Safari ChangeMakers

What does it take to transform a decimated wilderness into one of the highest elephant densities on Earth—in just one decade?Recorded on the banks of the Zambezi, host Karin Jones sits down with Sara Gardiner, founder of Matetsi Victoria Falls, for a raw look at "Matetsi Magic." This isn't just about luxury; it’s a story of taking back a poached-out landscape and turning it into a thriving sanctuary in the heart of Zimbabwe.In this episode, we explore: 🐘 The Elephant Explosion: How Matetsi went from a single skittish kudu to a world-leading elephant density in just over ten years. 🐾 The Frontline: Inside the canine anti-poaching units and the ambitious roadmap for rhino reintroduction in Zimbabwe. 💧 Beyond the Falls: How tourism dollars are delivering clean water, solar power, and school infrastructure to rural communities. 👨‍🍳 The Human Heart: The story of Prosper—from dishwasher to Class One Chef—and why owner-operated lodges change lives differently. 🌍 The Future of Travel: Why meaningful, value-driven trips are the only way forward for responsible Africa travel.Come for the wildlife. Stay for the mission. Subscribe and join the movement:________________________________________Watch more conversations with Africa's conservationists, safari innovators, and changemakers in the full Safari ChangeMakers series: https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakers/podcastsSubscribe to our YouTube channel for future episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakersLearn more about Artisans of Safari: https://artisansofsafari.com/Featured in this Episode:We go deep into the conservation efforts of Sara Gardiner and the team at  @MatetsiGameLodge  Experience this Journey:To book a bespoke immersion that includes the regions and conservation projects discussed in this episode, visit: https://artisansofsafari.com/zimbabwe-and-zambia/For more Intel Link to "Safari Briefings" Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7333253534911500288#conservation #africansafari #artisansofsafari

Nearly 100 years of conservation — and safari tourism is the only reason it still exists. If you think going on safari is just about seeing lions and elephants, this conversation will change everything you thought you knew.Rob More, fourth-generation custodian of Lion Sands in the legendary Sabi Sand Game Reserve, sits down in person with host Karin Jones to share an extraordinary family legacy stretching from 1933 to today — and reveals how community empowerment is the secret weapon protecting Africa's most iconic wildlife.Key takeaways from this episode:🌍 Why conservation in Africa cannot survive on philanthropy alone — and how ecotourism fills the gap🤝 How Lion Sands is shifting 40% of its purchasing to local community businesses within 5 years🦁 The real link between unemployment, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict — and how safari travel breaks the cycle👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Why a multigenerational family safari is one of the most powerful conservation acts you can take🌱 Real on-the-ground examples of community businesses being built from the ground up in rural South AfricaYour safari dollars are doing more than you know. Subscribe and join the movement at artisansofsafari.comWatch more conversations with Africa's conservationists, safari innovators, and changemakers in the full Safari ChangeMakers series:https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakers/podcastsSubscribe to our YouTube channel for future episodes:https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakersLearn more about Artisans of Safari:https://artisansofsafari.com/For podcast companions, Safari Briefings, field notes, and deeper stories from inside the world of African safari, join Safari ChangeMakers on Substack at the link below: https://safarigal.substack.com/?r=1kmrdl&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklistFeatured in this Episode:We go deep into the conservation efforts of Rob More and the team at  @MCSafarichannel  https://www.youtube.com/@UCPe6BxkbGcWf3i7mQZ_DIWg Experience this Journey:To book a bespoke immersion that includes the regions and conservation projects discussed in this episode, visit: https://artisansofsafari.com/south-africa/For more Intel Link to "Safari Briefings" Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7333253534911500288#conservation #africansafari #artisansofsafari

