20 Nov 2025

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in Maun has received high-tech equipment and camping gear valued at P700,000, donated by And Beyond Safari in partnership with Wild Impact as part of their ongoing corporate social responsibility initiatives.

The donation package include drones, trail cameras, tablets, and camping equipment, among other items. In addition, the two organisations sponsored first-aid training for 16 wildlife officers, who undertook a week-long course aimed at improving field safety and response capacity.

North West acting regional wildlife coordinator, Mr Thebe Horatius, appreciated the gesture, noting that this was the third donation from the partners. He said the new equipment would strengthen anti-poaching operations, particularly in vast and sensitive areas such as the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park.

Mr Horatius said despite collaborative efforts by the wildlife department, the police, Botswana Defence Force and private organisations, poaching, especially bush-meat poaching remains a concern. The new drones equipped with visual cameras, he said, would enhance patrols, animal tracking, and wildlife population monitoring.

“They serve as a highly effective tool for counting animals and will help us in conservation efforts,” he said, adding that drones would also support disaster response in hard-to-reach areas and bolster research activities.

He further noted that And Beyond had also trained officers on using camera traps, while drone training is ongoing. He encouraged more companies to join efforts to promote responsible resource management and conservation investment, warning that failure to do so would negatively impact the tourism industry.

The partnership between And Beyond, Wild Impact and DWNP dates back to 2012, when And Beyond voluntarily translocated rhinos from South Africa to Botswana to protect them from high-risk poaching zones.

Wild Impact regional manager, Mr Skipper Mareja, said the donation demonstrated what public-private partnerships can achieve in safeguarding Botswana’s landscapes and biodiversity.

He described wildlife crime as one of the most pressing conservation challenges, warning that failure to act could see future generations lose the country’s natural endowment.

Mr Mareja highlighted the milestone achievements of the Botswana Rhino Conservation Support Project, which builds on the legacy of Rhinos Without Borders a programme that moved over 80 southern white rhinos to the Okavango Delta, leading to more than 62 births before the rise in poaching that forced government to relocate rhinos to more secure areas.

He noted that this is not the first time they have supported DWNP, recalling their 2023 donation worth over P500 000, which provided essential monitoring and patrol equipment crucial for species protection.

Their conservation efforts also include partnering with communities in the delta region and supporting projects aimed at improving ecosystem management. Mr Mareja added that first-aid training for wildlife officers was crucial given the risks associated with their work.

“Through innovation and partnership, we can ensure that the delta remains a sanctuary for wildlife and a source of pride for Botswana and the world,” he said. ENDS