Bridging the Divide: Conservation Safaris with Martin & Antje Meyer
Have you ever wanted to make a tangible difference while travelling ? Finally there is a way to experience a true safari experience while giving back to conservation.
The below text is taken from an international travel journal press release
In the golden light of an African dawn, the distant call of a lion blends with the hum of anticipation. This is not just a game drive. It’s a mission. A moment later, a telemetry receiver crackles into life—somewhere ahead, a collared cheetah stirs. For the select few traveling with Martin Meyer Safaris, this is the heartbeat of a different kind of safari—one that doesn’t just admire the wild, but actively protects it.
Founded by renowned private guide Martin Meyer and conservation strategist Antje Meyer, Martin Meyer Safaris has quietly built a reputation for immersive journeys that go beyond the traditional tourism model. Their Conservation Safaris are a direct response to one of Africa’s most pressing tensions: the gap between the world of high-end tourism and the on-the-ground fight to save its wildlife.
“Tourism and conservation have long walked parallel paths,” Antje explains. “But rarely do they intersect meaningfully. We wanted to change that.” And they have. With decades of experience across Africa—Martin in the bushveld as one of the continent’s most respected field guides, and Antje in conservation, travel and project development—they’ve crafted a safari model that allows guests not just to witness the wild, but to contribute to its survival.
These journeys are not staged or superficial. Guests might find themselves assisting a rhino monitoring team, joining an anti-poaching patrol on a de-snaring sweep, or collecting data alongside scientists working to understand elephant movement patterns. Each itinerary is bespoke, tailored to the guest’s interest and ability, and closely aligned with credible conservation partners across Southern Africa
“People don’t want to be passive anymore,” Martin says. “They want to understand. To feel the weight of what it means to track a lion not just for a photo, but to ensure its future.” The experience is transformational. One day might begin with sunrise telemetry tracking of a wild dog pack, and end around the campfire in conversation with rangers risking their lives daily on the conservation frontlines.
"It's not all about the glitz and the glamour" Martin explains "sometimes we get involved with snare sweeps and alien plant removal - its about meeting the need on the ground."
These safaris are not only about wildlife. Martin and Antje ensure guests also engage with the human stories of conservation—the rural communities adjacent to protected areas, the schoolchildren receiving education through safari-funded projects, the local economies slowly shifting as ecotourism proves its worth. Conservation here is not a spectacle; it’s a complex, fragile, deeply human endeavor.
There is no sense of voyeurism, no “voluntourism” veneer. The Conservation Safaris are respectful, deeply considered, and—perhaps most importantly—honest. Guests leave not only with photographs but with insight, empathy, and the knowledge that their presence has funded real work: fuel for a patrol vehicle, food for a ranger team, equipment for collaring predators, school supplies for a village child.
Each Conservation Safari is tailor-made. Guests might assist in collaring a leopard alongside veterinary teams, monitor rhino movement via GPS and radio telemetry, or walk alongside rangers on a de-snaring patrol through the bush. But beyond the wildlife, these safaris highlight the most critical piece of the conservation puzzle: people.
A powerful and deeply moving example of this comes in the form of a visit to the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve’s K-9 Unit—one of South Africa’s most effective anti-poaching divisions. Hidden deep within the Greater Kruger, this elite team of rangers and specially trained dogs forms a silent frontline against rhino poaching.
For guests on a Martin Meyer Conservation Safari, the visit is unforgettable. There’s no sugar-coating here—just the raw truth of what it takes to protect a species on the brink. Guests meet the handlers, hear the dogs’ origin stories—and witness training demonstrations that reveal the incredible capabilities of these four-legged protectors. From sniffing out ammunition to tracking human scent across vast terrain, these dogs are nothing short of extraordinary.
“These animals save lives,” Martin explains. “Not just rhinos—but human lives too. The bond between a dog and its handler in this context is like nothing else. It’s trust under pressure.”
And that’s the essence of these safaris: trust. Trust between conservationists and guests. Trust that meaningful travel can make a difference. Trust that awareness and action—no matter how small—ripple outward.
Martin and Antje are careful curators of this experience. With decades spent guiding, documenting, and collaborating on wildlife conservation and rural development projects, they offer something rare in the industry: authentic access. Their safaris are not performative.
Evenings are often spent around the fire, reflecting on the day’s events. Conversations meander from rhino horn economics to traditional tracking skills passed down through generations. There’s laughter too, and awe, and the kind of connection that only the African wilderness can ignite. In a time when conservation is too often reduced to hashtags and glossy campaigns, the Meyers offer something real. A Conservation Safari with them is not about fixing Africa—it’s about understanding it. Contributing where you can. And returning home not just changed, but committed.
Martin and Antje’s model works because it’s built on trust—trust earned from decades in the field, and from relationships forged in sweat, dust, and commitment. Their clients, often returning year after year, don’t come for the lodge alone; they come for purpose. For connection. For the opportunity to sit in silence as a rhino calf nurses beside its mother and know that they—through this journey—are part of the reason that moment still exists.
In an era when the wild spaces of Africa grow smaller, and the threats to biodiversity more complex, the Conservation Safaris offered by Martin Meyer Safaris stand as a bold reimagining of what it means to travel. Not as a consumer, but as a contributor. Not just to witness beauty, but to defend it.
Because as Antje often reminds her guests, “The future of Africa’s wild is not only in the hands of rangers and researchers—it’s in the hearts of those who choose to care.”
And care, they do. One unforgettable, life-affirming safari at a time.
Seats on these incredible experiences are limited. These journeys are specifically curated around the needs of reserves on the ground and not on a guest wish-list. We cannot guarantee any experiences as we are working in wilderness areas with wild animals, however we will guide you on the best time of year to travel, and which reserves require assistance.
Book a safari consultation call now, if you want your next journey to touch hearts, and not just yours!
