Wilderness (conservation) is the ultimate and pinnacle form of the product, and for safaris to work optimally and long-term, the product must be preserved, because it can NEVER be improved upon.

The Contentious Subject

During one panel session on the Global Stage themed “The Safari Industry – Are Private Lodges an Asset Class?” the question was raised about bringing the really big hoteling brands into the safari sector, and how that will unlock real safari tourism growth. Before this question was raised, one of the esteemed panelists mentioned the Long Run’s 4C values (Conservation, Community, Culture, Commerce), which I support wholeheartedly. Yet, when the same panelist named the 4 Cs, they named the first 3 with ease, but struggled to remember the fourth…Conservation.

However, when Conservation was eventually recalled by them, it was genuinely explained to be an essential component, which I was relieved to hear.

Later in the session, when the question was raised, the obvious argument FOR bringing the big hoteliers into safaris focused on the stimulus for real economic growth and bigger markets (Commerce) and job creation (Community). Culture wasn’t focused on, although I also have genuine concern about big hoteliers managing to preserve and portray culture authentically. Yet, once again in the argument for big hoteliers, the panelists missed something essential…they forgot to address the main factor – Conservation.

Safari as a Product

There is a critical reason why Conservation is, and should be, the first C, which I will explain with this analogy, one we can all relate to:

Let us parallel the ultimate form of the safari industry as a product to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The consumer and market want to experience and “use” this product in its optimal state, yet in this instance, the product’s intrinsic quality and value relies entirely on Conservation. The main purpose for the consumer going on safari is not for the Accommodation (hotel), nor the Community, nor the Culture. These are all nice, although still important, add-ons.

Unfortunately, in this case, the product can never be improved upon. There is no R&D possible to improve wilderness (the Conservation component), and human management intervention always degrades it either partially or substantially. An iPhone 18 or 19 or 20 can and never will be produced. The product must be preserved (conserved) for as long as possible, otherwise its intrinsic quality and value will consistently diminish, while it becomes more and more difficult, costly, and time consuming to restore it. Hence, its sale value and resale value will likely realize diminishing returns.

What Does This Mean?

Should the big hoteliers enter the market and not place conservation at the forefront, the safari industry will become an unsustainable sector. Should they enter substantively (the 5 or 10 biggest players), the degree to which they do conservation will determine the timeframe the safari sector exists. If they do conservation well, the timeframe may be 100 or more years, if moderately then 50 years, if poorly then 20 or 30 years.

If they do not do conservation well, their business has a 20-year timeframe, when they’ve made more than a 20-year capital investment into an unsustainable product. It is a bad and short- to medium-term business model and investment.

Two or three big hotelier entrants may be manageable, if they genuinely do conservation well. But the great wildernesses (the best products) are finite resources. If these hoteliers do not do conservation well, it is a short-term game. Once it is messed up, it is nearly impossible to fix. Your ‘iPhone’ will never be replaced and will always be sub-optimal.

I do not want to ever live in a world where wilderness and the safari industry is sub-optimal. Conservation is key!

What is your take? Email your thoughts to Michael on: michael@sustainsafaris.com

Note: The image is of the Global Stage at WTM Africa 2025, but not of the session in question.

By Michael Wright

11 April 2025

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Sustain Safaris Conservation Partner BirdLife SA

Sustain Safaris applauds the work of BirdLife SA in the conservation of Africa’s vultures. On our tours we conduct citizen science that supports their work in the 5 vulture hotspots in South and East Africa.  We will be increasing our support so watch this space.

1. Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)

IUCN status: Critically Endangered (estimated 131,000 mature individuals).

Habitat: Native to sub-Saharan Africa, with widespread distribution in Southern, East, and West Africa. Found in rural and urban areas.

Size: SMALL. 67-70 cm and weighing up to 2.6 kg.

Wingspan: 155-180 cm

Feeding: Carrion (usually the first to arrive at carcasses to eat before larger vultures chase them away).

Breeding:

• November – March
• Lays a single egg per breeding season, with both parents sharing the duty of incubation, lasting up to 54 days.
• Chicks fledge at around 3 months old and remain dependent on their parents for 6 months.

