Safari Defenders Initiative

Safari Defenders Initiative is an Africa-based organization transforming tourism to create self-sustaining conservation areas where communities and wildlife flourish.

We bring private-sector tourism expertise to Africa’s state and community protected areas, transforming financial and community challenges into lasting opportunities for impact.

The Reality and Potential of African
Conservation Areas

We are guided by a clear mission, measurable impact goals, and a focus on the regions that need it most.

70%

70% of Africa’s conservation areas are at risk, facing critical financing gaps and struggling to deliver meaningful benefits to local communities.

$1000+/Km

Minimum sustainable financing required USD $1,000+/km²/year for effective management

6000+

Affected conservation areas

10x the Potential Unlocked

With well-designed tourism and strong private sector partnerships, Africa’s conservation areas could generate up to 10x the minimum sustainable financing benchmark and deliver far greater benefits to local communities, creating thriving landscapes where people and nature coexist. SDI exists to strengthen tourism and impact in Africa’s conservation areas, unlocking their full potential and resilience.

20+ Expert Partners

Our 4-Step Process for Sustainable Transformation

Partnership & Discovery

We begin by establishing a partnership with your conservation area. This collaboration is initiated either:

Directly: By a direct request from your Conservation Area

Indirectly: Via a conservation area management organization on your behalf

Action Plan Development

Next, we work together to build a detailed tourism intervention plan.  This is a collaborative process informed by:

Directly: By a direct request from your Conservation Area

Indirectly: Via a conservation area management organization on your behalf

Securing Funding

Together, we identify and secure the necessary funding for the plan’s implementation. Funding for the interventions can come from:

The Conservation Area: Your own resources fund the project

Support Organizations: An organization supporting your conservation area funds the project

Joint Proposal: SDI and the Conservation Area submit a joint funding proposal to an external funder

Step 4: Act & Report

Finally, we turn the plan into reality. Our team, in close collaboration with your staff and any support organizations, implements the high-impact interventions. We then transparently report on the progress and results, ensuring your success is measurable and visible.

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