The Wilderness Foundation believes that a personal experience of the incredible healing and motivating power of wilderness areas is what leads an individual to a greater understanding of conservation in the 21st century.
The Wilderness Foundation pioneers, supports, or manages a number of leadership and experiential education projects which aim to develop ecological leadership in the country’s youth and various decision-makers.
South Africa’s history has confined most South Africans to townships or degraded rural areas, and has fractured traditional cultures. Even today, experiences in nature reserves are beyond the economic reach of most South Africans.
The Wilderness Foundation seeks to bridge this gap by offering various opportunities for the youth and decision-makers of the country to experience their natural heritage through personal interaction with the wilderness and natural environment. Through experiential education, they are able to re-discover the relationship between traditional African cultures and nature, which leads to personal growth and a greater understanding of conservation in its broader context.
