What Wilderness Safaris does

Wilderness Safaris is a privately held, Johannesburg-headquartered conservation and hospitality company founded in 1983 that operates 55+ luxury safari camps across eight African countries (Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe) on approximately 2.2 million hectares of private land. The company serves affluent leisure travelers seeking bespoke, low-density wildlife experiences, capping each camp at no more than 12 suites to preserve exclusivity. Its core technology stack centers on operational logistics rather than software: the proprietary Wilderness Air private charter airline provides inter-camp transfers to remote locations, while Wilderness24 delivers 24/7 on-the-ground safety and logistics support throughout a guest's journey.

The business model is a high-touch, bespoke luxury hospitality operation. Itineraries are designed one-to-one by Safari Specialists in response to website enquiries, with pricing undisclosed publicly and determined per journey. Revenue is generated from all-inclusive nightly rates and complete itinerary packages that bundle accommodation, meals, beverages, guided activities (game drives, gorilla trekking, walking safaris, mokoro, hot air ballooning, star beds), park fees, and internal transfers. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer sales through travel designers, the Virtuoso luxury travel network, and traditional travel advisor partnerships, supplemented by a branded retail offering (Wilderness Store) launched in partnership with sustainable apparel maker Sealand.

The company is led by CEO Mike Namibia with founders Chris McIntyre and Colin Bell, employs 5,001-10,000 people (over 90% drawn from local villages), and has stated a goal of doubling protected wilderness by 2030 through Educate, Empower, and Protect impact pillars. Its 2025 recognition includes a Virtuoso Award for sustainability, Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure best-new-hotel recognition for the Bisate Reserve, and a Men's Journal Best Tour Operator designation, alongside a 4.8-star Trustpilot rating from 101 reviews.

Name

Wilderness Safaris

Legal name

Wilderness

Website

https://wilderness-safaris.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Wilderness Safaris is a privately held conservation and hospitality company founded in 1983 that operates 55+ luxury safari camps across 8 African countries on 2.2 million hectares of private land, serving affluent leisure travelers through bespoke itineraries, proprietary charter aviation, and 24/7 logistics support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Safari Hospitality

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Safari & Wilderness Luxury Resorts (THAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safari & Wildlife Travel Agencies (THAKAFAG), Safari Lodges (Big Five/Game Reserves) (THAGAIAA), Safari Lodges & Tented Camps (THAAAHAC), Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives (THAJAIAB)

Keywords

• Luxury safari camps
• Conservation hospitality
• Safari travel experiences
• Wilderness tourism
• Bespoke safari itineraries

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Luxury Safari Accommodations and Experiences: All-inclusive luxury safari packages combining accommodations at 55+ camps across 8 African countries with guided wildlife experiences, activities, meals, and beverages. Revenue generated through nightly rates and complete itinerary packages tailored to individual client preferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wilderness Safaris operates 55+ luxury safari camps across 8 African countries (Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe) on approximately 2.2 million hectares of private land. The company sells bespoke, all-inclusive safari itineraries that combine luxury accommodation with guided wildlife experiences (game drives, gorilla trekking, mokoro, walking safaris, hot air ballooning, star beds), supported by proprietary Wilderness Air charter transfers and 24/7 Wilderness24 logistics and safety assistance.

Product overview

Wilderness Safaris is a world-leading conservation and hospitality company operating a collection of 55+ luxury safari camps across 8 African countries (Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe). The company offers a unified portfolio of luxury accommodations (such as Bisate Lodge, Mombo Camp, Magashi Peninsula, Usawa Serengeti, Little Kulala, DumaTau, and Linkwasha) paired with immersive safari experiences (game drives, gorilla trekking, mokoro, hot air ballooning, star beds, walking safaris, rhino tracking). Services include Wilderness Air (private charter), Wilderness24 (24/7 logistics support), tailor-made journey planning, and retail through the Wilderness Store. The portfolio spans diverse destinations from Mount Kilimanjaro to the Okavango Delta, offering approximately 2.2 million hectares of private exclusive wildlife viewing areas with a focus on conservation, community empowerment, and low-volume high-value tourism.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wilderness Air: Private charter airline service for transporting guests to remote safari camps
• Wilderness24
• Wilderness & Sealand

