Travel with Purpose: 35 Years of Life-Changing Journeys

On the eve of our 35th birthday we sat back and contemplated what it is that we really do – and have been doing – for the past three-and-a-half decades.

Through it all – even in the beginning when we had no staff, no camps, no planes and just one old Land Rover – there has always been one overriding purpose: to conserve and restore Africa’s wilderness and wildlife. How we planned to do it way back in 1983 was through an innovative approach that would later be defined as ecotourism.

This is something enshrined in our internal charter and vision statement, and undoubtedly beats in the heart of every single Wilderness Safaris employee. This underpins everything and truly is the cause that drives our enthusiasm for ecotourism as our chosen medium for making a difference.

With that in mind, how to celebrate our 35th?

What better way than to indulge in 12 months of adventurous and impactful journeys to exciting destinations accompanied by locally connected experts and authorities and with absolutely unique, privileged, behind-the-scenes access to the conservation and community processes of Wilderness Safaris and our partners!

So we considered the places we’d choose to be, and when we’d choose to be there (and with whom) over the next year. We came up with 12 itineraries with limited capacity (generally 6 guests per trip) that take in some truly spectacular destinations – of course with all proceeds channelled back to the conservation and community projects and partners that we’ll be exposed to.

Invited to join us in ‘travelling with purpose’ are our trade partners and our guests…people who have shared our 35-year journey with us and who have done so much for us over the years.

The trips are not about luxury (many will be very basic). They are not about bells and whistles (“flexible” and “spontaneous” are our watchwords). They are certainly not about making money (all proceeds will be donated). They are fun, enlightening expeditions to interesting places with interesting people that make a real difference to those same interesting places.