Giraffes are iconic African animals whose unique grace and towering presence captivate visitors and locals alike. At Thamo Telele (TT) Lodge in Botswana, a dedicated giraffe conservation initiative is creating meaningful impact through research, education, and community engagement. This article explores the vision, programmes, guest experiences, and conservation successes behind this inspiring project.
About the Conservation Team
Katie Ahl and Emma Wells, zoologists and giraffe researchers with Natural Selection Safaris in partnership with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), are the driving force behind the Thamo Telele giraffe conservation programme. They developed the giraffe sundowner activity at the lodge, created the programme’s conservation messaging, and train local guides to run immersive giraffe experiences. Beyond TT, they support research projects like giraffe genetics and help advance giraffe conservation across Botswana.
The Vision Behind Thamo Telele Lodge
The lodge was renamed after a female giraffe born in 2021 named Thamo Telele — which means “long neck” in Setswana. The vision was to develop a unique safari experience focused on an iconic but often overlooked species. Many visitors come to Africa hoping to see elephants, lions, or big cats, but giraffes hold a special place of fascination. TT offers guests a chance to observe giraffes and other wildlife closely without disturbing natural behavior, supported by knowledgeable guides who deepen appreciation of giraffes as individuals and a species.
Long-Term Goals for Giraffe Conservation
Thamo Telele supports and promotes giraffe research and conservation in Botswana. Guests enjoy giraffe interactions at a relaxed pace, learn through guided experiences, and contribute directly—via a portion of their stay fees—to giraffe DNA research and satellite tracking projects. These efforts aim to map giraffe populations and movements across Botswana and neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa, expanding knowledge for better conservation management.
Core Conservation Programmes
Education Programme
Recognizing that many local people have never seen or safely interacted with wildlife like giraffes, the programme partners with WildEntrust’s Coaching Conservation initiative to bring local grade six learners to the lodge. Here, children combine sport and learning to understand wildlife’s importance to their communities and economies.
The lodge also hosts WildShotsots Outreach, which empowers disadvantaged youth through wildlife photography, helping them see their environment from the viewpoint of a tourist and future conservationist. This connection fosters future stewardship and pride in Botswana’s natural heritage.
Guests engage through the giraffe sundowner activity or guided horse rides, enjoying up-close encounters while learning to identify individual giraffes—which each have unique spot patterns and Setswana names—helping to personalize the species and build empathy.
Genetics Programme
In collaboration with GCF and Botswana’s government, researchers are assessing giraffe populations using DNA samples collected through minimally invasive skin collection with drop darts (requiring no anesthesia). This genetic analysis identifies how many giraffes live in public and private lands, differentiates between two subspecies of Southern giraffe, and assesses potential hybridization. The project informs national and regional policy for giraffe management, contributing to continent-wide species assessments.
Guest Experiences: Connecting with Giraffes
Guests at TT can choose their level of interaction with giraffes—from self-guided walks and bike rides to immersive horse rides that place them right within giraffe herds. The highlight is the giraffe sundowner experience at a waterhole, where guests relax under shelter with unobstructed views of giraffes. Each animal’s unique pattern and name are shared through educational materials, creating personalized encounters that deepen understanding and affection.
Impact and Conservation Outcomes
Since 2016, the programme has contributed to numerous conservation and community initiatives through direct guest support. Visitors often express surprise upon learning giraffes face serious threats, deepening their commitment to wildlife conservation. Guests take their newfound knowledge home, spreading awareness about giraffe preservation globally.
DNA research helps Botswana authorities and local communities develop science-based management plans to better protect giraffes’ genetic diversity and habitats. While some research is ongoing, the educational impact on stakeholders fosters a shift toward informed conservation.
Community Engagement: Partnerships Making a Difference
Thamo Telele’s commitment to local upliftment includes supporting Lorato House Rescue Centre in Maun, which cares for vulnerable children. Owned by the lodge’s property founders, Love Botswana Outreach Mission benefits from guest contributions and special charity events like multi-day bike rides through Botswana’s landscapes.
Natural Selection Safaris dedicates 1.5% of every guest stay across their camps to conservation and community projects, demonstrating a holistic approach to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Challenges and Opportunities
Botswana’s giraffe populations face challenges including habitat loss, genetic isolation, human-wildlife conflict, and infrastructure barriers like agriculture and pipelines. Mismanagement due to a lack of subspecies awareness has complicated conservation efforts.
Opportunities lie in expanding research, especially satellite tracking to monitor giraffe movements across borders, and deepening community involvement. TT aims to continue supporting scientific conservation and education to create lasting positive change.
Personal Reflections and Advice
Working closely with a small giraffe herd reveals complex individual personalities and behaviors, enriching conservationists’ understanding. Guests often experience emotional connections during their first giraffe encounters, sparking long-term empathy and care.
Katie and Emma advise other lodges to find conservation projects they are passionate about and engage ethically and seriously, emphasizing the importance of respect and proper care for animals.
They stress the critical role of empathy: “We will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.” Building love and knowledge for giraffes is the foundation for effective, long-term conservation impact.
Thamo Telele Lodge’s giraffe conservation work stands as a shining example of how responsible tourism, scientific research, and community partnerships can combine to protect and celebrate one of Africa’s most magnificent species. Every guest’s stay contributes to a greater cause: ensuring that the gentle giants of Botswana continue to thrive for generations to come.
Join the Conversation
What wildlife or cultural experience inspires your next Botswana safari? Email us at info@bluezebrasafaris.com or comment on LinkedIn, and we’ll feature your ideas in future editions. Ready to craft a wildlife-and-culture-focused adventure? Visit www.bluezebrasafaris.com for tailored itineraries or to book a consultation with our team.
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Stay wild, stay curious, and let’s celebrate Botswana’s wildlife and culture together!
The Blue Zebra Safaris Team