Products and services

• Wilderness Bisate Lodge Luxury safari lodge situated on the edge of Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, offering immersive wildlife encounters and conservation-focused experiences to travellers seeking exclusive access to gorilla trekking habitats.
• Wilderness Mombo Camp Five-star luxury safari camp in Botswana's Okavango Delta, recognised for exceptional wildlife viewing and exclusive private game viewing areas available to Wilderness guests.
• Wilderness Magashi Peninsula Luxury safari camp situated on the banks of the lake in Akagera, Rwanda, offering wildlife encounters and water-based experiences in a pristine wilderness setting.
• Wilderness Usawa Serengeti Camp Mobile safari camp positioned around the Great Migration in Tanzania's Serengeti, offering seasonal luxury safari experiences that follow the wildebeest migration route.
• Wilderness Little Kulala Luxury desert safari camp in Namibia's Sossusvlei region offering immersive experiences in ancient desert landscapes and sightings of desert-adapted wildlife.
• Wilderness DumaTau Camp Luxury safari camp in Botswana's Linyanti region with main area and jetty, providing exclusive wildlife viewing experiences in a private reserve setting.
• Wilderness Linkwasha Camp Luxury safari camp in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park offering adventure and thrilling wildlife encounters with elephants and other species at Scotts Pan.
• Wilderness Air Proprietary private charter airline service that transports guests safely to remote camps across Africa, enabling seamless inter-camp transfers as part of Wilderness's bundled travel experience.
• Wilderness24 24/7 industry-leading safety and logistics support service providing instant on-the-ground assistance for Wilderness guests, covering everything from planning through execution of their journey.
• Tailor-Made Journeys Bespoke itinerary planning service tailored to individual traveller needs, offering complete Destination Management Company (DMC) services and full itinerary design across multiple destinations and camps.
• The Sanctuary at Mombo Wellness sanctuary offering relaxation and rejuvenation experiences within the Okavango Delta luxury camp setting at Mombo.
• The Sanctuary at Bisate Wellness sanctuary at the Bisate Lodge in Rwanda offering mindfulness and restoration experiences in a conservation-focused setting.
• Gorilla Trekking Experience Exclusive guided treks to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, primarily offered in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park as a standalone bookable experience.
• Hot Air Ballooning Aerial safari experience offering unparalleled perspective on wildlife and landscape from above, available as a bookable add-on in Namibia, Kenya, and Tanzania.
• Wilderness Store Direct-to-consumer retail offering limited-edition merchandise including apparel and accessories inspired by nature, produced in partnership with Sealand from waste materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.8-star Trustpilot rating from 101 reviews demonstrating consistent customer satisfaction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Sealand for a limited-edition collection of gear inspired by nature and made from waste materials. The partnership produces apparel and accessories for safari and outdoor use, with three distinct colorways available in various sizes. Both brands share a commitment to sustainability and celebrating the planet.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• &Beyond: &Beyond is a leading luxury safari and travel operator with camps and lodges across multiple African countries (including Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda). It directly competes with Wilderness on itineraries, conservation narrative, and HNW customer base, with comparable product positioning.
• Singita: Singita operates ultra-luxury safari lodges and camps across South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda, with a strong conservation-focused brand comparable to Wilderness. It targets the same HNW experiential traveler with all-inclusive rates and high staff-to-guest ratios.
• Great Plains Conservation: Great Plains Conservation operates luxury safari camps across Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe with a conservation-tourism model similar to Wilderness. It targets the same HNW market with high-end camps and conservation-led itineraries.
• Sabi Sabi: Sabi Sabi is a luxury private game reserve in South Africa's Sabi Sands with four boutique lodges. It competes directly with Wilderness's South African offering in the high-end safari segment and shares the same customer profile of affluent experiential travelers.
• andBeyond Mnemba Island / Mahali Mzuri: andBeyond's high-end East African camps (e.g., Mnemba Island, Mahali Mzuri) compete with Wilderness's Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda offerings for the same HNW customer. Their conservation-and-hospitality model and DMC services closely mirror Wilderness's positioning.
• Classic Africa Safaris: Classic Africa Safaris is a specialty safari tour operator offering curated luxury itineraries across Africa. It competes with Wilderness for the same affluent traveler in the DMC and bespoke itinerary space, though without owning camp inventory at the same scale.

Broad incumbents

• Belmond (LVMH): Belmond, now part of LVMH, operates luxury hotels and lodges globally including safari-adjacent properties in Africa. While broader than pure safari, it competes for HNW travel dollars on curated luxury experiences including safaris and competes in the same high-end itinerary planning.
• Four Seasons Safari Lodge: Four Seasons operates safari lodges (e.g., Serengeti, Masai Mara) and competes for the same ultra-luxury experiential traveler. As a global luxury hotel brand, it offers broader distribution and brand recognition but less exclusive camp sizes than Wilderness.

Regional players

• Rovos Rail: Rovos Rail is a luxury train operator offering high-end rail journeys across southern Africa, often combined with safari extensions. It competes for the same HNW experiential traveler seeking curated African luxury itineraries, including safari combinations.

Emerging players

• Sausage Tree Camp / Bushcamp Company: The Bushcamp Company operates luxury walking safari camps in Zambia's South Luangwa, with a smaller footprint but comparable high-end experiential positioning. It competes in the niche luxury safari segment where Wilderness also operates, particularly for walking and wildlife-intensive itineraries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wearewilderness
• Facebookfacebook.com/wilderness.friends
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wilderness-safaris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wilderness Safaris