WFA

A brief history

The vision for Wilderness Foundation Africa (WFA) was conceived in the wilderness area of Imfolozi in the late 1960’s by participants of Wilderness Leadership School trails.
Being moved by the transformative experience of a wilderness trail, they convinced Dr Ian Player to establish an organisation that would champion both the protection and creation of wilderness areas. An organisation was needed to create public awareness of the importance of wilderness and to advocate against ongoing threats to protected areas from issues such as de-proclamation and coal mining.

WFA was officially registered as a non-profit organisation in late 1972. Dr Andrew Muir took over the organisation from Ian Player in 2000. WFA has become a recognised African-based conservation organisation that protects and sustains landscapes through its agile and innovative approach to conservation, with the work receiving a Rolex Laureate award for enterprise in 2008. Whether it is landscape wilderness management, developing young leaders from disadvantaged communities, direct action anti-poaching, advocacy at a government level or the incubation of emerging non-profit organisations, Wilderness Foundation Africa focuses its sustainable fifty year experience on lasting impacts.