Ultimate Safaris and Cymot join forces for conservation

?Ultimate Safaris and Cymot have joined forces in a new conservation initiative under the banner of the Conservation Travel Foundation. The initiative, titled 'Pack for Conservation', has resulted in an online portal where visitors to Namibia can buy much-needed field uniforms and gear for rhino rangers at cost price. The Conservation Travel Foundation (CTF) was established Ultimate Safaris in 2006. According to a joint press statement by the two companies, the CTF has been involved in helping with the conservation of Namibia's black rhino since its inception. Partnering with Save the Rhino Trust (SRT), which was founded in 1982 to curb the rampant poaching of the black rhino population of North Western Namibia, the Conservation Travel Foundation has funded a variety of projects, ranging from anti-poaching camps to sponsoring rhino ranger salaries and running costs.However, by 2007, the SRT found that poaching had increased to such an extent that the existing patrol effort was inadequate. Rather than hiring new staff and placing additional burdens on an already stretched budget, the SRT implemented a new Rhino Ranger Incentive Programme to train and equip a new generation of community rangers. These rangers would be employed by communal conservancies, effectively doubling the SRT's ground monitoring force. The programme currently supports over 60 community rhino rangers across 13 conservancies. That has increased field patrolling by 750%, rhino sightings by 450% and is estimated to have helped reduce poaching by 80% between 2013 and 2018. These rangers need uniforms and other gear that must be replaced every year because of the rough environment they operate in.This is a significant expense and the foundation depends on donations to cover the cost. “In recognition of this, and as part of our efforts to get rhino tourism to contribute towards the costs of rhino conservation efforts and making the project more sustainable, Ultimate Safaris' Conservation Travel Foundation launched the Pack for Conservation programme in 2018,” the two companies say in a joint statement.The initiative makes use of Cymot's new e-commerce platform. The online shop offers tourists the option of buying equipment for the community rangers, which is then handed over to the SRT. Even if only a small proportion of visitors to Namibia contributed to this initiative, it would help make the Rhino Ranger project more sustainable.“We are extremely grateful to be able to support this great initiative and to team up with such a visionary company as Ultimate Safaris. We hope that the rest of the world will recognise these efforts and support this worthy cause,” says Gabriela Raith, marketing executive at Cymot.

Ultimate Safaris and Cymot join forces for conservation

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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Ultimate Safaris and Cymot join forces for conservation

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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