In FY2025 alone, Wilderness generated more than BWP700 million in foreign exchange for Botswana, reinforcing tourism’s position as one of the country’s most important sources of revenue, and demonstrating the economic weight of high-value conservation tourism. For more than four decades, Wilderness has been associated with Botswana’s iconic wilderness landscapes. Yet behind the globally sought after safari experience lies a broader and more strategic economic contribution: one defined by fiscal returns, local procurement, citizen employment and enterprise participation across the value chain.
The 2025 Wilderness Botswana Impact Report sets out the scale of that contribution. During the past financial year, purchases from suppliers within Botswana reached approximately BWP292 million, with more than 80 percent of procurement now sourced locally by value. Over the past decade, local procurement has exceeded BWP1.8 billion, supporting Botswana-based suppliers, service providers and entrepreneurs, whose operations extend the economic multiplier effect into agriculture, logistics, aviation, construction and hospitality. This deliberate localisation drive forms part of a broader Citizen Economic Empowerment approach, including the now flagship Local Suppliers Expo, designed to expand participation of Botswana businesses within the conservation tourism supply chain.
Government revenue has also benefitted significantly. Payments made through taxes, concession fees and royalties totalled more than BWP803 million over the past ten years. Notably, Government has received approximately BWP5.30 for every BWP1 earned by shareholders during the same period, a powerful illustration of tourism’s fiscal contribution within Botswana’s economic model.
Employment remains another cornerstone of Impact. Wilderness Botswana employs close to 1,000 people, the vast majority citizens, with salaries paid over the past decade exceeding BWP1.2 billion. For many employees based in Maun and Kasane, these salaries support extended households, school fees and small business ventures, reinforcing tourism’s role in sustaining household-level economic stability. Beyond direct employment and procurement, the report highlights Wilderness’ role as a demand generator for the broader industry. Over the past decade, the organisation has facilitated more than BWP2.14 billion in bednight sales into other Botswana-owned camps and lodges, underscoring its contribution to industry-wide growth rather than isolated gain.
Wilderness’ Impact approach is guided by its global framework built around three interconnected pillars – Empower, Educate and Protect – recognising that economic inclusion, conservation outcomes and community wellbeing are fundamentally interdependent.
Kabelo Binns, Chairman of Wilderness Botswana, said the long-term success of conservation tourism depends on ensuring that economic value flows meaningfully into the national system. ‘Wilderness was born in Botswana, and our responsibility has always extended beyond operating camps. Our role is to create measurable value for the country, through foreign exchange earnings, local enterprise growth and meaningful employment. Conservation and economic opportunity are not competing priorities; in Botswana they must succeed together.’
As Botswana advances a determined economic diversification agenda under Vision 2036, high-value, low-volume tourism continues to demonstrate how natural capital can generate sustained fiscal returns, citizen employment and local enterprise growth beyond extractive industries. The findings of the Impact Report reinforce the strategic importance of conservation tourism, not only as a global brand asset, but as an enduring contributor to Botswana’s broader economic resilience.
