Wilderness Botswana and CLAWS deliver Africa’s first Certified Wildlife Friendly beef sale
Wilderness Botswana, in partnership with CLAWS Conservancy, has completed Africa’s first Certified Wildlife Friendly beef sale in the northern Okavango Delta. Beef from selected farmers around Vumbura Plains and Little Vumbura has been certified by the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network, with Wilderness acting as the exclusive buyer and paying premium, faster rates to farmers who adopt lion‑friendly, regenerative herding – including predator‑proof bomas, herding‑for‑health and avoidance of retaliatory killings. The first transaction covered 14 cattle, with meat now supplied to the two camps.
The initiative establishes a new supply chain linking Ngamiland communities to Wilderness camps and is set to expand with a second purchase of about 15 cattle – around three tonnes – later this year. CLAWS’ measures such as mobile night enclosures, sustainable grazing and a Lion Alert System in English and Setswana have delivered more than 60,000 alerts; participating farmers report no cattle losses to lions in three years, and reduced retaliatory killings have coincided with a 50% increase in the local lion population. For tourism, the model strengthens coexistence and local procurement, aligning wildlife conservation with camp operations and community livelihoods.
Source: Wilderness Destinations
