Conservation and Community News

Giants of the Linyanti

Elephants play a crucial role in shaping ecosystems, dispersing seeds, and maintaining biodiversity. In Botswana's Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, their ancient migration corridors remain vital for both wildlife and conservation efforts. Wilderness Safaris, in partnership with Ecoexist, is working to reduce human-elephant conflict and support sustainable solutions for coexistence. From elephant tracking to elephant-aware farming, ongoing initiatives aim to protect these keystone species and the landscapes they rely on. The projects can be visited from Savuti, Duma Tau, and King's Pool camps.

Big Cats Initiative

Big cats, such as lion, leopard and cheetah, are vital to almost every ecosystem in safari Africa. They play such an important role that Great Plains Conservation has planned its expansion based on their need for protection. A few years ago, Great Plains transferred its Big Cats Initiative from National Geographic to the Great Plains Foundation. Since then, its scope has broadened to encompass all African big cats, as well as tigers in Nepal and jaguars in Brazil. The program aims stop the decline of big cats and even reverse this trend by 2030. Success has been seen around Ol Donyo Lodge and Duba Plains Camp, thanks to the initiative's funding.

Elephant Havens Gives Back

Elephant Havens is deeply committed to community projects and supporting staff initiatives. To this end, Kay—Elephant Haven's first female elephant handler—has been hard at work on the Ellie Hair Project. She has now completed three sessions at the Shorobe and Matsaudi Primary Schools in rural Botswana, providing more than 100 of the most at-risk, underprivileged kids in those communities with fresh haircuts and braids.