Wilderness 2025: Reflecting on a year of positive change

This year marked the next evolution in safari wellness with the launch of The Sanctuary at Wilderness Mombo. Our flagship camp's wellness centre represents a bold reimagining of unwinding in the wild. From the lap pool and meditation cocoons to the sauna, ice bath, and signature treatment rooms, The Sanctuary invites guests to find natural equilibrium through holistic therapies and deep connection to the Okavango Delta's rhythms.

For us, The Sanctuary is more than a spa, it's a tranquil space to allow the sights, sounds and simplicity of nature to truly sink in. Through a partnership with sound artist Mikhaela Faye we created an original soundtrack to capture Mombo's natural soundscape.  From lions' throaty roars to our staff's rhythmic songs during boma nights, these ambient tracks offer a truly immersive and reviving experience. Our newly launched Untamed amenities continue the restorative journey in-room, and are available for purchase in select Safari Boutiques.

As we look ahead, we're excited for the opening of our second wellness haven: The Sanctuary at Wilderness Bisate. Nestled in the forested foothills outside Volcanoes National Park, this serene retreat has been thoughtfully designed as a grounding space for gorilla trekkers and wellness seekers alike. With an ionised heated lap pool, steam room, ice bath, meditation cocoons, and dedicated treatment rooms, Bisate's Sanctuary offers the perfect setting for reflection and rejuvenation after transformative gorilla encounters. 

We recently unveiled Wilderness Magashi Peninsula, a private paradise in Rwanda's Akagera National Park with just two expansive suites and one exclusive villa. Overlooking Lake Rwanyakazinga and the Mutumba Mountains, this premium retreat offers exceptional game viewing across Rwanda's largest protected wetland and savannah park.

With private plunge pools and rooftop beds in each suite, Magashi Peninsula pairs modern splendour infused with Rwandan cultural influence. Explore Akagera's remarkable biodiversity on game drives, night drives, water activities aboard a luxury pontoon, and catch-and-release fishing, all while contributing to one of Africa's greatest conservation success stories.

Wilderness Chitabe reopened in April following a complete and fully sustainable redesign. The camp's new spacious rooms feature innovative evaporative cooling systems that are 90% more efficient than traditional air conditioning, allowing you to keep doors and windows open while staying comfortable and connected to nature.

Chitabe's exceptional location in the south-east Okavango Delta delivers impressive year-round wildlife, and our expert guides, many with over two decades of experience, ensure every safari is unforgettable. The elevated culinary offering celebrates Botswana's rich heritage, complemented by harvest-table settings and world-class South African wines.

Early on in the year, we announced the winner of the inaugural Wilderness Impact Challenge: Dr Peter Apps and Wild Entrust Africa's BioBoundary Project. This innovative predator deterrent uses scent-based invisible barriers to reduce human-wildlife conflict in Botswana, offering farmers a practical, cost-effective alternative to lethal control methods.

With USD100,000 in funding, Wild Entrust Africa will scale this groundbreaking solution, protecting both livestock and predators like lions, leopards, and wild dogs. We received over 140 exceptional submissions and are inspired by the innovative conservation solutions emerging across the continent. We look forward to seeing some of them in our next iteration of the challenge in 2026.

Our new Stories of Change is a series of short films highlighting individuals within the Wilderness ecosystem who have been transformed by our Impact work. Professional Guide See Oja's journey stands out. From attending our first Children in the Wilderness camp in Botswana at age 10 in 2001 to his role at Wilderness DumaTau today, See’s story exemplifies the ripple effect of our long-term commitment to conservation education.

As one of 8,650 children across 10 countries we've hosted on Children in the Wilderness camps over two decades, See is one of our many conservation success stories, and his desire to inspire the next generation shows the true ripple effect of our Impact work.

When Southern Africa faced its most severe drought in decades, we responded swiftly. Through our Drought-relief Nutrition Programme, generously funded by the Michael and Karen Stone Family Foundation, we delivered over 8,000 food parcels (220 tonnes) to 14 communities and 31 schools across Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia between November 2024 and January 2025.

This intervention supported approximately 18,000 people, primarily children, during the crisis peak, ensuring proper nutrition and alleviating pressure on families. The programme also reduced strain on natural resources and wildlife, which often suffer when livelihoods are threatened by disasters.

Our long-standing community partnerships enabled us to move quickly and effectively, delivering aid where it was needed most.

In a powerful demonstration of our conservation-driven business model, we announced our highest-ever annual payments to governments and communities (funding wildlife conservation and community development across seven African countries): USD17.1 million paid by Wilderness during the 2025 financial year and made possible by you, our guests. This brings our total contributions over the past 10 years to USD97 million.

These payments give economic value to wildlife, and support rural livelihoods. They enable us to help protect 2.2 million hectares (5.4 million acres) of pristine wilderness: further affirmation of our conservation tourism model.

2025 was a landmark year for Wilderness, with over 30 awards recognising our camps, impact work, and commitment to excellence.

Wilderness DumaTau claimed #1 in Condé Nast Traveler US's Best Resorts in Africa and #2 globally in the Top 50 World Resorts. Our newest property, Wilderness Bisate Reserve, swept eight major awards including Best New Safari Lodge in the Town & Country Hotel Awards, Travel + Leisure It List, and Condé Nast Traveler's Hot List.

We also won Best Sustainability Community Partner at the Virtuoso Awards, while our Wilderness Impact Challenge earned recognition on Condé Nast Traveler's 2025 Bright Ideas in Travel list. Across our portfolio, six camps ranked in Condé Nast's Readers' Choice Awards, and our Namibian and Zimbabwean properties claimed four World Travel Awards.

These accolades reflect the dedication of our 3,500+ passionate employees who deliver extraordinary experiences while protecting Africa's wild places.

Wilderness Touring

This year saw significant growth in Wilderness Touring, with expanded offerings in Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Kigali, Windhoek, and Nairobi. Our curated city experiences ideally complement safari adventures, allowing you to explore South Africa's Mother City and its Winelands, experience Victoria Falls from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides, discover Rwanda's remarkable capital and powerful history, connect with Namibian culture in vibrant Windhoek, and experience authentic Kenya in its capital Nairobi.

Wilderness Trade

Throughout 2025, our teams represented Wilderness at 35+ tradeshows and 15+ agent events, collectively engaging more than 1,500 agents across key markets. These connections are vital to our mission, as every guest who chooses Wilderness contributes directly to conservation and community development across Africa.

Wilderness Air & Wilderness24

Meanwhile, our aviation and incident management operations, Wilderness Air and Wilderness24, continued to provide seamless, safe journeys for guests across our destinations. These services are integral to the Wilderness experience, connecting remote camps, and minimising risk while maximising time in the wild.

As we close the last chapter of 2025, we find ourselves deeply grateful for what we've accomplished together. Every milestone reflects our shared belief that protecting wild places, wildlife, and empowering people allows all to thrive in a circle of coexistence.

Thank you to our staff, you, our purposeful guests, and our partners who make this vision real. The wilderness has taught us, changed us, and made us grateful.