Wilderness Holdings is a conservation tourism pioneer with a history stemming back to Botswana in 1983. The group is the holding company for ecotourism brands Wilderness Safaris and Wilderness Collection, which collectively own a portfolio of 45 safari camps and lodges and 10 overland safaris, in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, the DRC, Rwanda, Seychelles, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The group operates on almost three million hectares of wilderness reserves. Complementary services include fully-guided journeys and air charters and transfers.

Today Wilderness Holdings employs around 2 600 staff and hosts approximately 35 000 guests from around the world. Wilderness Holdings shares have been available to buy on the Botswana Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) since 2010. Financial data is reported in Botswana Pula (P). The group has a JSE market cap of R1.5 billion and recorded revenue of R935 million in 2016.

Wilderness has driven growth through a model of providing extraordinary safari experiences in pure wilderness areas, with support from mainly international tourists through the travel trade. The three most important drivers of performance are occupancy rates, rates achieved in source currency and currency rate of exchange.

The group’s financial performance has been impacted by the lingering impacts of the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and global economic uncertainty which has constrained consumer spending. Overall, occupancy in 2016 decreased from 63% to 58%, but a favourable exchange rate (as rates for guests are quoted in US Dollars) cushioned the fall in revenue to just 1%. Profit before tax increased by 11% to P120 million.

Recent key developments for the group include an expansion into Rwanda, where the company has forecast high demand for gorilla safaris. In addition, an equity agreement with the Governors’ Camp Collection has given Wilderness further reach into East Africa and allowed for a mutually-beneficial partnership that offers good opportunities for growth. In order to maximise returns in a difficult economic environment, Wilderness put several management and marketing contracts for lodges up for sale, in order to focus resources and capital on owned assets. A new lodge, the Linkwashe Camp in Hwange National Park, was opened in Zimbabwe, with the idea of capitalising on tourism growth from the new International Victoria Falls Airport.

Several other new camps opened over the past few years have been met with good demand from clients, while Wilderness has decided to buy into expanding its product offerings through new experiences and lodges being introduced in the near-term.

Wilderness shares may not appeal to investors at present, as the company largely targets the luxury market, particularly in the United States. Economic uncertainty has
constrained consumer spending, which could well result in lower occupancy rates. However, the live online JSE stocks chart shows that Wilderness share price has risen strongly over the past few years, as weakening local currencies boost profits. This continues to make Wilderness shares a worthwhile buy.

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We have made it simple to buy JSE listed firm shares online. The easiest way to buy Wilderness Group shares or stocks is to; start by submitting the ‘BUY THIS SHARE’ form. Next, one of our experienced and certified stock brokers will personally get in contact with you to discuss your custom stock request. Finally, a stock advisor will confirm the amount of shares you are looking to invest in Wilderness Holdings and assist you with the setup and management of your stock portfolio account.

1. Start by Filling in the BUY THIS SHARE form.
2. Insert your name, email, telephone number and monthly remuneration.
3. Then, Indicate the amount you are looking to invest in Wilderness.
4. Click the “ INVEST NOW” button
5. Once we have received your info, a dedicated stock advisor will personally call you back to discuss your personal share request.
6. Lastly, your newly appointed personal stock advisor will handle all account setups and reporting as stipulated by the financial services board of South Africa (FSB)

Buying JSE shares has never been this convenient and easy. #myfirstshare

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