Most travelers know Zanzibar. Almost none have heard of Pemba — and that may be exactly why Pemba still has a chance. In this episode, host Karin Jones explores what happens when an island chooses a different future before mass tourism writes it for them.Matt Saus of Manta Resort shares the deeply human story behind the Kwanini Foundation — built on community trust, local employment, and one essential Swahili question: Why should tourism be here, and who should it serve? Then Gary Lotter of Blue Alliance reveals how a single protected reef became a 27,000-hectare Blue Economy Corridor, and how the principles of African safari guiding are now being taken underwater through the Coral Reef Safari.🏝️ Why Pemba's under-visited status is its greatest conservation advantage right now 🐠 How a 1km no-take reef zone grew into a 27,000-hectare Blue Economy Corridor 🤿 How the Coral Reef Safari brings naturalist safari guiding beneath the ocean's surface 🌊 Why most marine protected areas exist only on paper — and how reef-positive tourism funds real protection 🤝 Why community comes before conservation branding: village banks, microfinance, and local enterprise.This is not a beach extension after safari. This is what safari becomes when it goes underwater — and when a place still has the power to choose its own future.________________________________________Watch more conversations with Africa's conservationists, safari innovators, and changemakers in the full Safari ChangeMakers series: https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakers/podcastsSubscribe to our YouTube channel for future episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakersLearn more about Artisans of Safari: https://artisansofsafari.com/Featured in This Episode: We go deep into the conservation work of Matt Saus of  @mantaresort  and Gary Lotter of  @BlueAllianceMPAs  For Podcast Companions, Safari Briefings, Safari Intelligence, and deeper stories from inside the world of African safari, join Safari ChangeMakers on Substack: https://safarigal.substack.com/?r=1kmrdl&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklistExperience This Journey: To book a bespoke immersion that includes Pemba Island and the marine-conservation experiences discussed in this episode, visit: https://artisansofsafari.com/indian-ocean-islands/For more safari intelligence, follow The Safari Briefings newsletter on LinkedIn.#conservation #africansafari #artisansofsafari

Most travelers think safari is what happens outside Nairobi—rushing through the city to catch the next flight to the bush. In doing so, they miss the "Nairobi Remix": a world where Swahili soul meets French style in one of Africa's most creative destinations.Recorded on location, host Karin Jones sits down with Vanessa Roumeguere (Founder of Manzili House and Manzili Mara) for a deeply personal conversation. We explore why Kenya is so much more than wildlife, uncovering a world-class art scene and the centuries of Swahili artisanal heritage that most travelers completely overlook.In this episode, we explore: 🏡 The Nairobi Sanctuary: How Manzili House serves as a Swahili-inspired gateway, shattering misconceptions about the city for international travelers. 🎨 The Creative Remix: Exploring Nairobi’s thriving art, food, and fashion—from emerging local artists to designers transforming global style. 🌿 Manzili Mara: A mud-walled, Maasai-inspired villa overlooking the Mara Triangle with zero light pollution and front-row seats to the Serengeti. 💃 Artistic Magic: A New York City Ballet principal dancer’s collaboration with the Nairobi Ballet Company—and the unique "magic" that only Africa inspires. 🌍 The Grounding Effect: Why choosing destinations that challenge your comfort zone is the soul-reset so many people are searching for right now.Safari is a feeling. And it starts the moment you land. Subscribe and join the movement:________________________________________Watch more conversations with Africa's conservationists, safari innovators, and changemakers in the full Safari ChangeMakers series: https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakers/podcastsSubscribe to our YouTube channel for future episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakersLearn more about Artisans of Safari: https://artisansofsafari.com/Featured in this Episode:We go deep into the conservation efforts of Vanessa Roumeguere and the team at Manzili. Experience this Journey:To book a bespoke immersion that includes the regions and conservation projects discussed in this episode, visit: https://artisansofsafari.com/kenya-and-tanzania/For more Intel Link to "Safari Briefings" Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7333253534911500288#conservation #africansafari #artisansofsafari

