Wilderness (company)

{{Short description|African ecotourism operator}} {{Infobox company | name = Wilderness | logo = Wilderness (company) logo.svg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | logo_padding = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | trading_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | romanized_name = | former_name = Wilderness Safaris | type = ecotourism operator | traded_as = WIL (BSE)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Benza|first1=Brian|title=Billionaire family ups stake in Wilderness Safaris|url=http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=4&aid=861&dir=2012/june/friday8|website=MmegiOnline|publisher=Dikgang Publishing Company|access-date=1 November 2014|date=8 June 2012}}</ref><ref name=ipo>{{cite web|title=Wilderness Safaris IPO to hoist Botswana's image|url=http://www.sundaystandard.info/article.php?NewsID=7159&GroupID=3|publisher=Sunday Standard|access-date=1 November 2014|date=7 March 2010}}</ref> | ISIN = | industry = Tourism, Conservation | genre =  | fate = | predecessor =  | successor =  | foundation = 1983  | founders = Colin Bell, Chris McIntyre | defunct =  | location_city = Gaborone | location_country = Botswana | coordinates = | locations =  | area_served = | key_people = | products = | brands = | production = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum =  | assets = | equity = | owner =  | members = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | website = {{URL|www.wildernessdestinations.com}} | footnotes = | intl =  | bodystyle = }}

'''Wilderness''' is an ecotourism operator, headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. It operates camps and mobile safaris across seven countries: Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hideawayreport.com/articles/view/rwanda-camp-debut-magashi/|title=WILDERNESS SAFARIS' NEW CAMP IN RWANDA: MAGASHI|date=8 March 2019|publisher=Hideaway Report}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africa/zimbabwe/hotels/chikwenya-hotel/|title=Chikwenya Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe|last1=Ho|first1=Lauren|work=The Telegraph}}</ref> Known for its ongoing conservation work, the company is helping to conserve some 33 species on the IUCN Red List<ref>{{cite book|title=Siting and design of hotels and resorts: principles and case studies for biodiversity conservation|date=2012|publisher=IUCN|isbn=978-2831714714|pages=28–30|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jX_3ZIn4qKwC&q=%22Wilderness+Safaris%22&pg=PA28|access-date=1 November 2014}}</ref> and lists some 2.5 million hectares as being under protection.

As a destination management company, Wilderness Safaris has its own bush air charter company, Wilderness Air, as well as touring arms in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia and Wilderness Safaris Private Journeys in Cape Town, South Africa.

Through the Wilderness Wildlife Trust, Wilderness Safaris funds more than 20 conservation, community and anti-poaching projects every year, and it is also a primary sponsor of Children in the Wilderness, a non-profit organisation that facilitates sustainable conservation through leadership development and education of rural children in Africa.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.atta.travel/member-news/2019/04/travel-with-purpose-with-wilderness-safaris-hwange-elephant-collaring/|title=Travel with Purpose with Wilderness Safaris – Hwange Elephant Collaring|date=17 April 2019|publisher=African Travel & Tourism Association}}</ref>

Wilderness was founded in Botswana in 1983 by two overland safari guides – Colin Bell and Chris McIntyre. It was the first tour operator of its kind to form a registered company in Botswana, with operations based out of Maun, south of the Okavango Delta.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Companies established in 1983 Category:Ecotourism Category:Charity fundraisers Category:Community-building organizations Category:Companies of Botswana Category:1983 establishments in Botswana