Ultimate Safaris, a multi-award-winning African safari company based in the fragile wilderness of Namibia, is blazing a trail to renewal and recovery after combating the disastrous effects of the Covid 19 pandemic on the global tourism industry. Ultimate Safaris has consistently put people before profits over the past three years – a strategy to protect livelihoods, conservation projects and businesses which is now reaping handsome benefits for everybody.

All staff members were retained through the worst of the pandemic and Ultimate Safaris ensured the livelihoods that depended on the company were protected. With no furlough payments or other government support to rely on, Covid hit everyone hard at the five luxury safari camps operated by the multiple award-winning Ultimate Safaris conservation group operating in the remotest parts of Namibia. Tristan Cowley, co-founder, and Managing Director decided Ultimate Safaris would confront the global challenge of Covid with commitment and confidence, working closely with staff members and local communities to develop all its preservation and protection initiatives. Putting people before profits has ultimately paid off.

First, to support personal financial recovery, all staff members of the 100-plus team went back to 100 percent of their salaries in April 2022. In addition, over the past seven months, every staff member has had a minimum combined salary increase of 18 per cent to catch up on annual increases that would have taken place in the Covid years to ensure earning power stays in touch with local inflation.

Second, in a further effort to boost staff benefits, after they missed annual raises during Covid 19, Ultimate Safaris is also placing every single staff member on a private medical scheme from March 1, paid for by the company – from cleaners to mechanics to guides to sales staff to directors.

Tristan Cowley commented: “We have chosen this path in recognition of the massive effort put in for Ultimate Safaris by the whole team to continue recovering from Covid-19, and in return to assist our team members to recover from the financial impacts they suffered during the pandemic. Covid-19 also highlighted the importance of having sound medical insurance, which is why we believe that everyone who works for us should have it.”

As the founder of the Conservation Travel Foundation in 2006, Cowley understands the importance of bringing people on board to sustain the tangible, positive impacts on ecosystem conservation and on the socio-economic development of rural communities in Namibia that are at the centre of his philosophy.

So, in a third major move, Ultimate Safaris has donated a 2.5 per cent shareholding into the newly formed Ultimate Safaris Tribe Benefit Trust. The beneficiaries of the trust will be staff members who have been with the company for 10 years or more (more than 10 per cent of the total employee count), effectively making them Ultimate Safaris shareholders, and forming the company’s ’10-Year Club.’

“The idea is to grow the size of the trust in terms of shareholding in time,” said Cowley. “But we felt it important to start this initiative and ensure our long-serving staff members become active shareholders as well.”

As a leader in Conservation Travel, the inclusion of Tribe in the trusted name is appropriate. Staff members from different areas of the pioneering company are all committed to providing world-class experiences for discerning travellers in some of the most spectacular natural locations on earth.

Each guest is taken care of by a member of Ultimate Safaris’ Tribe of extraordinary people who strive to ensure that each moment is as perfect as possible. They are all part of a dedicated and expert team who do everything from responding to initial enquiries, to providing days filled with thrilling encounters and arranging nights in the wilderness beyond most people’s wildest dreams.

This enthusiastic and highly motivated Tribe encompasses:

• Journey Reckoners – they keep the rest of the Tribe going, deal with accounts and look after company welfare. They maintain business relationships with suppliers and coordinate weekly Tribe welfare events to ensure the body, mind, and spirit of everyone at Ultimate Safaris is in good shape. This is part of the Tribe which keeps the rest of the Tribe going.
• Journeysmiths – considered leading authorities on travel to Namibia with more than 300 years of relevant experience between them. Included in all safari arrangements to ensure seamless and memorable experiences. Facilitated by intelligent, insider knowledge and a little black book of private contacts.
• Journey Magicians – the ‘engine room’, quietly working behind the scenes to ensure all aspects of the Ultimate Safaris operation run smoothly and cohesively. Help guides make sure they are fully prepared for guests, checking and maintaining safari vehicles, producing information packages for specific safaris, and running the fully-serviced camps.
• Naturalist Guides – a crucial ingredient for providing life-enriching journeys. Priority recruits to be the best full-time guiding team in Namibia, all Namibian, and well-known throughout the country; some are published writers and photographers, some are lecturers, but all are recognised Namibian personalities.

With long-term team members from this exclusive Tribe of highly experienced, passionate, motivated, and highly engaging characters, Ultimate Safaris is welcoming an active shareholder group into its structure. The future looks bright, the future looks African!

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ABOUT ULTIMATE SAFARIS

Founded in 2008, Ultimate Safaris is a multi-award-winning specialist in organising and operating well-orchestrated, privately guided, naturalist safaris for individuals as well as for small and intimate groups and boasts one of the most experienced, creative, and respected ‘tribes’ in the Namibian safari industry.

Their driving force is a carefully selected tribe of experts who are passionate about all aspects of Namibia and who understand the importance of seamless guest services. Ultimate Safaris employs the best naturalist guides and Journeysmiths, all of whom live and work in Namibia; and offers the finest portfolio of lodges, hotels, and camps (including our own); and operates a state-of-the-art fleet of specialized safari vehicles, ensuring an unequalled level of personal attention whilst maintaining the highest standards when planning and organizing Namibian safaris.

Investing heavily in continuous exploration of new safari possibilities makes Ultimate Safaris one of the most progressive and forward-looking safari companies in the country.

Ultimate Safaris has also been involved in the development of responsible and sustainable tourism in a wider forum, and our principals have held a variety of executive decision-making positions concerning tourism on a national level. www.ultimatesafaris.na