Mmegi

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

Finding value: Vincent PIC: WILDERNESSDESTINATIONS.COM
Finding value: Vincent PIC: WILDERNESSDESTINATIONS.COM

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.

Editor's Comment
Consult, get buy-ins first for 6 to 6 policy, Hon Minister

While the minister is of the view that the proposal would have significant positive economic impact, the entertainment industry players believe otherwise. The issue has over the weeks become a hot potato. But what is of essence right now is that the country needs liberal ideas to move in the right direction While opening up the economy may sound quite interesting to the ear, rolling out extended trading hours through pilot programmes without...

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