At Natural World Safaris we frequently monitor the social, economic and environmental impact of our travel operations to ensure we are at the forefront of a sustainable and ethical tourism industry. We aim to work collaboratively with our partners and suppliers who we view as crucial stakeholders in the natural and cultural experiences we offer.   

By the nature of bringing visitors into an area in a responsible way, bespoke safaris contribute significantly to local economies, communities and to the protection of wildlife and habitat, via payments to the ground operators, land and lodge owners. While we do not employ people on the ground directly, our carefully selected partners employ local naturalists, safari guides and specialists whose activities support and sustain their environment and educate and enlighten visitors.   

We endeavour to design creative itineraries and adventures that not only excite our discerning travellers, but that actively support grass-roots projects in the destinations we travel to. In some areas this allows us to give our clients unique access to protected habitats, where they can learn about research and track endangered species. We also support a number of conservation projects worldwide and are an active voice for habitat preservation both in the UK and in our destinations. We don’t have one charity we support, rather some favourite projects that we have personal experience of and where we know our presence can offer a tangible positive impact.

In June 2018, Natural World Safaris were proud to be selected as one of only a select few industry travel partners who would form African Parks’ new Conservation Travel Initiative. Formed in 2000, African Parks have taken on the rehabilitation and long-term management of 15 national parks and protected areas throughout the continent, including Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo and Zakouma National Park in Chad Together we are committed to advancing African Parks’ conservation work and engaging travellers in the NGO’s public-private-partnership model.

By organising special expeditions to key emerging destinations in their conservation portfolio – such as Zakouma and Odzala-Kokoua – we aim to highlight the contemporary conservation work of African Parks and attract individuals with a strong interest in funding conservation of African wildlife and communities. Will Bolsover, Natural World Safaris’ founder and managing director, has said that the “philanthropic ecotourism” we will endeavour to provide alongside African Parks will proffer “transformational, educational experiences and also safeguard the prosperity of natural wildlife”.

For more information on this partnership, click here to read our blog on the subject.

The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation is a small, highly effective wildlife conservation charity funding key conservation projects across Africa and Asia. Our mission is to increase awareness to people around the world about the need to protect and conserve endangered animals and their habitats. We fund projects that fight wildlife crime, protect natural areas and engage local communities in finding long-term, sustainable solutions to protect their native wildlife. We also campaign for stronger laws and protectionist policies for wildlife and fund investigations to expose the illegal trade in endangered species.

Through dedication and hard work the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation has influenced policy, shifted attitudes and provided an unwavering voice for wildlife conservation from grass roots to the world stage for over 30 years.

With wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd CBE as our founder, art forms a corner stone of our fundraising activities.

Conservation successes are hard won and vitally important to the survival of endangered wildlife and we are hugely proud of what our donors have helped us achieve.

The rare mountain gorillas of Central Africa are one of the few obvious conservation success stories in the world of wildlife today. There are a number of reasons for this however one of them has to be the intervention of the hard working mountain gorilla vets (MGVP). Working in and around Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, MGVP is responsible for monitoring the health of the resident gorilla populations throughout these countries whether it be medical issues through illness, inter-gorilla group conflict, poaching, or gorilla individuals that have been caught in snares. 

Natural World Safaris has been an avid supporter of MGVP for over 5 years and has regularly contributed to their efforts through donations and even the co-production of a stunning photography book on mountain gorillas that helped raise funds for MGVP efforts in the field. 

Our Rwanda Gorillas and Conservation Safari offers our clients to track the mountain gorillas and to visit the mountain gorillas vets themselves.

NWS has worked with TOFT (Travel Operators for Tigers) for the last 5 years and recently undertook sponsorship of an individual male tiger through TOFT’s partner organisation Tiger Nation. This is a vital organisation that wherever possible, follows every footstep of every wild tiger through the national parks of India. As you can imagine, this is not an easy undertaking and involves countless individuals monitoring and updating the Tiger Nation site on a daily basis through imagery, videography and social media channels. The aim and principle focus of Tiger Nation is to effect conservation through making tigers visible.  
 
We were recently runner up in the TOFT Tigers International Wildlife Tour Operator of the Year category 2014. This award acknowledges the role of tourism in support of tiger conservation in India.

The judges commended us on our high quality of client service and in-depth knowledge of our destinations, alongside our genuine dedication and contribution to conservation in this region.

