Christopher William Rightford

On completing a B.Soc.Sci degree, Chris Rightford was employed as a Client Services Manager and Marketing Strategic Planner at Ogilvy and Mather, Rightford (Advertising Agency) from 1987 – 1993, gaining tremendous experience and knowledge about the marketing and advertising industry before following a passion and going to work in the Mpumalanga lowveld. Chris was employed by Sabi Sabi from December 1993 – February 1996, as a ranger/guide and went on to manage Selati Lodge for a year, before returning to Bush Lodge where he was Head Ranger for a further six months.

On leaving Sabi Sabi in 1996 Chris started The Nature Workshop and completed a post-graduate Diploma in Environmental Sciences at the University of Cape Town. The Nature Workshop is now in its eleventh year of operation, consulting to lodges across Southern African. In 2004 The Nature Workshop created two separate underlying businesses, TNW Lodges to focus on lodge development, lodge management and lodge marketing as well as TNW Travel Company to focus on the Tour Operator side of the business. The past three years have seen Chris develop two ‘Community Lodges’ in Madikwe Game Reserve. The community-based ecotourism model has been an integral part of the company philosophy since inception and is now starting to be recognised as such within the broader tourism community.

Chris’ passion lies in the continued growth and development of the eco tourism industry with a key objective being to expand and protect prime wilderness and conservation areas and preserve them for future generations. As such there is a need to give local communities a reason to protect their natural heritage.

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