Meet The Team
For Rangers Adventures was built to create expert-planned safari adventures for passionate clients. What sets us apart? Well, other than the level we go to ensure your safari is perfect for you, we also use 40% of our annual net profit to provide vital support to the rangers protecting Africa's wildlife.
Our founders Sam and Charlie have been involved in tourism for over 10 years - both in the UK and in Africa and play a role in planning every one of our safaris. At our core, conservation and tourism form a symbiosis - neither able to survive without the other. Your next adventure has the power to make a real difference. Whether you want to be involved in conservation while away or simply travel knowing the profit being made is used responsibly, travel with For Rangers Adventures and safari with purpose...
Charlie Potter (Managing Director of For Rangers Adventures)
- Safari Specialist & Wildlife Photographer
1. How did For Rangers Adventures start?
As a concept, the idea of For Rangers Adventures was formulated whilst working for other travel companies in London. From within the travel industry, I developed a growing belief that as an industry we could and should create a more cyclical form of tourism. If we don't, conservation will always be reliant on charitable donations – as fantastic and generous as it is, it has never been enough to see change.
For Rangers was the perfect initiative to combine with a travel operation. It empowers local people as well as improves the security for vulnerable species. These are two of our fundamental ‘pillars of conservation'. Nearly, three years and one pandemic later the concept and partnership are growing ever stronger.
2. What do you think is the biggest difference between For Rangers Adventures compared to other travel businesses?
There are lots but the most notable difference of course is that we’re turning the power of tourism into a tool that protects wildlife and wild places. I’m not sure any travel business in the world is doing what we’re doing at the moment to the same extent. It excites me that every booking made with us results in a greater positive impact than ever before.
3. What is one thing everyone should know about For Rangers Adventures?
Well before For Rangers expanded into the travel industry it began as a group of like-minded friends going on amazing adventures to raise support and awareness for Africa’s rangers. We very much intend to keep that at our core. We’ll never make the adventures we create about sales statistics and targets, it will always be about developing relationships and creating adventures based on personal understanding and trust.
4. What is the most important part of your job?
Taking the time to listen and understand what excites people and what people are looking for from their adventure – every traveller is different and it’s my job to listen and understand each individual before creating an adventure that will mean something to them well after they’ve returned.
5. What’s your favourite part of designing safari adventures?
Recommending something a client didn’t know was possible and getting an excited Whatsapp with pictures of it while they’re away. We’ve had some awesome examples of that, from walking with rangers and wild rhino to going for a run with marathon world-record holder and Olympic gold medallist, Eliud Kipchoge.
6. What advice would you give to someone thinking of going on safari?
The natural world is dwindling and we’re so privileged to be on earth while there are still enough pristine expanses of it to go and explore! Make the most of it (and do so responsibly).
7. One safari memory you will never forget?
One of my earliest childhood memories is sitting on my Dad’s lap behind the wheel of his car driving through the Kruger National Park in South Africa. He passed away when I was 22 and I feel so grateful to have those memories with him. I've had so many great wildlife encounters, too many to pick one 'stand-out' moment, so I’ll go with that memory with my Dad.
8. Where is your favourite place to go on a safari?
Far too many to pick a definitive favourite – everywhere has its own unique special charm and there are many places that I love. For this, I’ll say the Borana Conservancy though. It was the birthplace of For Rangers and where my adult safari life started. Wildlife on the conservancy is absolutely incredible (some of the best I’ve ever experienced) and there are amazing ways to spend your days for people of all ages.
9. Is there anywhere on your bucket list?
I’m still yet to do the For Rangers Ultra-Marathon, it has to be that!
Sam Taylor (Co-Founder For Rangers)
- Conservationist & Adventurer
1. Why was it necessary to start For Rangers?
ForRangers was started because we found there was an appetite for donors to support “sexy” capex and wildlife intervention initiatives, but BASIC welfare of the rangers was less easy to raise funds for - socks, warm clothing decent kit housing etc. We wanted to establish and demonstrate the link between looking after the men and women who support our wilderness and the effectiveness of conservation initiatives. We felt that it was important that people understood how challenging the selfless role of protecting wildlife is.
2. Personally, what has been the most rewarding part of founding the For Rangers campaign?
I think the most rewarding part of the ForRangers campaign is the realisation by the rangers that people care - people from all over the world, from different walks of life are not only interested, but invested in the work they do.
3. What has been your most memorable safari experience?
I think my most memorable safari experience has been having a honey badger try and “take down” a Landrover 101 unimog. We had been casually looking at a pride of lazy lions , and suddenly this tiny maniac sprang out of the bushes and started attacking the tyres!
4. Why are rangers important if we are to protect Africa’s wildlife?
Rangers represent the human link. Philosophically, in a world that we as humans are systematically destroying environmentally, they represent the front line of the human efforts to reverse this. Technology will have a role, and already does, but the impact of people going through hardship to protect our wilderness sends a very powerful message.
5. What lessons have you taken from working so closely with rangers?
That the more that is invested in them (not necessarily just monetarily) the more devoted they become to their responsibilities. Giving them ownership of their task has seen greater effectiveness.
6. In your opinion, does the tourism industry need to adapt to better support the protection of wild animals and wild places?
Absolutely. Conservation is propped up by donor funding. It shouldn’t be. The only reason many protected areas are unsustainably reliant on donor funding, is because the absolute bare minimum gets put in by environmentally aligned commerce. Conservation fees make up perhaps 5% of someones travel expenditure. To put in some context, if farmers put 5% of their revenues back into the land they till, their farm would collapse. The same is true of our protected areas. The safari tourism industry does not reinvest in the resource that makes all its money. Its an exploitative short-term business model, which is disgraceful, and quite frankly, unsustainable for their own industry!
7. How are funds raised by a For Rangers Adventures used to support rangers?
Above and beyond conservation fees, and specially chosen environmentally sustainable destinations, 40% of all margins go back into the ForRangers charity.
8. One piece of advice you’d give someone thinking about going on safari?
Appreciate it. its a special privilege to see the African Wilderness. I have lived here all my life and every day is unique and exciting.
9. What adventures do you have on your bucket list?
Too many. K2 one day?? My wife wont appreciate it!
10. Something you think everyone should try once?
Getting on a horse in the african bush!