Private Wild is a specialist African safari company creating exclusive-use, tailor-made wilderness experiences for travel designers, tour operators and their clients. We combine private hospitality, exceptional guiding expertise and meaningful access to Africa's wilderness to deliver experiences beyond conventional lodge-based safaris.
A Company Shaped by the Travel Industry
Private Wild is the culmination of more than 20 years of experience in African tourism, specialist guide training and bespoke safari development, shaped by the evolving needs of international travel trade partners.
Founder Corné Schalkwyk began developing this approach in East Africa through Premier Safaris, Marasa Africa and the Madhvani Group, creating specialist itineraries for international operators, US and university alumni groups, and tourism industry projects.
This expertise evolved through his leadership at two of Africa's leading guide training organisations, EcoTraining and Bushwise, where customised safaris, conservation experiences, family programmes, advanced wilderness journeys and wildlife filming projects became part of an expanding portfolio.
These years of collaboration and successful delivery ultimately led to Private Wild becoming an independent specialist safari company. Many of the same trade partners whose requests helped shape these experiences continue working with us today.
Your Own Private Wilderness Experience
Our philosophy is simple: a safari should feel like having your own private lodge in the African wilderness.
Where available, guests enjoy exclusive use of a property, supported by a dedicated private guide, vehicle, chef and hospitality team.
Rather than following fixed schedules, experiences evolve around guests' interests, personalities and pace.
Our specialist hosts include senior guide trainers, professionals who train safari guides. Their expertise in animal behaviour, tracking, ecology and conservation brings exceptional depth to each experience.
From family adventures and photographic safaris to conservation journeys, specialist masterclasses and executive retreats, our safaris offer flexibility, personal attention and memorable wilderness encounters.
A Specialist Travel Trade Partner
Private Wild operates predominantly as a B2B business, collaborating with travel agents, tour operators and travel designers to create distinctive African safari products.
We go beyond supplying accommodation or standard itineraries. Our role is to understand each enquiry, develop appropriate experiences and deliver them through trusted operational partnerships.
Our portfolio spans South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Zambia and Namibia, with Uganda and Rwanda products planned for 2027.
We help our trade partners offer something genuinely different, supported by specialist knowledge, experience and personalised service.
Beyond Safaris | Supporting the Tourism Industry
Our expertise extends into professional training, conservation education, wildlife filmmaking and international tourism skills development.
Private Wild assists industry organisations with:
Guide training: Specialist guiding, wildlife interpretation, advanced field skills and professional development.
Conservation training: Ecological education, conservation awareness and practical field learning.
Global skills development: Tailored training, mentoring and capacity-building programmes for tourism professionals internationally.
ATTA members and industry partners are invited to book a consultation with Private Wild to discuss guide or conservation training for their staff, assistance with nature documentary projects, or customised skills development programmes anywhere in the world.
We welcome opportunities to collaborate, develop specialist products and strengthen professional capabilities across the tourism industry.
Private Wild was shaped by the people who needed something different from a safari, and built through years of experience delivering exactly that.
Built through years of travel trade collaboration, Private Wild combines specialist guiding, exclusive-use wilderness experiences and tailor-made African safaris under one independent brand.
Bushwise Exclusive Launches New Base in Botswana!
Our new Botswana itineraries take place in the heart of the 11,000-hectare Tswehe Wildlife Reserve located in Botswana's legendary Tuli Block.
South Africa: Bushwise Field Guides and the Sabi Sabi Collection are proud to announce a new initiative to train the next generation of field guides through the Sabi Sabi Ranger Academy in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park
The GVI Foundation was created to enable our clients to amplify their impact on GVI’s meaningful social and environmental projects worldwide. Do good, better with us, as you further your contributions through fundraising and awareness campaigns.
The challenges facing our natural world and its people are ever-changing. Our mission is to amplify the impact of GVI’s global programs through locally-led conservation and community projects. We focus on '10 Global Issues' as campaign priorities.
Conserving our planet by working on the below aspects
Combating climate change
Protecting species and biodiversity
Safeguarding habitats
Promoting sustainability
Reducing plastic pollution and debris
Catalysing communities by providing the below:
Advancing education access and skills development
Fostering gender equality
Promoting health and wellbeing
Enhancing infrastructure
Driving children’s development and learning
As GVI’s nonprofit, the GVI Foundation was created to give our clients the opportunity to make a greater impact in the communities and protected areas they visited as part of any of our programs.
