C.L.A.Ws – Communities Living Amongst Wildlife
A Conservation Story from Botswana
How Your Safari Helps Protect Lions and Communities in Botswana
At Tett Safaris, one of the most rewarding parts of what we do is supporting on-the-ground conservation that changes lives—not only for wildlife, but also for the people who share the landscape with them. Each year, through our partnership with the Wilderness Trust, we contribute to a number of critical projects across Africa. One of the most inspiring is CLAWS, a community–conservation initiative operating in the northeastern Panhandle of Botswana.
A Landscape Shared
Human–wildlife coexistence is not just an ideal—it is a daily reality for many rural communities living alongside lions. Livestock is central to livelihoods in this region, and for many years communities faced devastating losses as lions preyed on cattle. Conflict often resulted in retaliatory poisoning, which caused widespread loss of not only lions but leopards, hyenas, vultures, and other key species.
CLAWS—short for Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainably—was formed in 2014 to break this cycle, supporting both people and wildlife through knowledge, practical tools, and community empowerment.
Research That Drove Real Change
One of the first breakthroughs came from CLAWS’ research program, which set out to understand how conflict was occurring and why. By tracking lions and collecting data, the team could clearly identify patterns in movement and conflict hotspots. This insight allowed CLAWS to go beyond treating symptoms and instead develop long-term solutions that benefit everyone involved.
Traditional Herding, Modern Impact
One of those solutions is surprisingly simple—and deeply rooted in tradition. CLAWS launched a structured herding program that keeps cattle grouped in mobile, predator-proof bomas at night. While herding has been practiced for generations, organizing it consistently has led to remarkable results:
Cattle are better protected, meaning fewer losses to predators.
Communities no longer resort to retaliatory killings.
Soil health improves. By concentrating cattle at night and rotating bomas, nutrients are returned to the land, helping degraded grasslands recover and become more productive.
Youth see value in herding again, because it now has clear economic benefits.
Healthier cattle can also enter the commercial beef market—something many rural farmers previously did not have access to. Wilderness helps by purchasing beef directly from participating farmers, creating a sustainable financial incentive for coexistence.
Technology Working on the Front Lines
Of course, even with good herding practices, lions and cattle still come into contact. To reduce these encounters, CLAWS operates a highly trained Lion Response Team funded by partners like the Wilderness Trust. Lions are fitted with GPS collars that transmit locations every two hours. When a lion approaches a village or cattle area, the team can respond quickly—using non-lethal methods to push lions away before conflict happens.
The result is proactive conservation: keeping wildlife wild, cattle safe, and families secure.
The Role You Play Just by Traveling
This project is just one example of how travelers help fuel long-term, game-changing conservation. A portion of the revenue from every safari booked through Tett Safaris goes to support the Wilderness Trust and its portfolio of programs—from community education and wildlife protection to research and habitat restoration.
For many guests, visiting a project like CLAWS in person is transformative. Meeting the people behind the work, seeing the restored grasslands, and understanding the complexity of coexistence brings conservation to life in a powerful way.
Travel With Purpose
When you choose to travel with Tett Safaris, you’re not just experiencing Africa—you are actively helping protect it. Together with our partners, we are proud to be part of conservation that:
Strengthens communities
Protects wildlife
Restores ecosystems
Creates long-term, locally-driven solutions
CLAWS is a shining example of how thoughtful collaboration can turn conflict into opportunity. And it’s only possible because of travelers like you.
Ready to plan a safari with purpose?