Understanding Wild Economies

Recently, our CEO, David Tett, gave an educational and invigorating presentation at Craftwork Professional Workspace in Healdsburg, California. It was our first in-person presentation since COVID, and we could not have been more excited.

David illustrated the Tett history and shared how the family trekked through mountain ranges and traveled overseas to settle in South Africa and eventually Zimbabwe. At that time, going on safari was akin to camping in US National Parks, and the Tett family regularly explored the bush and immersed themselves in the wilderness.

As the world caught on to the magic of safari, it became imperative to implement wild economies that use wildlife, plants, and animals to develop a sustainable surrounding economy.  Eco-tourism is the wild economy we take part in as a safari company. It is defined as responsible travel that safeguards the integrity of the ecosystem and produces economic benefits for local communities that can encourage conservation. These values guide how we do business and with whom we do business.

For a wild economy to be successful, it must involve the local communities. With this in mind, we support the Wildlife Conservation Network, partnered with an expansive portfolio of conservation organizations heavily involving local communities. One of our favorite examples is Ewaso Lions, an inspiring network of conservationists.

Each dollar of your safari breaks down like this:

• $0.52 Concession fees (most safari hot spots are on public lands)
• $0.12 Conservation, land management, and anti-poaching
• $0.33 Operational costs of the safari camp
• $0.03 Shareholders or owners of the camp

David has a myriad of stories, experiences, and information surrounding ethical travel and wild economies, and we look forward to more educational and inspiring conversations later this year. Stay tuned for more presentation news!