What does it actually feel like to kneel beside a sedated, critically endangered black rhino—knowing only 6,000 of her kind remain on earth?Host Karin Jones found out firsthand during a high-stakes field mission at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. In this raw, on-the-ground episode, Karin joins Angus Douglas (Managing Director of Kwandwe) for a live rhino collaring procedure in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. They move beyond the adrenaline of the moment to unpack what it truly takes to rewild a landscape and protect a species in crisis.In this episode, we explore: 🦏 The Collaring Operation: The precision, the AI-powered tech, and the breathtaking experience of being inches away from a prehistoric giant. 🌿 From Farm to Frontier: The 27-year journey of transforming a goat-and-ostrich farm into a world-class rewilding success story. 📡 AI in the Bush: How revolutionary ankle collars monitor individual rhino behavior 24/7 to predict poaching threats before they happen. 🤝 The "Together as One" Model: How the Ubunye Foundation proves that community health and education are the ultimate anti-poaching strategies. 🎯 Conservation Through Commerce: Why high-impact safari tourism is the most effective way to fund a secure future for the black rhino.This is what conservation looks like when it's done right—loud, on the ground, and deeply human. Subscribe and join the movement:________________________________________Watch more conversations with Africa's conservationists, safari innovators, and changemakers in the full Safari ChangeMakers series: https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakers/podcastsSubscribe to our YouTube channel for future episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakersLearn more about Artisans of Safari: https://artisansofsafari.com/Featured in this Episode:We go deep into the conservation efforts of Angus Douglas and the team at  @KwandweReserve  Experience this Journey:To book a bespoke immersion that includes the regions and conservation projects discussed in this episode, visit: https://artisansofsafari.com/south-africa/For more Intel Link to "Safari Briefings" Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7333253534911500288#conservation #africansafari #artisansofsafari

What does it really look like when indigenous communities take control of their own land — and turn it into a conservation powerhouse? If you've ever wondered whether safari tourism can genuinely uplift the people who call Africa home, this conversation will inspire you.Host Karin Jones sits down with Jackson Looseyia and Dominic Nchoe, the Maasai co-founders of Tangula Mara — the first safari camp in the Maasai Mara to be 100% owned and operated by Maasai people. From humble beginnings as a night guard and tracker to pioneering a guiding school that transformed the industry, their story is a masterclass in community-driven conservation.Key Takeaways:🌍 How private conservancies benefit local Maasai families through land leases, employment, and education🦁 Why human-wildlife conflict is decreasing — and what replaced lion-killing as a rite of passage🧭 How trained guides avoid overtourism during the Great Migration🏕️ What authentic Maasai cultural exchange actually looks like on safari🔮 The future of wildlife conservation through indigenous ownershipSubscribe and join the movement at:👉 https://artisansofsafari.com/Watch more conversations with Africa's conservationists, safari innovators, and changemakers in the full Safari ChangeMakers series:https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakers/podcastsSubscribe to our YouTube channel for future episodes:https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakersLearn more about Artisans of Safari:https://artisansofsafari.com/Featured in this Episode:We go deep into the conservation efforts of  @jacksonlooseyia7627  the team at  @BushandBeyondSafaris  Experience this Journey:To book a bespoke immersion that includes the regions and conservation projects discussed in this episode, visit: https://artisansofsafari.com/kenya-and-tanzania/For more Intel Link to "Safari Briefings" Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7333253534911500288#conservation #africansafari #artisansofsafari

