Wild Eye

What Wild Eye does

Wild Eye (legally Wild Eye Destinations and Photographic (Pty) Ltd) is a South Africa–based safari and travel operator founded in 2011, specialising in photography-led wildlife expeditions across more than ten global regions including Southern Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, Madagascar, India, Borneo, Brazil, North America, Iceland, Svalbard, and Antarctica. The company serves individual travellers, families, couples, solo guests, and small groups through four core product lines: scheduled small-group photography safaris (typically 4–11 guests per departure), private guided safaris with dedicated expert guides, custom itineraries built through a consultative advisor process, and Small Group Journeys capped at six guests. It owns and operates Enkishui Safari Camp on the Mara River in Kenya's Masai Mara Triangle, which functions both as a standalone accommodation product and as the base camp for its Kenya departures.

Wild Eye's operating model is service-driven with no proprietary software platform; technology consists of standard tour-management, booking, and CRM systems embedded in its website, supplemented by third-party-sourced camera body and lens rentals offered to guests. Pricing is fully custom-quoted through a multi-step enquiry funnel, with reference per-person budgets of USD 5,000–10,000 for shorter trips, USD 10,000–15,000 for mid-tier itineraries, and above USD 15,000 for premium packages. Bookings require a 50% non-refundable deposit (35% for departures 18+ months out), with the balance due 60 days before departure and 100% payment within 5 working days for bookings inside 2 months. The company employs 18 staff across its Johannesburg (Fourways/Sandton) headquarters and a Nairobi operations base.

The business monetises primarily through full-package safari transactions (scheduled and custom), Enkishui accommodation revenue, camera-equipment rentals, and affiliate-linked bookings via the Powered by Wild Eye programme — a partnership framework that extends Wild Eye's brand, supplier relationships, planning resources, and 24/7 guest support to independent guides and boutique operators. Distribution is direct-to-consumer: bookings are closed through the website, phone, WhatsApp, and video calls with named travel advisors, with no third-party resellers. The company markets via The Wild Eye Blog, Instagram (@wildeyesafaris), Facebook, an email newsletter, and a 230-review TripAdvisor/Google presence averaging 5 stars.

Name

Wild Eye

Legal name

Wild Eye Destinations and Photographic (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://wild-eye.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wild Eye is a South Africa–based, photography-focused safari operator founded in 2011, offering scheduled small-group photographic safaris, private guided expeditions, custom itineraries, and the owned Enkishui Safari Camp in Kenya's Masai Mara to affluent individual travellers, families, couples, and solo guests across more than ten global regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Safari and Wildlife Photography Travel Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Safari & Wildlife Adventure Tour Operators (Land-Based) (THAAADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife & Safari Tour Operators (THAKADAG), Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry) (THAJALAG), Safari Lodges & Tented Camps (THAAAHAC)

Keywords

• Safari tours
• Photography safaris
• Wildlife expeditions
• Guided travel
• Custom itineraries

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Scheduled Photography Safari Departures: Wild Eye operates fixed-date, small-group photography safari departures (e.g., Okavango Delta: 9 nights, 4 guests; Pantanal: 8 nights, 6 guests; Svalbard: 11 nights, 11 guests on a cruise). Guests pay a all-inclusive tour price covering accommodation, internal transport, guiding, and activities. Revenue is recognised per booking on a per-departure basis.
2. Custom / Private Guided Safaris: Wild Eye designs bespoke safari itineraries for individuals, families, and groups. The customer works with a travel advisor to plan all logistics, accommodations, and guiding. Pricing is custom-quoted based on itinerary complexity, duration, accommodation tier, and group size. Revenue is earned as a full-package transaction.
3. Enkishui Safari Camp (Owned Accommodation): Wild Eye owns and operates Enkishui Safari Camp on the banks of the Mara River in the Masai Mara Triangle, Kenya. Accommodation, meals, beverages, game drives, and cultural experiences are included in the nightly rate. The camp serves as both a standalone product and the base camp for many Wild Eye Kenya departures.
4. Powered by Wild Eye Partnership Programme: Wild Eye extends its brand, logistics, planning resources, and supplier relationships to independent safari guides and boutique travel companies through its 'Powered by Wild Eye' affiliate programme. Partners gain access to itinerary planning, preferred supplier rates, 24/7 guest support, marketing guidance, and operational management. Revenue model for Wild Eye likely includes affiliation fees or revenue sharing from partner-led bookings.
5. Camera Equipment Rental: Wild Eye offers camera body and lens rentals to guests. Equipment is delivered to the tour start location subject to availability and baggage logistics. This is a supplementary revenue stream tied to individual tour bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wild Eye designs and delivers photography-focused safari and wildlife expedition experiences across Africa, the Arctic, Antarctica, South America, Asia, and North America. Core offerings include scheduled small-group photographic safari departures with expert guides, private guided safaris with dedicated hosts, custom bespoke itineraries, and packaged small-group journeys (up to 6 guests). The company also owns and operates Enkishui Safari Camp on the Mara River in Kenya's Masai Mara Triangle as an accommodation base and runs an affiliate programme that licenses its brand and supplier network to independent guides.

Product overview

Wild Eye is a travel and safari company specializing in photography-focused safari experiences. The core offering consists of Photography Safaris (scheduled small-group departures with expert photographic guides), Private Guided Safaris (exclusive expert-hosted experiences), and Custom Safari Itineraries (tailored logistics-backed journeys). Supporting products include Small Group Journeys (packaged itineraries for up to 6 guests), the proprietary Enkishui Safari Camp in the Masai Mara, specialized Travel Experience categories (adventure, honeymoon, conservation, polar explorations, etc.), the Powered by Wild Eye affiliate program for partner guides and operators, and destination-specific tours such as the Gorongosa Photo Safari. The portfolio spans Southern Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, Borneo, Brazil, North America, India, the Arctic, Antarctica, and Madagascar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Enkishui Safari Camp: A safari camp operated by Wild Eye located on the banks of the Mara River in the Masai Mara Triangle, Kenya.

