES AND JACKSON.

"The company is responsible for protecting nearly 3 million acres of remote areas," says Grant Woodrow, chief of operations. "We are proud of responsible and sustainable ecotourism, which has inspired positive actions for our guests and our staff. At the dawn of our 35th year, we remain true to our philosophy of sustainable development that includes 4Cs: commerce, conservation, community and culture.

Making the Difference

The company has more than 3,000 employees, of which 85% The Wilderness Safaris launched Children in the Wilderness in 2001. This is one of the best educational and life skills program for rural children

Wilderness Safaris provides gorilla tracking. . Pic R.Friedman.

Each year, more than 500 children are housed in camps and participate in educational programs.

As wildlife plays a crucial role in the experiments, it has also contributed a lot to conservation efforts. The Botswana Rhino Conservation Program, founded in 1999, is an example.

The project helped reintroduce locally extinct black and white rhinos to the wild, which is considered to be the largest transboundary movement completed

. which began in 2015, involves reforestation of the Alberta Rift of Rwanda by planting more than 20,000 trees in the luxurious Bisate Lodge of six villas last year

New Horizons

Woodrow says the company hopes to ride as his mascot, the African skimmer, a rare and striking bird that symbolizes fragile and untouched ecosystems.

"We can say that this has been our lucky charm over the years," he jokes

. . He reopened the Little Makalolo in Hwange in June, will reopen Serra Cafema in northern Namibia in September and will launch Magashi at Akagera National Park in Rwanda in December

Since the acquisition of two new partners, Rise Fund and FS Investors this year, Wilderness Safaris "We want to remain the leading authentic and sustainable ecotourism operator in Africa, and have the greatest impact on wildlife, wildlife and people of Africa across High-end ecotourism, "says Woodrow, roasting. another 35 years old.

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