The Action:

THE WILDERNESS FOUNDATION CONCEPT BEGAN IN 1958. It has a basic belief -- that wilderness is the foundation upon which our society exists. Therefore wild areas must be protected, sustained, and championed in whatever way is necessary, to assure that we do not lose that foundation. In South Africa we use the term "advocacy" to describe this sort of conservation lobbying and action.

We work with a wide range of volunteers and professionals from all sectors -the public, politics, business, academia, and the arts - to coordinate and concentrate our energies on key, strategic struggles to save wilderness values for the well-being of all people now and in the future. We work in game reserves, national parks, and private wildlands.

For example, with our allies we saved the inestimable Lake St Lucia from mining, and it has become our nation's first World Heritage Area. We are few in number and very modest in resources…but our mission is clear, our spirit is strong, and the work is plentiful! -Ian Player

Ian Player and (the late)
Magguba Ntombela

The founder:

Ian Player is a man of many reasons. for wilderness. African Game Ranger, international diplomat, writer, lecturer, wilderness guide, and a man of culture, the arts and psychology -he brings it all to bear on a single mission: to assure that wilderness remains a constant reality, and a source of spiritual inspiration, prosperity and fundamental physical life on planet Earth. Is there anything left to be said?

His friend, mentor, father-and- brother figure for forty years was Qumbu Magqubu Ntombela, the Zulu chief and game guard whose knowledge, dignity and humanity helped Ian found The Wilderness Leadership School, The WILD Foundation, World Wilderness Congress, Wilderness Foundation (South Africa), Wilderness Trust (UK), and more. Together, they inspired countless individuals, and walked more kilometers in the wilder-ness than the rest of us can even imagine. Ian continues the work today.

For more information:
info@sa.wild.org