African Bush Camps and its foundation (ABCF) continues to play an important role in supporting education and community development projects, especially in rural areas across Southern Africa, Botswana included.
Their efforts are impactful in providing sustainable opportunities for growth and empowerment. Through their various projects, they aim to improve access to education, enhance local livelihoods, and preserve cultural heritage while ensuring the benefits of tourism reach local communities.
According to a recent statement from the company, which owns pristine camps in select Southern African countries, they carry various impact projects guided by three interconnected pillars being community, conservation, and sustainability. Firstly, the company empowers local communities through programs addressing essential needs, creating job opportunities, and driving local economic growth.
Conserving Africa’s natural environments through initiatives that protect wildlife, minimize human-wildlife conflict, and promote responsible resource use falls under another pillar of conservation. Last, the company and its foundation also promote sustainability by reducing environmental impact across the company while also investing in staff and local economic development.
The African Bush Camps, through its foundation has played an important role in developing communities in Botswana. For example, in Khwai village, the foundation has constructed a second classroom, built ablutions, repaired the school fence, upgraded the jungle gym, and installed a solar system. It continues to support the school by employing a chef and a cleaner, providing nutritional meals twice daily, and supplying additional monthly meals to Khwai Primary School.
In 2021, ABCF helped launch the Female Guides Program, with the aim of spearheading change in the safari industry by empowering women and championing gender equality. Currently, 15 women in Botswana and Zambia are advancing through the program. This initiative earned the 2023 Regenerative Travel Impact Award in the Education category.
Furthermore, since 2022, ABCF has partnered with Mosha Wellness Spa to donate stationery to Khwai Pre-School and Khwai Primary School. On January 15, 2025, the event grew into a fun-filled day of sports and games for 150 children from both schools. Each child received a school bag with books, pencils, pens, and notebooks. ABCF also empowers women in weaving, to ensure there is meaningful employmentopportunities.
“At African Bush Camps, we believe in travel with purpose. Our safaris offer more than wildlife encounters – they create a ripple effect of positive change for the people and ecosystems of Africa,” commented Beks Ndlovu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of African Bush Camps.
In Zimbabwe and Zambia, where it also ABC has operations, there are also impactful community development projectsrunning. For example, the company and its foundation supports schools with infrastructure upgrades, nutrition programs, and learning materials. Protecting livestock and wildlife through the Lion Boma Project and anti- poaching initiatives also forms part of the foundation community projects. Building clinics, providing clean drinking water, and reducing human-wildlife conflict with fenced wash points along the Zambezi River are also projects which ABC and its foundation continues to drive.
