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6 days ago
Make a difference to conservation and community empowerment through high-end, impactful tourism. Proudly established in Botswana four decades ago, Wilderness is dedicated to increasing the world’s wilderness, together.
Job Summary
- Employer: WILDERNESS
- Job Type: Full-time
- Location: Gaborone, Botswana
- Category: Hospitality
- Closing Date: 2026-10-16
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and oversee daily camp operations, ensuring adherence to Wilderness standards.
- Drive outstanding guest experiences and maintain service excellence.
- Manage, mentor, and develop camp management teams.
- Oversee recruitment, performance management, and staff welfare.
- Manage budgets, expenditure, procurement, and financial reporting.
- Ensure effective asset management, maintenance, and capital project oversight.
- Promote environmental sustainability, health, safety, and responsible tourism practices.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with concession partners, communities, and stakeholders.
- Host agents, media representatives, and key stakeholders while promoting the Wilderness brand.
Requirements
- Degree or Diploma in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Minimum 10 years’ senior hospitality management experience.
- Proven lodge or safari camp management experience.
- Strong operational, financial, and people management skills.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.
- Guiding experience will be an added advantage.
- Passion for conservation, wildlife, and sustainable tourism.
- Willingness to travel extensively between camps
How to Apply
To apply, please visit: wilderness.simplify.hr
About the Company
Wilderness or wildlands are Earth's natural environments that have not been significantly modified by human activity, or any nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation. The term has traditionally referred to terrestrial environments, though growing attention is being placed on marine wilderness. Recent maps of wilderness suggest it covers roughly one-quarter of Earth's terrestrial surface, but is being rapidly degraded by human activity. Even less wilderness remains in the ocean, with only 13.2% free from intense human activity.
Website: https://www.wildernessdestinations.com/africa/botswana
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications or experience do I need to become a Concession General Management Couple in Botswana's hospitality sector?
Employers typically require a diploma or degree in hospitality management, business administration, or tourism from institutions like BIUST or internationally recognized schools. Couples must demonstrate combined experience in lodge operations, guest relations, and staff supervision, often 5+ years in senior hospitality roles. Wilderness Safaris and similar operators prioritize proven track records in remote camp or concession management.
What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities for a management couple in a Botswana concession?
One partner usually oversees guest experience, marketing, and front-of-house operations while the other manages logistics, maintenance, and staff administration. Daily tasks include coordinating game drive schedules, managing stock and supplies from Maun or Kasane, ensuring compliance with DWNP regulations, and resolving guest concerns. Both partners share responsibility for financial reporting, community liaison, and maintaining the concession's environmental standards.
How does the local work culture in Botswana's hospitality industry affect management couples?
Botswana's hospitality sector values respectful hierarchy, community consultation, and patience in relationship-building with local staff and communities. Management couples are expected to embrace Setswana cultural norms, including formal greetings and participatory decision-making with senior staff. Employers appreciate couples who commit to long-term placements, as high turnover disrupts operations in remote concessions.
What career progression opportunities exist for concession management couples in Botswana?
Successful couples may advance to regional management roles overseeing multiple concessions, or transition into training and development positions with established operators. Some progress to consultancy roles or establish their own hospitality ventures, leveraging Botswana's reputation for high-end eco-tourism. International mobility is also common, with experience in Botswana's premier concessions valued across Southern African lodge operations.
What benefits should I expect when working as a management couple in a Botswana concession?
Employers typically provide shared accommodation on-site, meals, and utilities as part of the package. Standard benefits include medical aid coverage, often through Botswana-based providers like BPOMAS or private schemes, and contributions to the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund or equivalent private arrangements. Annual leave usually ranges from 21-30 days, with rotation schedules allowing periodic off-site breaks given the remote locations.
How do I apply for concession management positions in Botswana, and what do employers prioritize?
Applications are typically submitted directly to operators like Wilderness Safaris, Desert & Delta, or through specialized hospitality recruitment agencies serving Southern Africa. Employers prioritize couples with demonstrable teamwork, crisis management experience, and genuine commitment to conservation and community engagement. Strong references from previous lodge or concession roles, plus willingness to undergo practical assessments, significantly improve your prospects.