2. White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)

IUCN status: Critically Endangered (estimated 2,500 – 9,999 mature individuals)

Habitat: Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, often found in mixed, dry woodlands at low altitudes.

Size: SMALL – MEDIUM. 72–85 cm and weighing up to 4.7 kg.

Wingspan: 207-230 cm

Feeding: Carrion (usually the first to arrive at carcasses to eat before larger vultures chase them away).

Breeding:

• October – January in West Africa, and May – August in Southern Africa.
• Lays a single egg, and both parents share incubation duties for up to 54 days.
• Chicks fledge at 4 months and rely on parents for feeding until they’re 6 months old.

3. White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

IUCN status: Critically Endangered (number of remaining mature individuals currently unknown)

Habitat: Found across a range that includes Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Ethiopia, Somalia, and down to Southern Africa, including countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. It prefers wooded savannas with tall trees.

Size: MEDIUM. 78-98 cm and weighing up to 7.2 kg.

Wingspan: 210-225 cm

Feeding: Carrion (predominantly large mammals)

Breeding:

• October – June in West Africa, and April – January in East and Southern Africa.
• Lays one egg, which both parents incubate for about 56 days. 
• Chicks fledge 4 months after birth but rely on their parents for several months thereafter.

4. Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)

IUCN status: Near Threatened (estimated 1,675 – 6,700 mature individuals)

Habitat: Africa, Asia, and Europe. In Africa, they’re primarily located in the Maloti-Drakensberg mountains of Lesotho and South Africa (WATCH THE LIVESTREAM OF A BEARDED VULTURE BREEDING PAIR, AS PART OF THE REGION’S NEST CAMP PROJECT), and in North Africa’s Atlas Mountains – they prefer remote mountainous areas with steep terrains.

Size: LARGE. 100-115 cm and weighing up to 7.1 kg.

Wingspan: 250-285 cm (making it Africa’s second-largest vulture).

Feeding: Bones comprise up to 90% of its diet.

Breeding:

• May – June in Africa
• Lays 1-2 eggs, with both parents incubating the egg(s) for up to 60 days.
• Chicks fledge from 3.5 months after hatching but rely on their parents for up to 2 years.

5. Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)

IUCN status: Endangered (estimated 6,500 mature individuals)

Habitat: Distribution spans from the southern Sahara to the Sahel and extends down through East Africa to central and northern South Africa – found in dry savannas, arid plains, deserts with scattered trees, and open mountain slopes. 

Size: LARGE. 95-115 cm and weighing up to 8.5 kg.

Wingspan: 250-290 cm (making it Africa’s largest vulture).

Feeding: Carrion – they also hunt small birds, reptiles, and mammals.

Breeding:

• Breeding season changes according to location, For example, they breed throughout the year in East Africa, but only from May to December in Southern Africa.
• Lays a single egg, incubated by both parents for up to 56 days.
• Chicks fledge 4 – 5 months after hatching.

 

The vultures reuse their nesting sites year after year.

6. Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis)

IUCN status: Least Concern (number of remaining mature individuals currently unknown)

Habitat: Found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa in forests, savannas, and wetlands, usually near water sources. Its distribution is closely linked to the presence of oil and raffia palms, which are integral to its diet and nesting habits.

Size: SMALL. 58-60 cm and weighing up to 2.5 kg.

Wingspan: 150-170 cm

Feeding: Palm fruits, bird nestlings, fish, crabs, and occasionally carrion. It typically forages alone.

Breeding:

• October – April
• Lays a single egg, which both parents incubate for up to 50 days.
• Chicks fledge at 3 months and rely on their parents for some time thereafter.

 

Explore our website for birding tours that give you the opportunity to see many of these incredible vultures up close. 

7. Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)

IUCN status: Vulnerable (estimated 9,600 – 12,800 mature individuals)

Habitat: Southern Africa (mainly in South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana) – nests in large colonies on cliff faces in or near mountains.

Size: LARGE. 96–115 cm and weighing up to 11 kg.

Wingspan: 226-260 cm

Feeding: Carrion and livestock

Breeding:

• April – July
• Lays a single egg, and both parents incubate the egg for 54 days.
• Chicks fledge at 4.5 months but typically rely on their parents for longer.

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