What if your safari trip could rescue lemurs, restore coral reefs, keep girls in school — and change how entire communities see children with special needs? In this powerful combined episode of Safari ChangeMakers, host Karin Jones pulls back the curtain on one of Africa's most remarkable conservation and community stories.We go behind the scenes at Time & Tide Lodges — first with CEO Bruce Simpson speaking from Madagascar, then with Foundation Executive Director Elizabeth Ellis and Foundation Co-Director Naonga Shawa Banda in Zambia. Together, they reveal how luxury safari travel can be a genuine force for lasting change.Key Takeaways:🦎 How Time & Tide is restoring Madagascar's biodiversity — from rescued crowned lemurs to the world's tiniest chameleons🐟 Why issuing fishing cards to 300 local fishers is actually protecting marine ecosystems👩‍🎓 How girls' clubs in Zambia are breaking a cycle where only 35% of girls finish school♿ From 10% to 70% — the extraordinary transformation in school inclusion for children with disabilities💵 Every $1 invested generates over $20 in social return — that's the real power of your safari dollarBe inspired. Create change. Subscribe now and visit artisansofsafari.comWatch more conversations with Africa's conservationists, safari innovators, and changemakers in the full Safari ChangeMakers series:https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakers/podcastsSubscribe to our YouTube channel for future episodes:https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakersLearn more about Artisans of Safari:https://artisansofsafari.com/Featured in this Episode:We go deep into the conservation efforts of the  @timeandtideafrica  Experience this Journey:To book a bespoke immersion that includes the regions and conservation projects discussed in this episode, visit: https://artisansofsafari.com/zimbabwe-and-zambia/ and https://artisansofsafari.com/indian-ocean-islands/For more Intel Link to "Safari Briefings" Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7333253534911500288#conservation #africansafari #artisansofsafari

The Death of a Giant: Why Craig the Elephant’s Passing is a Global Success StoryA million-dollar elephant just died of old age in Kenya — and that is the greatest conservation victory you'll hear about this year. But who protected Craig, the giant tusker, and what happens now that he's gone?Recorded on-site at Angama Amboseli, at the foothills of Kilimanjaro, Karin Jones sits down with two of the region's most influential voices: Craig Millar (Big Life Foundation) and Rosco Wendover (CEO of Angama). Together, they pull back the curtain on what responsible safari tourism and community partnership actually look like on the ground..Key Takeaways:• 🐘 The extraordinary life and legacy of Craig — Why Craig was the most photographed tusker in the world—and why his death from natural causes is a miracle of modern conservation — and the next generation of big tuskers already waiting in the wings• 🌍 The 40-Meter Challenge: Why the Kimana Sanctuary wildlife corridor is the "narrowest bottleneck" in Africa.• 🔫 How Big Life Foundation's multi-layered anti-poaching model — from drone units to compensation programs — keeps elephant and predator populations alive• 🤝 Why Kimana is the highest-paying conservancy per acre in the ecosystem, and why that matters more than any fence• 🌱 The inspiring story of Salash: a Maasai ranger-turned-guide who appeared on Planet Earth and now tells his own wildlife story to the worldThis is what conservation through commerce — and community — looks like when it's done right. Subscribe and join the movement:________________________________________Watch more conversations with Africa's conservationists, safari innovators, and changemakers in the full Safari ChangeMakers series: https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakers/podcastsSubscribe to our YouTube channel for future episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@safarichangemakersLearn more about Artisans of Safari: https://artisansofsafari.com/Featured in this Episode:We go deep into the conservation efforts of Craig Millar and Rosco Wendover and the team at  @BigLifeFoundation  and  @angamasafari  Experience this Journey:To book a bespoke immersion that includes the regions and conservation projects discussed in this episode, visit: https://artisansofsafari.com/kenya-and-tanzania/For more Intel Link to "Safari Briefings" Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7333253534911500288#conservation #africansafari #artisansofsafari

When Rob and Storm Mason first sat down with the elders of the Samburu community in northern Kenya, the elders envisioned a 60-room luxury hotel. But the Masons had a vision for Kalepo Camp — an intimate six-tent property designed to attract high-value travelers seeking deep connection, not mass consumption. This episode details Kalepo’s success. The Samburu community holds equity in the land; their livestock still roam freely around the conservancy. And the camp — with its six beautifully designed tents — now generates meaningful income without compromising the landscape that sustains it.

A former bean farm, in partnership with the local community, has been transformed into a thriving wildlife conservancy in the Masai Mara of Kenya.