Products and services

• Wild Eye Photography Safaris Scheduled photography-focused safari tours led by expert photographic guides, targeting wildlife photographers of all skill levels with small group sizes and visits to premier wildlife destinations worldwide.
• Private Guided Safaris Exclusive, expert-hosted safari experiences for individuals, families, or groups with a dedicated professional Wild Eye guide throughout the journey.
• Small Group Journeys Expertly hosted packaged itineraries limited to 6 guests, offering pre-planned safari experiences at various destinations.
• Custom Safari Itineraries Expertly crafted bespoke itineraries leveraging Wild Eye's logistics network and supplier relationships, tailored to individual traveller preferences, budget, and group composition.
• Enkishui Safari Camp Wild Eye's owned and operated safari camp located on the banks of the Mara River in the Masai Mara Triangle, Kenya, offering accommodation and all-inclusive guided safari experiences for up to 6 guests at a time.
• Gorongosa Photo Safari Seven-night photographic safari to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, featuring classic game drives, conservation experiences, and access to one of Africa's most inspiring ecological restoration projects.
• Camera Equipment Rental Camera body and lens rental offered to guests on tour, with equipment delivered to the tour start location subject to availability and baggage logistics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-star average rating from 230 verified reviews on TripAdvisor and Google
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Armstrong Safaris (Matt Armstrong-Ford)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMatt Armstrong-Ford operates Armstrong Safaris with over 15 years of guiding experience across Africa, India, South America, North America, and the Arctic. He offers bespoke safari and wilderness experiences and has featured his wildlife photography with National Geographic and Remembering Wildlife. As a Powered by Wild Eye affiliate, Armstrong Safaris accesses Wild Eye's brand, logistics, planning, and supplier network to deliver premium itineraries to its clients.
• Journeys Untamed (Kerri du Preez)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKerri du Preez is a passionate African explorer and private guide specialising in Central Africa including Brazzaville Congo, with expertise in birding and photography. Through the Powered by Wild Eye affiliate programme, Journeys Untamed leverages the Wild Eye brand, planning resources, and operational infrastructure to deliver bespoke safari experiences to its clients.
• Unique Safaris (Alex Freire)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlex Freire and Unique Safaris bring 14 years of experience designing and guiding safaris across Africa. The company employs certified guides and implements conservation and sustainability practices. As a Powered by Wild Eye affiliate, Unique Safaris accesses Wild Eye's supplier relationships, itinerary planning support, and brand backing to deliver tailored wildlife and cultural experiences.
• Manfred Foeger Wildlife (Manfred Foeger)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManfred Foeger is a biologist and wildlife photographer with extensive experience across Africa and other destinations. As a Powered by Wild Eye affiliate, he offers guided wildlife photography experiences backed by the Wild Eye brand and operational resources.
• Wilder Escapes (Michael Laubscher)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMichael Laubscher is a former Wild Eye head guide with 9 years of service leading expeditions across South America, Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, India, and Africa. He now operates Wilder Escapes as a Powered by Wild Eye affiliate, offering bespoke wilderness and photography expeditions backed by Wild Eye's infrastructure.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• &Beyond: Luxury safari and travel operator with owned lodges and camps across Africa and South America. Comparable to Wild Eye on premium safari positioning, owned accommodation assets, and tailor-made private guiding.
• Ponant: Luxury expedition cruise line operating polar (Svalbard, Antarctica) and tropical itineraries in small-ship, small-group formats. Comparable to Wild Eye on Svalbard/Antarctica expedition product and small-group premium positioning.
• Asilia Africa: Boutique safari operator with owned camps in East Africa (including the Mara ecosystem) and Southern Africa, focused on authentic, smaller-camp experiences. Comparable to Wild Eye on boutique sizing and owning property in the Mara Triangle.
• Ker & Downey Africa: Bespoke luxury safari and travel operator offering tailor-made African itineraries with strong custom/private guiding. Comparable to Wild Eye on consultative custom-itinerary design and premium East/Southern African focus.
• Singita: Ultra-luxury safari brand with multiple owned lodges and conservation programmes across East and Southern Africa. Comparable to Wild Eye in owning flagship camps and competing for high-end safari travellers in the Masai Mara and Sabi Sands region.
• Natural Habitat Adventures: US-based nature and wildlife adventure tour operator running small-group, conservation-focused itineraries including polar, African, and tropical expeditions. Closely comparable to Wild Eye in small-group sizing, photography emphasis, and premium positioning.
• Wilderness Safaris: Largest dedicated luxury safari operator in Africa, operating camps across Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Comparable to Wild Eye on the core African luxury safari offering and use of own/sister-property accommodation.
• Micato Safaris: Family-owned luxury African safari operator offering bespoke and small-group itineraries with strong repeat-customer base. Comparable to Wild Eye on consultative sales, repeat-guest relationships, and East/Southern Africa focus.

Broad incumbents

• NatGeo Expeditions: National Geographic's expedition arm offering photography-led wildlife trips globally, including African safaris, polar voyages, and jungle expeditions. Comparable to Wild Eye on photography-first framing and destination breadth, but with substantially larger scale and brand.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Global luxury travel operator offering safaris, expeditions, and private journeys across all seven continents. Comparable to Wild Eye on private guided safaris and global expedition reach, but operates at materially larger scale with broader luxury portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wildeyesafaris
• Instagraminstagram.com/wildeyesafaris
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wild-eye-destinations-&-photographic-pty-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Wild Eye