Will Bolsover

CEO & Founder, Natural World Safaris

I originally met Will Bolsover through the travel writer Sophy Roberts, when we worked together on an epic story on the Kamchatka Peninsula for Condé Nast Traveler, for which the logistics at the far eastern edge of Russia were the trickiest I have ever experienced as an editor. Since then, I have come to know Will as a super rigorous, conscientious and creative planner of nature-focused tourism around the globe, which isn’t an easy feat, given that you can’t just arrange for a Siberian tiger or Silverback gorilla to march across your path. I was eager to hear more about his MO!  —AP

Tell us about you and your company.

Setting up the company 17 years ago off the back of my degree in French and African and Asian Studies, I moved into the world of travel. First off, we set up World Primate Safaris, then brought on World Big Cat Safaris, then bears…and then realized this is too complicated, so moved it all under Natural World Safaris! We utilize the safari concept in over 40 destinations worldwide, putting our clients in the right place at the right time in order to maximize their travel experience.

What’s the entry level to talk to you? 

Our trips are based at around USD $20-25,000 per trip or around USD$10,000 per person. In general, they are approximately 12 days in length with the majority of our trips being bespoke but with a niche selection of small group and specialist led trips.

What is the sweet spot of your expertise?

As a travel outfitter, we fill the gap between a tour operator and a DMC. We excel in the stranger corners of the globe, whether that be Madagascar, Svalbard (where we run our own small ships catering to only 12 clients on each departure), tigers in India or pumas or jaguars in Chile and Brazil (amongst many others!). Our sweet spot is truly searching out unique product that often other operators do not offer, and then providing access to this niche in a small intimate format for the benefit of clients and all involved.

A favorite experience/trip you’ve planned that best represents your travel philosophy…

Svalbard – this is where we run our own small ship(s), taking only 12 clients at any one time. This promotes minimal impact on the environment and a truly unique experience for our clients being able to access hidden corners of the polar north that few others can. Most people think small ships are 50 clients, we take 12. A truly intimate experience with 2 expedition leaders catering to your every need and on our specialist led departures, a dedicated global photographic leader as well.

Exploring the high Arctic north aboard our 12-passenger expedition ship is a trip like no other. Nine days aboard the cozy Kinfish puts you in the far reaching corners of the polar north to experience an icy wilderness with glaciers calving, Arctic fox bouncing across the icy plains, polar bears on the hunt for unsuspecting seals and hot toddies to finish off each day. Twenty-four hours of surreal Arctic sunlight make for a truly unique trip, as days blur into night and you can be called out to see the next wildlife adrenaline hit at any time of day or night. For those needing to burn off a bit more energy, walk the tundra-scapes (in company of your expedition leader of course), wake up with a polar plunge, or climb the lookout tower for the ultimate icy view.

A favorite hotel you love and go back to again and again…

Masoala Forest Lodge – the only property standing in the last remaining primary rainforest of Madagascar affords a true sense of adventure. Huge ebony and rosewood trees disappearing into the forest canopy, red-ruffed lemurs, leaf-tailed geckos on the nearby Nosy Mangabe, or humpback whales in the season breaching through the bay. Explore the wild coastline, walk the forests, or soak up the forest views from your beach side hut. I also love Zarafa Camp in Botswana and Ellerman House in Cape Town.

The most memorable meal you’ve had while traveling…

Crickets on the side of the road in Uganda late at night with the nets out and lights beaming into the night sky to collect unsuspecting cricket-esque beings!

A not-to-be-missed favorite experience (or two) in your region of expertise…

Tracking mountain gorillas in either Uganda or Rwanda, or lowland gorillas in the Republic of Congo.

Standing on the front deck of our polar ship in the midnight sun. Quiet and surreal with the chance of a polar bear appearing from your white surrounds…

Underrated location, overrated location, personal favorite, recent discovery?

Underrated location – Madagascar! Never on the front cover of those glossy magazines, people are scared of Madagascar and what it represents, when in fact it is exactly the opposite. The fourth largest island in the world, endemicity like no other, a warm and welcoming people, wildlife, beaches, cultural conundrums and more. If you want something to educate and inspire, then look no further.

Overrated location – I struggle to think of an overrated destination as I would like to think that when it comes to travel I can find something of interest in most places I visit.

Personal favorite – Congo and Central African Republic (CAR). Lowland gorillas, forest bais, leading conservation efforts and some truly pristine wilderness rainforest in the heart of Africa. Hands-down the best lowland gorilla tracking project. Then moving north into CAR you come across the mind-blowing Dzangha Bai, where forest elephants congregate—up to a hundred at any one time—to excavate the mineral-rich soils.

Recent discovery – Putting aside recent politics, it has to be the far reaches of Russia. Whether it be the volcanic heartland of Kamchatka or tracking the largest feline predator left on our planet—the Siberian tiger—in the tundra of the East, this brutal land has a lot to offer.

The one thing you always pack…

Camera…or phone as that incorporates a more than suitable camera these days! And a Leatherman.

What is something you wished we all knew or were better at as travelers?

I wish we all knew how to structure an industry with less impact on the environment. Nobody knows how yet…but we need to keep trying.

How do you want people to reach out to you?

Instagram @willbolsover or @portraitsonhumanity and through the Natural World Safaris website.