How does tourism support conservation in Botswana?

Tourism provides economic incentives for conservation by generating revenue from wildlife and wilderness areas. Wilderness, for example, has paid over BWP269 million in concession fees to community and government landlords and over BWP1 billion to staff between 2014 and 2023 through tourism operations.

How can visitors directly contribute to conservation efforts?

Guests can directly contribute by visiting www.wildernesstrust.com and donating to specific initiatives or making a general donation. While on safari, guests can contribute by participating in conservation, community and cultural experiences.

What specific conservation projects does Wilderness support?

Wilderness supports a number of conservation and development projects in Botswana, including CITW, Ecoexist, and CLAWS. To date, the Wilderness Trust has disbursed over USD5.3 million to 25+ projects across all our countries of operation.

What sustainable practices are implemented at Wilderness camps?

Our Group Environmental Minimum Standards (GEMS) ensure 81% compliance across all operations with bi-annual assessments. Our camps are also made from sustainable building materials, operate on solar power, have above-ground sewage treatment systems and waste management programmes.

How do private concessions benefit conservation?

Private concessions create economic incentives for conservation through lease payments and resource royalties. Operators invest in anti-poaching, research, and habitat management because business success depends on healthy ecosystems.

How are local communities involved in conservation with Wilderness?

Wilderness employs over 1,100 people, with 96% being local citizens. Most of our staff come directly from neighbouring villages, with community partnerships in place through lease agreements. Communities also participate in our CITW programmes, which take place in partner schools in the villages.

Botswana Conservation & Sustainability

Q: What makes Botswana's conservation model successful?

Botswana's high-value, low-volume model is successful because it generates maximum revenue per visitor while minimising environmental impact. It’s also labour-intensive, creating substantial local employment.

Discover how Botswana and Wilderness lead global conservation efforts while balancing tourism and ecological integrity.

Home Africa Botswana Conservation in Botswana

Conservation in Botswana

A pioneer of the conservation tourism model in Botswana, since 1983 Wilderness has grown a substantial hospitality offering in the region, allowing us to have a significant conservation impact. Through government and community partnerships, human-wildlife coexistence initiatives, and wildlife monitoring, we help protect Botswana’s pristine wildernesses while creating sustainable livelihoods.

Wilderness Impact

Wilderness Experiences Conservation Nature Walk

Botswana’s conservation success

Botswana is a global leader in conservation through its high-value, low-volume tourism model. By using this approach, the country generates substantial revenue from concession payments while minimising environmental impact. Wilderness has been at the forefront of this model since the beginning, demonstrating that conservation and tourism can thrive together.

Explore the Wilderness Trust

Wilderness

Plan your Botswana safari

Start planning your Botswana safari with expert guidance on when to go, what it costs, where to stay, and how to build the perfect itinerary across the Okavango Delta, Linyanti and beyond.

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Okavango Delta waterways with mokoro canoe safari in Botswana

Best time to visit

Discover when to visit Botswana for peak wildlife, green season beauty and water-based safaris.

Best time to visit

Flying over the Okavango Delta in a private helicopter

How to plan

A step-by-step guide to planning a Botswana safari, from destinations to logistics and timing.

How to plan

Wilderness game drive vehicles driver through the Okavango Delta channels

Safari costs

Understand Botswana safari pricing, what drives cost, and how to plan your budget.

Safari costs

Guests enjoying some down time on the private deck of their tent at Wilderness Savuti

Safari itineraries

Explore curated Botswana safari itineraries combining iconic regions and experiences.

Safari itineraries

Expand your senses at the Sanctuary at Mombo from the aromatherapy and beyond

Luxury safaris

Discover Botswana’s most exclusive safari experiences in private concessions and remote camps.

Conservation foundations

Modern conservation began in the 1960s with the establishment of Moremi Game Reserve in 1963, followed by Chobe National Park in 1967. Importantly, community-owned, privately run concessions were then established within areas like the Delta, balancing wildlife protection with sustainable tourism. This balance has helped maintain these iconic ecosystems while giving exclusive access to visitors.

History

Philosophy

Model

Impact

History

Botswana's conservation owes its beginnings to visionary policies aimed to benefit not only wildlife but people too. When Wilderness was founded in 1983, hunting dominated northern Botswana. Through the implementation of our pioneering model, however, we showed that tourism could provide a sustainable alternative for local communities. Since then, the model has been replicated across the industry.

Wilderness' Philosophy

We believe that without wilderness, there is no Wilderness. Our business depends entirely on healthy ecosystems and thriving wildlife populations, creating powerful incentives to invest in conservation. Guided by our three Impact pillars – Educate, Empower, and Protect – we focus our efforts on conservation and development initiatives that benefit people and wildlife.

Wilderness Conservation And Hospitality Infographic

Botswana's Model

Our high-value, low-volume model works because it generates maximum revenue per visitor while minimising environmental impact. It’s also labour-intensive, creating substantial local employment. Wilderness, for example, employs 3.4 people per guest bed on average. For every BWP1 netted by shareholders, government receives BWP5.16, and staff receive BWP8.27, demonstrating the model's effectiveness.

Impact

We have always existed to protect, explore and expand the world’s wilderness. Today, we help protect 2.2 million hectares (5.4 million acres) of land. We channel our conservation and hospitality business as a force for lasting, positive impact. To achieve this, we focus our conservation and community empowerment programmes under three key impact pillars: Educate, Empower and Protect.

History

Botswana's conservation owes its beginnings to visionary policies aimed to benefit not only wildlife but people too. When Wilderness was founded in 1983, hunting dominated northern Botswana. Through the implementation of our pioneering model, however, we showed that tourism could provide a sustainable alternative for local communities. Since then, the model has been replicated across the industry.

