THE ORIGINS FOUNDATION X Tholo Safaris
Location: Botswana
34 years active as an active custodian!
We are a Botswana based family-owned Safari Company with a close relationship with the local San Bushmen community, and we have a passion for conservation of wildlife and ethical sustainable hunting.
To learn more about Tholo Safaris, visit their website below:
Tholo Safaris
Tholo Safaris
KEY CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES
Cheetah conservation through long-term collaring and monitoring (Erik Verreynne, Cheetah Conservation Botswana), rhino stewardship on private land (23–24 white rhinos under active management), and leopard population monitoring via camera-trap surveys in partnership with CONNECT/TCNET across NG1, NG2, and NG3.
RESEARCH & COLLABORATIONS
Government and NGO partnerships including work with Brian Child on community-based conservation models and governance, collaborative Botswana–India cheetah research, and ongoing support for predator monitoring through camera placement, animal capture, and data collection.
SURVEYS & DATA COLLECTION
Wildlife monitoring conducted through aerial surveys and passive game counts (e.g. waterhole observations), primarily led by private operators and independent researchers, with government data usage and involvement currently unclear.
QUOTAS & MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
Elephant quota system not scientifically grounded, with structural issues including tusk-weight-based export rules (≥22 lb), limited flexibility in hunting seasons (April–September), and the need to diversify quotas to include non-trophy animals and prioritize age-based management over trophy metrics.
MANAGEMENT APPROACH & FUTURE DIRECTION
Advocates for science-based, data-driven management supported by long-term monitoring, expanded community support beyond wildlife (including livestock improvement), and more adaptive policies to balance conservation, population control, and local livelihoods.
39.7 Mil
Total acres assigned to sustainable wildlife use across multiple concessions, with approximately 1.39 million acres actively designated for managed habitat use.
281,700
Acres protected through anti-poaching presence, supported by privately funded patrol teams, community scouts, and coordination with the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), with a non-engagement, intelligence-led approach to avoid community conflict.
365
Target for year-round anti-poaching coverage, including planned community training programmes to build local capacity and ownership of conservation efforts.
2
Primary huntable species focus (elephant and buffalo), alongside plains game and leopard on private land, with quotas varying annually under government allocation.
6
month elephant hunting season running from the first week of April to the third week of September.
majority of concessions are community owned and managed
~$13,000 – $20,000
per elephant to community, area dependent
“Wildlife quotas determined by annual wildlife surveys and multi-year trends in populations counts.”
200
people employed
X7
approx. 1400 indirectly supported
x4
villages engaged
Capacity Building
on the job training provided
All schools supported across operational areas, providing education resources to community children
Boreholes and wells developed to support community water access
~$80,000 Pula annually distributed to community trusts and village development committees
100% of elephant meat (~100+ tons annually) provided directly to communities
300 jackets and 600 pairs of shoes distributed to communities
Ethos
We prioritize long-term community livelihoods. Tholo Safaris Botswana intends to adopt a broader approach to community assistance, extending beyond wildlife-focused initiatives to include support for livestock improvement, recognizing that many locals rely on animals like goats and cows for their livelihood.
