Two Decades of Authentic Safaris, Expert Guiding, and Meaningful Impact
Before he built one of Africa’s most respected luxury safari companies, Beks Ndlovu was a guide. That origin story matters, because it shaped everything that followed. As Founder and CEO of African Bush Camps, he has spent the past two decades growing what began as a single Experience in Zimbabwe into a multi-country portfolio rooted in conservation, community empowerment, and exceptional guiding.
The African Bush Camps Foundation is the social and conservation arm of the company, supporting education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods in the communities surrounding its Experiences. It ensures that tourism creates lasting value for the people and landscapes it touches.
Rooted in its philosophy of be guided by the best, African Bush Camps has set a benchmark for safari travel, proving that true luxury is measured by the connections it creates and the legacy it leaves.
Beks Ndlovu, Founder and CEO of African Bush Camps, photographed at Atzaró Okavango Camp in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.
From Local Guide to Industry Leader
When Beks first transitioned from safari guide to camp owner, his motivation went beyond ambition. In 2006, he opened Somalisa Camp in Hwange National Park, the first-ever African Bush Camps Experience, laying the foundation for what the brand would become.
What began as a single Experience soon evolved into something far greater. Driven by a desire to extend both opportunity and conservation efforts, he began to think beyond one location. “The fundamental reason why I decided to transition was to increase my impact by bringing other people along on the journey,” he recalls. “It wasn’t just about me being a briefcase businessman. I would be able to employ multiple staff. That way, we could build scale and have more impact, having seen what I call injustices to the people, the land, and the wildlife.”
Somalisa Camp, African Bush Camps’ flagship Experience, in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
The early years tested that vision. Zimbabwe in 2006 presented challenges no guide training could prepare him for, with political instability slowing momentum. “It became very clear that Zimbabwe was not getting the traction we needed for success because of political unrest and uncertainty. That is why it was very important to quickly pivot to building a second camp in Botswana.” By then, African Bush Camps had grown to a team of around 50 ambassadors.
Each new destination shaped the brand in different ways. Zimbabwe instilled resilience and reinforced the value of long-term commitment. Botswana brought sharper operational discipline and focus. Zambia introduced greater diversity to the overall experience. Yet, as Beks explains, expansion was never the end goal in itself. “The intention was always: where can we be appropriately located to have the best impact, with access to the best people and the best offering, our guides, to provide the experiences we have always believed in? That is how we arrived at ‘be guided by the best.’”
Moments That Define Success
For Beks, success is not defined by scale alone, but by the depth of connection his brand creates. Loyal guests, word-of-mouth referrals, and trusted partnerships offer the clearest signs of progress. “The true test of any business is when people come back. When you have return guests and people recommending you to others, it means you are doing something right. This also extends to trade partners and developing a network of very strong businesses that believe in you and want to support you.”
At the heart of it all lies an unwavering commitment to community. The long-term impact of sustained initiatives is where success becomes tangible. “When you can sit with communities and look at projects you have been working on for a long time, and see people’s lives being positively impacted, that is powerful. When you see women who could barely afford to feed themselves now taking care of themselves and their families, restoring their dignity as matriarchs, that transformation is a huge milestone of success.”
Thandanani, meaning ‘to love each other,’ is a women’s empowerment and sewing collective in Dete Village, Zimbabwe, supported by the African Bush Camps Foundation
Recognition within the industry adds another layer of affirmation. Being acknowledged alongside leading names brings both validation and motivation. “When you are rubbing shoulders with the best of the best, you know you are in a league where you are recognized as a serious player. That elevates and inspires you to do more. Even when you feel unsure and ask, ‘Are we really there yet?’ You are. Accepting and owning that is a milestone.”
Now, at 20 years, African Bush Camps stands firmly among Africa’s top five safari operators. “And that is where we want to be,” Beks affirms.
Early Memories and Lasting Impressions
Looking back at the early days of Somalisa Camp, Beks reflects on how personal each guest experience was. “It was a time when we did not have high occupancy, but every visitor mattered. Each person was treated like royalty. Those nights and days around the campfire, tracking lions or following an elephant on foot, really mattered. There was so much weight riding on those experiences.”
