A woman watching wild elephants from the front of a jeep

Wilderness

A shared mission to create positive impact for wildlife, wilderness and local communities

In 2020, Jacada joined Wilderness Destinations. Wilderness is a leader in conservation, community upliftment and low-impact luxury travel. We’re proud to be part of a group that’s on a mission to help protect Earth’s ultimate, untamed places.

Over four decades, Wilderness has expanded their reach, protecting over 2.3 million hectares of land (6 million acres) and conserving more than 30 endangered species. They are also at the forefront of multiple education and reforestation projects. Beyond conservation, they actively engage with and support communities in seven countries. Wilderness currently operates 60 camps and lodges across eight African countries, with a bold goal: to double the land they help protect by 2030. This commitment extends far beyond a single milestone; it’s a pledge to continuously expand our collaborative efforts, doubling our conservation footprint and ensuring a legacy of wilderness preservation for generations to come.

Together with Wilderness, we envision a world where nature and communities flourish side by side. This vision is at the heart of the Jacada Positive Impact Collection, which celebrates the properties contributing meaningfully to the greater good.

Travel with purpose

Founded on the principles of conservation and community empowerment, Wilderness is at the forefront of safeguarding Africa’s diverse ecosystems while uplifting local communities.

Together we’re driven by a commitment to making a positive impact through travel. When you choose Jacada, you’re joining a mission to make travel a force for good. Your journey supports a range of projects that benefit both the environment and local communities. These initiatives help protect endangered species, restore natural habitats and provide essential services like education, healthcare and employment for local residents. Your trip helps make a real difference.

Find out more

Close up of two people weaving traditional mats with grass reeds

A woman dipping her hand into calm water from a canoe

Three people walking through the African bush with a wild giraffe in the distance

A man stands on small boat rowing a seated woman through calm waters

A person placing their hand on sand next to the paw print of a large cat

A man showing a woman in a hat a plant on a nature walk

Aerial shot of a woman weaving traditional mats with grass reeds

Impact and initiatives

Children in the Wilderness (CITW)

Children in the Wilderness (CITW) is Wilderness’ flagship community engagement and education impact programme dedicated to promoting sustainable conservation in Africa. Through the establishment of eco-clubs and the Youth Environmental Stewardship programme in schools, Wilderness supports the future environmental guardians of Africa by teaching the importance of conservation. These efforts include organising annual eco-camps and offering scholarships to ensure young adults have the resources they need to thrive. The impact extends to numerous lives, helping to alleviate poverty and improve the living conditions of many families.

Reforestation

In the fight against the destruction of natural habitats for wildlife, Wilderness has been making significant strides with its reforestation project in Rwanda’s Bisate and Gishwati regions. The project has reached an impressive milestone of over 100,000 indigenous trees planted, all nurtured from seed to sapling in their onsite nurseries. This initiative has had a dramatic impact on the region’s fauna and flora, contributing to the restoration of biodiversity.

Among the planted trees, some are specifically chosen for their importance as a food source for the endangered mountain gorillas that inhabit the areas surrounding Volcanoes National Park. The initiative helps to alleviate the severe impacts on Gishwati Forest, which has suffered a 98% reduction in size and forest cover since the 1970s. This deforestation had led to significant environmental degradation, including landslides, erosion, loss of biodiversity, flooding and silted rivers. As a guest at Wilderness Bisate Lodge and Bisate Reserve, you can plant your own indigenous tree and contribute to this vital cause.

Human-wildlife conflict

Wilderness, in partnership with organisations like CLAWS Conservancy in Botswana, has launched initiatives to address the widespread issue of human-wildlife conflicts across Africa. In many regions of the continent, wildlife poses a significant challenge to local communities, impacting their daily lives, economic activities and safety. These conflicts often arise from competition for resources and habitat encroachment.

To tackle these challenges, CLAWS initiated a groundbreaking programme in villages afflicted by human-wildlife conflicts. The project focuses on engaging local communities in non-lethal activities to foster peaceful coexistence and eliminate harmful practices such as the indiscriminate use of poisons. One key aspect of this approach involves empowering villagers to develop a personal connection with the wildlife around them.

Using state-of-the-art satellite collar technology, the movements of lions are tracked in real-time. This data is then fed into an automated alert system, which promptly notifies farmers via SMS when lions are dangerously close to their livestock enclosures. This enables timely intervention and helps prevent conflicts from escalating.

Experience it all at Wilderness’ lodges

Wilderness integrates sustainability into every facet of their operations. The journey toward conservation begins within their camps, where they prioritise hiring and training local employees. They have developed Group Environmental Management Standards (GEMS), to ensure that all operations minimise their ecological footprint while maximising positive impact, drawing from years of experience and industry best practices. As a guest, you also share the responsibility for safeguarding the natural world.

Through wildlife research in their concessions, Wilderness actively monitors and protects biodiversity with hands-on conservation efforts. They collaborate with neighbouring communities to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence, especially in regions like Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda and Tanzania, partnering with organisations such as CLAWS and the Lionscape Coalition.

By advocating for policy reforms and investing in landscapes that preserve crucial carbon sinks, Wilderness ensures that their impact resonates globally, advancing toward a more harmonious relationship between people and the planet.