As Thanksgiving approaches, we reflect on a year filled with adventure, purpose, and gratitude.
At Wandering Thru, we are deeply thankful to every traveler who chose to explore with us. Your journeys have done more than create memories; they’ve made a real difference in protecting wildlife and empowering communities that live alongside Africa’s most treasured wild spaces.
Because of you, we’re able to share the magic of Africa’s wilderness, while giving back to ensure these landscapes, animals, and people thrive for generations.
Every Journey Matters – Supporting the Wandering Conservation Fund (WCF)
Every trip taken with Wandering Thru contributes to our Wandering Conservation Fund, supporting wildlife protection, rapid response, and community upliftment programs across Africa.
Beyond financial support, we personally dedicate our time to assist on the ground. This includes monitoring wildlife and participating in de-snaring operations, to volunteering in community initiatives and education programs.
Every donation, every project, and every action is amplified by your support.
Partnering with Lodges That Care
Meaningful travel starts with partners who share our values. That’s why the most important thing is to choose our partners carefully. We work with lodges and camps actively involved in real, on-the-ground conservation and community initiatives. From anti-poaching efforts and habitat restoration, to education and healthcare programs, our partners are committed to protecting wildlife while empowering local communities.
Inspiring the Next Generation – Starting in Our Own Backyard
At Wandering Thru, we believe conservation starts at home. Protecting wildlife must go hand in hand with supporting children and families in communities adjacent to wildlife areas.
In partnership with Thornybush Community, and Conservation South Africa this winter, we sponsored three conservation camps for 40 children from communities neighboring the Greater Kruger.
Through the Scouts Camp Programme, learners from communities neighboring the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve spent two nights immersed in nature — learning about wildlife tracking (a newly introduced activity from last year’s camp we are very excited about!), participating in game drives, meeting the K-9 anti-poaching unit, and engaging in hands-on conservation lessons.
These camps inspire curiosity, confidence, and environmental awareness — nurturing the next generation of conservation leaders.
Empowering Communities and Creating Lasting Change
Our work extends beyond conservation — it supports community well-being as well. In the last year we donated a solar panel system to power a water pump for the Hananani Primary School vegetable garden, taking it completely off the grid. This particular donation lands very close to “home” for Ale, Tristan and Ryan as many of their co-workers in the Sabi Sand had or have children attending this primary school.
The garden provides nutritious meals to 274 schoolchildren, producing over 56,000 meals in 2024 alone, while teaching sustainability and community self-reliance.
In addition to Hanani, we also make monthly contributions to Nourish Eco Village to support their preschool feeding program, ensuring every child receives at least one healthy meal a day.
Rapid Relief for Wildlife in Crisis
While we think it’s hugely important to assist the communities that live closest to wildlife areas, we are also deeply passionate about the precious wildlife that roams Africa. Over the last year alone more than R80,000 from our Wandering Conservation Fund has gone toward rapid relief and emergency response programs in the Greater Kruger region.
These funds support responses to mass vulture poisonings, as well as elephant and predator de-snaring operations, saving countless lives.
We’ve continued to support the APNR Ground Hornbill Project, which allows conservationists to monitor chick growth and nesting activity, providing essential insights for this endangered species.
We also donated three tracking devices for pangolins rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammals, targeted for their scales and meat. Their rehabilitation is delicate, often taking months of specialized care before release.
The tracking devices allow conservationists to monitor pangolins post-release, ensuring they adapt successfully in the wild. Each device represents a step forward in the fight against wildlife trafficking.
A Ripple of Change That Starts With You
Our Wandering Conservation Fund may be a small drop, and there are many more worthy causes we don’t yet but would like to support, but together with every traveler, that drop becomes a ripple that grows stronger with every journey.
Each adventure helps protect wildlife, support local communities, and ensure the future of Africa’s wild places.
This Thanksgiving, our hearts are full. We are endlessly thankful to our travelers, our partners, and the communities who make our work possible.
Together, we’re proving that travel can be a force for good — protecting the planet, empowering people, and preserving Africa’s wild spirit for generations to come.
With gratitude,
The Wandering Thru Team
Join Us in Making a Difference
You can contribute via our Wandering Conservation Fund, where 100% of proceeds go directly to conservation and community programs, or we can guide you to other worthy, transparent causes making a real impact
If you’d like to get involved or donate, contact us to chat.
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