Private Wild: A New Independent Chapter in Specialist African Safari Travel
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.
Private Wild, founded by African tourism professional Corné Schalkwyk, is introducing its independent brand to international travel partners, drawing on years of experience creating bespoke wilderness journeys through established tourism and professional guide-training organisations.
For agents familiar with Bushwise Exclusive, Private Wild marks the next chapter in an approach refined over many years—not a newly conceived safari concept. It brings longstanding relationships, specialist expertise and distinctive safari products together within a dedicated independent business.
Shaped by the travel trade
Private Wild's roots lie in requests from tour operators, travel designers and specialist groups looking for experiences beyond conventional game viewing.
In East Africa, Schalkwyk developed tailored programmes for international operators, American groups, university alumni and specialist markets while serving in leadership roles with Premier Safaris, Marasa Africa and the Madhvani Group.
He subsequently extended this approach at EcoTraining, translating professional safari guide-training expertise into accessible wilderness experiences for travellers. Custom journeys, family safaris, advanced bush experiences and wildlife filming projects demonstrated the appeal of deeper engagement with the natural world.
These ideas developed further through Bushwise and Bushwise Exclusive, where private safari teams, highly experienced guide trainers and flexible programmes became central to the offering.
Many of the trade partners who helped shape these experiences continue to work with Schalkwyk today.
Beyond the game drive
Private Wild works with specialist guides, including professionals who train African safari guides, to offer insight into tracking, animal behaviour, ecology and conservation.
Guests may discover how trackers interpret signs in the bush or gain a deeper understanding of the ecosystems they explore, without turning a holiday into a training course.
Relationships with reserve owners, researchers and conservation practitioners can also open doors to behind-the-scenes encounters, subject to access and operational conditions. Itineraries are shaped around each guest's interests and preferred pace rather than rigid schedules.
The new luxury is private
Across South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya and Namibia, Private Wild develops privately guided and exclusive-use safaris.
At selected properties, guests can enjoy an entire lodge or wilderness camp alongside a dedicated specialist guide, safari vehicle, chef and hospitality team.
Experiences range from multi-generational family travel and photographic safaris to conservation-focused journeys, private groups and executive retreats.
A partner for travel professionals
Working predominantly through agents, tour operators and travel designers, Private Wild supports the trade with destination expertise, specialist product development and bespoke proposals designed to differentiate their clients' journeys.
"Private Wild was shaped by the people who needed something different from a safari, and built through years of experience delivering exactly that," says Schalkwyk.
"Many of the agents and operators we work with today helped shape these experiences. Now we have the independence to bring together the right people, places and specialist knowledge for every client."
