The safari industry is in for a shake up in 2017 with the launch of Natural Selection, a collection of owner-operated camps, who have joined together with the common aim of offering unique safari experiences while being an important part of the conservation solution for Africa’s wildlife. Founded by some of the true pioneers of photographic safaris in Southern Africa, together Colin Bell, Dave van Smeerdijk, Dr Jennifer Lalley and James Ramsay have over a century of combined experience in the industry. They are old friends devoted to the simple premise that safari tourism, when done right, can be an incredibly powerful tool for conserving and protecting Africa’s last great wild places. As such,  Natural Selection partners with local communities, governments and conservation organisations to help protect and even expand protected areas and critical wildlife habitat through the development of the finest ecotourism projects across Southern Africa.

The new camps and adventures will focus on quality experiences at affordable prices. Offering a new way to experience and explore some classic African destinations, everything Natural Selection offers will be ‘’clean and green’’ –utilizing the latest technology and developments in sustainable building to ensure we leave no footprint on the precious eco-systems where we operate.

At the heart of a safari with Natural Selection is the belief that the greatest luxury of all is experience. This means the priority is creating a portfolio of welcoming camps and one-of-a-kind experiences that are full of unique soul and colorful character, with extraordinary staff, located in the very heart of where the wild things are.

The Natural Selection portfolio comprises of Meno a Kwena in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Jack’s Camp, San Camp and Camp Kalahari in the Makgadikgadi and Sable Alley, Hyena Pan and SkyBeds in the Khwai Private Reserve, all in Botswana.

In 2017 there are plans to develop two lodges in South Africa’s De Hoop National Park (famous for offering the best land based whale watching on the planet) and to expand into Namibia with the opening of two lodges; one in the Nkasa Rupara National Park and another in the Kaokveld. 2018 will see the opening of a lodge in the Mkambati Game Reserve on South Africa’s Wild Coast.

Co-founder Dave van Smeerdijk says, ‘’We are excited to offer extraordinary products that we love at affordable prices’’.

Natural Selection may be a new company, but their roots in the African safari business run deep. Devoted to the simple premise that safari tourism, when done right, can be an incredibly powerful tool for conserving and protecting Africa’s last great wild places. As such, Natural Selection  partners with local communities and governments to help protect and even expand protected areas and critical wildlife habitat through the development of gold-standard ecotourism projects across Southern Africa. Natural Selection donates 1% of revenue annually to conservation This deep commitment to conservation is matched only by our devotion to providing our guests with truly extraordinary safari experiences.

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