In August 2001, Paul Newman and his family travelled to Botswana and Namibia on a two-week safari with Wilderness Safaris. During this trip, it was suggested that the respective visions of the Hole in the Wall Camps and Wilderness Safaris could be combined and blended to create a sustainable and effective African programme. In December of the same year the first Children in the Wilderness programme was launched.
Within weeks of Paul Newman returning to the USA the wheels for the Africa version were set in motion and the project began to gain momentum in southern Africa. Educators were appointed from the USA and also from our local staff, and some of our safari camps were closed to guests and opened to the children. Over the course of 5 weeks, 150 children were hosted for over 1000 “safari-days” in that first year. The programmes successfully combined the missions and expertise of both Wilderness Safaris and “The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps” while facilitating a wonderful and inspiring camp experience to the children.
The Children in the Wilderness programme is now five years old and has successfully hosted many “children in camp days” in Wilderness Safaris lodges in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa.
With dedicated support of our private, corporate and community sponsors, the programme has the potential to continue to grow and make a huge contribution to the sustainability of Africa’s people and wildlife areas.