Philosophy

Wilderness' Philosophy

We believe that without wilderness, there is no Wilderness. Our business depends entirely on healthy ecosystems and thriving wildlife populations, creating powerful incentives to invest in conservation. Guided by our three Impact pillars – Educate, Empower, and Protect – we focus our efforts on conservation and development initiatives that benefit people and wildlife.

Model

Botswana's Model

Our high-value, low-volume model works because it generates maximum revenue per visitor while minimising environmental impact. It’s also labour-intensive, creating substantial local employment. Wilderness, for example, employs 3.4 people per guest bed on average. For every BWP1 netted by shareholders, government receives BWP5.16, and staff receive BWP8.27, demonstrating the model's effectiveness.

Impact

We have always existed to protect, explore and expand the world’s wilderness. Today, we help protect 2.2 million hectares (5.4 million acres) of land. We channel our conservation and hospitality business as a force for lasting, positive impact. To achieve this, we focus our conservation and community empowerment programmes under three key impact pillars: Educate, Empower and Protect.

Wilderness Impact

Guided by our three Impact pillars – Educate, Empower, and Protect – and through our partnerships with government agencies, local communities, and NGOs such as Ecoexist and CLAWS, we help protect pristine wildernesses while creating conservation economies.

Wilderness Trust

Our NPO dedicated to raising & disbursing funds for conservation & development in Africa.

Wilderness Trust

Ecoexist

An NGO that fosters coexistence between elephants and people living on the edge of the Delta.

OUR PARTNERSHIP TO COLLAR ELEPHANTS

Male lion in the tall grass spotted on game drive

CLAWS

This NGO fosters coexistence between lions & people through science & community.

WORKING TOGETHER TO MITIGATE HUMAN-LION CONFLICT

CITW

The dedicated youth empowerment programme of the Wilderness Trust.

CITW – INSPIRING POSITIVE ACTION

Community conservation

Wilderness employs over 1,100 people in Botswana, with 96% being citizens. Each employee supports an average of eight dependents, directly impacting nearly 9,000 lives. This, in combination with the substantial lease payments we make, and education & training programmes we run, drives community development forward and provides financial incentives that foster a community centred around conservation.

Sustainable practices

Through our Group Environmental Minimum Standards (GEMS), we maintain a minimum of 80% compliance across all our camps, ensuring our operations have the lightest footprint possible on the environment.

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How to contribute

By joining Wilderness on safari, guests already contribute to our conservation and development work – helping protect wildlife species and supporting community development programmes like CITW. To take their contribution one step further, click the link below.

Ways to contribute

Success stories

Wilderness has achieved measurable conservation and development outcomes that demonstrate the effectiveness of the tourism-conservation model we employ to help protect pristine wilderness areas.

CITW

Through CITW, more than 2,700 children have participated in Eco-Clubs.

How CITW Changed My Life – Wandile Moyo

African wild dogs

Through the conservation of wildlife corridors, we help protect Botswana’s 1,000+ Endangered wild dogs.

Wild dog dynamics in the Okavango Delta

Avian conservation

Through active participation in SABAP2, we are helping map the distribution of the 464 bird species in the Okavango Delta.

HELPING SAVE BOTSWANA’S VULTURES

Wilderness Mombo Botswana Camp Exterior Floodplains

Payments to Govt

Wilderness makes highest-ever annual payments of USD17.1M in FY25.

WILDERNESS & GUESTS’ CONTRIBUTION TO CONSERVATION & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Future conservation goals

Wilderness aims to double the amount of land we help conserve in the next decade. Through expanding partnerships, innovative technology, and continued investment in communities, we're building a sustainable future where people and wildlife thrive together.

Get involved beyond your safari

Southern African residents may join the Wilderness Members Club, with their subscription donated directly to Children in the Wilderness. Guests are also invited to support specific initiatives through the Wilderness Trust, or simply participate in conservation, community and cultural experiences when on safari. Every visit creates a lasting impact.

Wilderness Trust

Wilderness

Explore Botswana safari experiences

Explore Botswana’s landscapes, wildlife and safari experiences, from the Okavango Delta’s waterways to Linyanti’s elephant herds, rich cultures and conservation success stories.

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Safari activities

Discover when to visit Botswana for peak wildlife, green season beauty and water-based safaris.

Safari activities

Wilderness Botswana Okavango Wildlife Pels Fishing Owl

Delta wildlife

A step-by-step guide to planning a Botswana safari, from destinations to logistics and timing.

Delta wildlife

Wildlife guide

A complete guide to Botswana’s wildlife and where to see key species.

Wildlife guide

Okavango camps

Explore safari camps in the Okavango Delta, from luxury lodges to intimate island stays.

Okavango camps

Linyanti camps

Discover safari camps in the Linyanti, known for elephants and predator encounters.

Linyanti camps

Conservation safaris

Learn how conservation tourism protects Botswana’s wildlife and communities.

Conservation safaris

Wilderness Botswana Culture Kalahari San

Cultural guide

Explore Botswana’s cultures, traditions and community experiences.

Cultural guide

Photographic safaris

Discover why Botswana is one of Africa’s most photogenic safari destinations.

Photographic safaris

Frequently asked questions

Tourism

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Conservation

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Community

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Our journeys change lives

Travel with purpose

Come and experience our pioneering conservation tourism model that has sustainably benefited people, wildlife, and wilderness in Botswana for over 40 years.

Travel with Wilderness

Wilderness