Feeding Rural Communities

With the loss of tourism revenue, virtually all rural villages in safari Africa have been experiencing alarming degrees of food insecurity. As a result, camps and lodges close to these communities have been providing life-saving food relief to thousands of their most vulnerable neighbors.

To date, Wilderness Safaris, operating properties in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda and Malawi, have delivered over 6,000 food parcels to vulnerable community members since April 2020, positively impacting more than 30,000 people from over 35 communities in the six countries in which they operate. Join the Conservation Heroes program by making a donation to the Wilderness Wildlife Trust: $50 provides basic food for a family of four for a month.

Similarly, the Governor's Camp Collection operating in Kenya and Rwanda has delivered over 1,300 emergency food parcels since the start of the pandemic - 500 in Kenya (since June) and 855 in Rwanda (since April). Each family received beans, maize flour, sugar, cooking oil, tealeaves, a bar of soap, a reusable facemask and a cabbage. If you wish to make a donation to help Governor's increase its reach you can do so here.

The Trustees of the Singita Lowveld Trust in South Africa have also extended their community support to include emergency food relief to the neediest families during the COVID-19 lockdown period. For less than a takeout dinner for two ($32), you can help by sponsoring a food parcel that will feed a family of 4 for a month. Each parcel contains staples such as maize meal, rice, pilchards, baked beans and peanut butter.

Over the last three years Natural Selections has donated 1.5% of every guest's stay to community and conservation projects.  Combined with the direct contributions that its camps make to local community outreach, this amounts to nearly $1 million. However, without tourism dollars public contributions are being sought for a COVID-19 Village Support program: $75 will feed a family of 6 for 1 month. If you are in a position to donate, you can do so here.