Rejuvenating Botswana’s tourism – A chat with Wilderness' CEO :: Mmegi Online

From his early days as a small boy in Hwange National Park, the man behind Wilderness Safaris knew he wanted to be a conservation fanatic, one spirited by the wild and invigorated by the wonders of the wilderness. Today Keith Vincent is more than a wilderness stroller; he is a seasoned tourism entrepreneur and in this interview with TIMOTHY LEWANIKA, the group CEO narrates the challenges and opportunities in Botswana’s tourism sector.

Mmegi: At what moment in your life did you know and realise that conservation was going to be your life and field of work.

VINCENT: I grew up in Zimbabwe and spent most of my childhood holidays in Hwange National Park. I knew at an early age that I wanted to contribute to the conservation of the country’s wildlife, and the protection of its wilderness areas. I loved the outdoors and spending time in nature, and I became a professional guide in 1980. I then worked throughout Zimbabwe for various safari companies before settling in Victoria Falls in 1984. I began working for Wilderness in 1993 and have never looked back.

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