CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY

Wilderness Safaris established the Children in the Wilderness programme (CITW) focusing on the children from villages close to the remote areas in which they operate, educating them in environmental awareness and training them in the life skills needed to care for and nurture their natural environment. Some of these programmes include operating annual camps for up to 30 children at a time in their lodges, running regular Eco-Clubs in rural schools, Youth Environmental Stewardship (YES) which mentors particular children who have shown a strong interest in their environment and scholarship programmes for primary, secondary and tertiary education.

The Wilderness Wildlife Trust is involved in conservation, anti-poaching, community empowerment and education. The Trust has many projects throughout Botswana (Wildlife Research Increasing Capacity), Namibia (Desert Dwelling Giraffe Study), Zimbabwe (Hwange Elephant Movement Study), Zambia (Zambian Carnivore Program), Malawi (Mobile Response Unit) and Rwanda (Shoebill Arial Survey).

In 2019 Wilderness Safaris joined the Lion Recovery Fund and several of Africa’s other safari operators to form the Lionscape Coalition to raise funds for and awareness of lion conservation.

Projects more related to Chitabe Lediba include their financial support of the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust and their assistance to the research by using their guides to collect data on the concession. Wilderness Chitabe Lediba (and their big sister Wilderness Chitabe) run on 100% solar power. By using a reverse osmosis filtration system they are reducing bottled water usage on the concession. Each year the children of the camp staff join in the Christmas party where two days are spent in camp playing games, learning about conservation and enjoying the excitement of exhilarating game drives.