Decades of Travel Experience
A Timeline of Far & Wild
2018 – BEN STARTS THE COMPANY AND HITS THE GROUND RUNNING
Far & Wild founder Ben starts the company after a successful 10 years running one of the UK’s leading Africa specialists. He envisions Far & Wild to be a bit different from your ‘standard’ travel company by having more of a community dimension. Ben wants Far & Wild holidays to focus on people and experiences, not just big brands and standard itineraries.
A small Far & Wild team is recruited and hit the ground running, focusing mainly on Africa and turning over £2m (about 200 holidays) in their first year, all from a cosy Lake District office.
2020 – LANDS END TO JOHN O’ GROATS… THE COVID YEARS
The COVID-19 virus shuts down international travel, hitting the travel industry very hard. It also has a huge detrimental impact on conservation funding in the worlds wildest places.
Feeling the need to take action and staying true to their founding principles of being part of the wider global community, Ben & Ali create an industry-wide fundraising initiative called Ride 4 Rangers. A small team cycle from Lands End to John O’ Groats to raise money for the African Rangers protecting the worlds most endangered wildlife. The initiative is well received and supported by more than 70 travel companies as well as big brands like Land Rover. It’s featured on the BBC and in The Telegraph, wins the ‘Sustainability Award’ from Out There Magazine and raises $500,000 for conservation.
2019 – LONDON OFFICE OPENS AND BEN LEADS WORLD-FIRST EXPEDITION ABOARD ‘THE FLIPFLOPI’
Far & Wild opens a London office (in Clapham) and grows to a team of six led by Ali Walls (our current Managing Director) who joins the company following a distinguished career at Abercrombie & Kent, Imagine Travel, Scott Dunn & Exodus Travel.
Later that year, Ben leads a 10-day expedition from Kenya to Zanzibar aboard the world’s first boat made entirely from recycled ocean plastic. The FlipFlopi project makes global headlines!
Get in touch if you’d like to join him on the next one!
2020 – THE FIRST CHAPTER FOR WILDER GUIDES
Ben & Ali launch an independent guidebook series called Wilder Guides, designed for readers looking to make sustainable travel choices.
The very first guide, ‘Namibia’, written by Ali, hits the shelves. It’s soon followed by ‘Kenya’, written by Ben. Both receive excellent reviews.
Wilder Guides can be purchased from specialist travel bookshops or online here.
2021 – CARBON SCORING TOOL BREAKS NEW GROUND
Far & Wild commission Charlie Cotton of ecollective to help create a bespoke carbon scoring framework for tailormade holidays. The concept was pioneering at the time of its creation and variations of the tool were replicated across the sector, putting Far & Wild at the forefront of the sustainable travel movement.
(Our carbon scoring scheme has a 95% adoption rate by customers, with 19 out of 20 travellers choosing to take carbon mitigation action, overseen by our Sustainability Manager)
2023 - SOARING HIGH
Ali leads a world-first attempt to cross the Serengeti by hot air balloon, joined by Far & Wild clients. The intrepid explorers fail by the narrowest of margins but resolve to return in 2024 to try again!
(You can find out how to join the next one here)
Far & Wild acquires The Sustainable Birding Company and starts offering exceptional Birding Tours across Africa and Latin America.
2022 – EXPANDING ACCROSS CONTINENTS… AT SPEED!
An expansion plan is executed, growing the list of possible destinations beyond Africa into Latin America, South East Asia, and Japan. Sao Tome & Principe is also added as a new ‘off-the-beaten-track’ destination.
This significant transition provides loyal customers with more exciting travel opportunities and helps the Far & Wild team return to their pre-COVID size.
2024 - CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING GOALS SCORED
By July 2024 the business is generating around $24,000 each year for charity. The money raised is shared between three non-profits working with communities in the places Far & Wild operate in.
Sustainability Manager, Anna, visits one of these charity partners - Play it Forward - in Zambia. You can read about the trip here.
Read Anna’s latest sustainability report here - coming soon!
And what about the future?
2024 – YOUR HONEYMOON & DESTINATION WEDDING SPECIALISTS
A selection of incredible honeymoon itineraries that combine luxury, romance, and adventure in one unique trip is launched. This runs alongside a dedicated wedding service, offering everything from safari or tropical island destinations to magical city ceremonies.
2025 – ‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME’
A brand new series of trips are launched that truly break new ground. These pioneering journeys offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences for Far & Wild customers, such as visiting very remote places or travelling in unusual style!
As the specialists, each of these trips are led by a Far & Wild team member - an incredible opportunity for everyone!
2026 – ROUND-THE-WORLD SPECIALISTS
The additions of Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, North America, and Central Asia to the offering see Far & Wild operating in every corner of the globe.
Servicing this growing roster of destinations requires a fast-growing team and both junior and experienced destination specialists are recruited in the London office, whilst the Lake District based marketing team continues to grow to support this expansion.
2027–2030 – FAR & WILD GOES GLOBAL
Offices open in Africa, the USA, Latin America and South East Asia. Staff speak over 20 languages and the website is translated into all of them.
Far & Wild are among the leading experts globally in ALL the destinations they feature, and their destination specialists have at least one opportunity to lead a group trip each year.
Sound like a pipedream???
There are no guarantees in life or business, but by sticking to our values and focusing on our mission each day, each week, each month, we are actively taking the steps to realise our biggest ambitions.
The key ingredient is people.
If you share our big dreams, and our values, and want to join us in what will be a Wild adventure, then APPLY NOW.