The smallest among bears, Sun Bears live in the forests of South East Asia and are so named for their bib-shaped patch on their chests, which legend says represents the rising sun. Also referred to as Dog Bears due to their short muzzle, these unusual bears boast exceptionally long claws for climbing and tongues for extracting food like honey and insects. Sadly, like most endangered species the Malayan Sun Bear is at risk due to reduced habitats and poaching. They are taken from the wild for their meat, as exotic pets and for traditional medicine purposes, some even suffering the unspeakably horrific process of bile-farming.

We are really proud to support the newly opened Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. The sanctuary is designed to raise awareness and encourage research into the survival of this amazing animal. For each of our small groups that visit the centre in Borneo we will donate US$100 to the centre but best of all you’ll be guided through by local Sun Bear expert Mr Siew Te Wong.

Natural World Safaris, MD, Will Bolsover is also a trustee of Uganda Conservation Foundation (UFC) to whom we also pay £350 annual membership. UCF was set up to help previously war-stricken, heavily poached, high biodiversity regions in Uganda and Central Africa. Over the past 40 years, severe poaching across Uganda had killed all the rhino and most of the once famed herds of elephants that gave the country the reputation of having the most mega-herbivores per km² in Africa. UCF evolved from a research project called Elephants, Crops and People undertaken by Michael Keigwin in the 1990s in which he witnessed at first hand the daily battle for survival of people and wildlife alike.  

A decade on, and UCF has earned a reputation for being a proactive organisation. In 2009, 90% of our funding was turned directly into conservation in action. 

Working with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), UCF seeks to sensitise communities and demonstrate through practical projects how financial benefits can be gained from conservation.

The Kianjavato Lemur Project consists of several lemur monitoring programs, as well as a community outreach initiative and grassroots reforestation efforts. Based at the Kianjavato Ahmanson Field Station in southeast Madagascar, it is comprised of about twelve villages and over 12,000 people. The area is home to nine lemur species, including two critically endangered species; the white ruffed lemur and the greater bamboo lemur, as well as the elusive nocturnal aye aye.

The lemur projects include the Greater Bamboo Lemur Monitoring Project. This lemur was thought at one point to be extinct, and is now one of the 25 most endangered primates. Another Project is the Nocturnal Species Research Project which works with locals to help preserve the population.

Natural World Safaris is the only travel outfitter to work with Kianjavato, and give clients the opportunity to access the project on their safari in Ranomafana. By visiting the project, you not only donate to the ongoing survival of the fascinating area and primates, but also have excellent chances of seeing these rare and unique primates for yourself.

Natural World Safaris are the only travel outfitter able to give you access to this fascinating project.

The Ocean Heritage Trust, or OHT, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the marine life in Sri Lanka through scientific exploration, documentation, conservation and education. Sri Lanka’s oceans are rich in marine life, from the fascinating blue whales and five turtle species, to smaller tropical fish and playful dolphins.

With the belief that together we can take care of our ocean, the work done by the OHT goes directly to the preservation of Sri Lanka’s extremely biodiverse waters and the animals that inhabit it.

In 2015 Natural World Safaris made a direct donation to the OHT, then in 2016 have donated a significant amount through our famous blue whale safari. This safari allows you to join researchers as they search for the blue whale for research purposes, and even allows you to swim with them. For each of these safaris sold, we donate £250 to the OHT, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Snow Leopard Conservancy are working towards ensuring the survival of one of the world’s most elusive big cats, the snow leopard. For the survival of the snow leopard to continue, community awareness is essential. As people have moved their livestock into the habitat of the snow leopard, this has crowded out the cats' native prey, leading to them taking precious cattle and herders killing the leopards in retaliation. Other threats to the snow leopard include habitat loss and poaching.

Led by Dr. Rodney Jackson - widely considered to be the world's leading snow leopard expert - the Conservancy employs research, education and grassroots conservation action to achieve their goals. Changing the views of local people who share their land with snow leopards is integral. By showing these people that the cats are of greater value to them alive than they are dead, the Conservancy can establish a network of committed conservationists across the snow leopards' entire range.

Ourselves and our clients have donated a significant amount to the Conservancy since we began running safaris to the Indian Himalayas. Those going In Search of the Snow Leopard in Ladakh are able to make an optional donation to the Conservancy, supporting the ongoing survival of one of the world's most beautiful and mysterious big cats in doing so.