That early rapport went on to shape the core philosophy of African Bush Camps. A strong sense of belonging became central to the brand’s identity. “Every single guest needs to feel part of the Ndlovu tribe, part of the herd. That is what ensures you never take people for granted. Everyone matters.”
Beks in his guiding days, circa 2000, before his African Bush Camps journey began
Nature as Our Teacher
The company’s elephant logo serves as a constant reminder of the wisdom drawn from the natural world. “Interaction with the herd, and with others around you, is critical for survival and strength. The rhythm, or energy, you create around the tribe, the clan, the business, that is what gives you force.”
These observations have significantly influenced how African Bush Camps approaches leadership and collaboration. Lessons from the wild continue to shape the way teams work together and support one another. “Wild dogs coordinate hunts, lions succeed together. All of these speak to timing, bonds, energy, and rhythm. These are natural elements that are critical not only to survival in the wild, but also in the commercial and human world.”
A pair of elephants near Thorntree River Lodge, Mosi-oa-Tunya – the living symbol of African Bush Camps
Wisdom Gained and Shared
African Bush Camps’ journey has been shaped by a combination of traditional wisdom and real-world experience. “There is an African proverb: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ At one stage, we needed to go fast, but lessons were learned. Dropping detail, either administratively or strategically, caused pain in the early days. When I was able to grow a team and take others with me, it safeguarded the essence of the business. We had to realize that very quickly.”
This mindset continues to influence the company’s commitment to community-driven initiatives. A focus on coexistence and sustainability has delivered meaningful results on the ground. “Creating initiatives around peaceful human-wildlife coexistence has been incredibly rewarding. Seeing community members no longer struggle with predators, and instead achieving better crop yields and livelihoods, is powerful. These observations continue to make me ask: what more can we do?”
Celebrating Life, Locally: TALA Gin
Marking twenty years of safari, TALA Gin is African Bush Camps’ own small-batch spirit, crafted to capture the scent, soul, and stories of a southern African journey.
Named from the Setswana word for blue and green, the colors of the Okavango Delta, TALA is distilled in partnership with Cape Craft Lab from botanicals hand-foraged just a few miles from African Bush Camps experiences: wild sage, wild basil, African juniper, and jackalberry. Each one chosen to reflect the terrain, the traditions, and the soul of the African bush.
“For me, TALA is about celebration. As the sun sets, it is a salute to the day, to the people around you, and to the land beneath your feet. I hope it becomes part of the essence of who we are: celebrating life, each other, and nature, with intention.” says Beks.
The wait is almost over. TALA Gin will soon be available exclusively across all African Bush Camps Experiences.
Tala Gin, infused with wild sage foraged from the landscapes of African Bush Camps
The Next Chapter: Linyanti Legodimo
Looking ahead, Beks speaks with quiet conviction about stewardship. “When we invest resources into building a camp or operating in an area, we recognize the power of service, giving back as much as we receive.” This giving back takes shape in real, tangible ways: through job creation for local communities, active conservation efforts, and community development programmes supported by the African Bush Camps Foundation.
This philosophy finds its fullest expression yet in Linyanti Legodimo, African Bush Camps’ most anticipated Icon Experience. Set in the Linyanti Reserve, Botswana, it promises refined luxury, incredible privacy, and elevated experiences, without ever losing sight of the authenticity that has always defined the brand.
“We offer experiences, and that is what stays with people, what defines the African Bush Camps offering. This all connects, even to the gin, and it is something I am very excited about.”
Vision for African Bush Camps and the African Bush Camps Foundation
Through the African Bush Camps Foundation, Beks envisions thriving communities across interconnected landscapes. “How do we connect these important landscapes through the areas we operate in? And how do they positively impact communities so they can thrive? That is how you build a lasting legacy.”
Over 20 years, Beks has transformed the idea of a safari into a force for change: empowering communities, conserving wildlife, and shaping the future of Southern Africa’s incredible landscapes. Asked to describe the next two decades in terms of feeling rather than strategy, Beks chooses flourishing. “It is important to focus on depth; of experience, of offering, of reward. Not just for the business, but for our teams, our communities, and nature. If we achieve that, we are truly living the idea of flourishing, which connects deeply to my sense of eudaimonia.”
The next 20 years are unwritten. How will African Bush Camps continue to redefine what a safari experience can be? The world is waiting to find out.