Africa gives us extraordinary experiences
Africa welcomes us into unfamiliar worlds and often sends us home different.
Through Hearten Africa, we help support the wildlife, wild places and communities that make those journeys possible.
It’s our conservation and community-giving programme, and a practical part of our commitment to making a difference,
one safari at a time.
Why Hearten Africa?
To hearten means to give courage, confidence and hope.
It felt like the right name for something so close to our hearts. Over the years, our journeys have introduced us to people doing remarkable work: protecting wildlife, caring for their communities and finding practical solutions to environmental challenges.
Hearten Africa brings our support for that work together. It also gives our guests a way to connect with a cause that matters to them, long after the safari ends.
Conservation led travel
How your safari contributes
Every safari includes a AUD20 contribution per person, which Encompass Africa matches.
These contributions are brought together and allocated annually to our selected conservation and community organisations. You can nominate a recipient from our current giving list, connecting your contribution with work you care about.
We keep that list focused so we can build meaningful relationships and better understand the work we support.
Choosing who we support
Because it matters.
We look at an organisation’s work, the integrity of its approach, and its relationship with the communities around it.
Personal visits and trusted relationships on the ground help us understand the people behind that work. We value open conversations about achievements, challenges and what support is most useful.
Our giving list is reviewed annually. If you’d like to learn more about a partner or how we allocate your contribution, please ask. We’re always happy to talk it through.
Our 2026 giving partners
Different places, different challenges and people committed to making a difference.
These are the organisations on our 2026/7 Hearten Africa giving list.
Keep the connection going
For many guests, coming home is only the beginning of their connection with Africa. Sharing your stories can inspire family and friends to experience it for themselves.
Our Refer and Reward programme is our way of thanking you for those introductions. When someone you refer books and travels with Encompass Africa, we donate AUD100 to an organisation you choose from our current Hearten Africa giving list.
This is an additional donation from Encompass Africa, alongside our matched safari contributions.
How it works
1. Share your experience
Recommend Encompass Africa to family or friends who are dreaming of their own journey to Africa. Ask them to mention your name when they first enquire, so we can connect their introduction with you.
2. Choose your cause
Once they have booked, we’ll get in touch so you can nominate an organisation from our current Hearten Africa giving list to receive the AUD100 donation.
3. We make the donation
Referral donations are brought together and paid to the selected organisations at the end of the year.
Your recommendation helps someone else begin their journey to Africa while bringing more support to work we care about together.
Have someone in mind, or a question about how it works? We’d love to hear from you.
Want to get a little closer?
You might want to learn about a conservation project, make an additional donation or explore a suitable opportunity along your safari route.
Tell us what interests you. We can help you understand the options with our local partners, guided by what the organisation needs and welcomes.
You can also explore our conservation stories or download the Hearten Africa ebook to meet the people behind the work.
Explore conservation stories Download Hearten Africa ebook
“Look up and not down;
look out and not in;
look forward and not back,
and lend a hand.”
– Author and historian, Edward Everett Hale