Wildlife conservationists Will and Carol Fox relocated to South Africa in 2004 to work in Leopard research. Over the following years they lived in the African bush developing their understanding of African wildlife especially big cat conservation. Will has led hundreds of safaris in Africa and elsewhere, and has appeared in, directed and managed TV documentaries and hundreds of hours of LIVE TV shows from Africa. Probably his biggest contributions to big cat conservation has been in capturing big cats for research projects or to relocate cats that were in danger. This work has resulted in a greater understanding of Leopard and Lion behaviour as well as saving the lives of countless big cats.
Carol and Will created On Track Safaris in 2007 with two aims: First to offer a unique and fresh safari experience that went beyond the run of the mill safaris on offer elsewhere. But also (and as importantly), to help fund their work in conservation.
As Will says, “Conservation and tourism must work hand in hand. If we don’t conserve wildlife now, there will be nothing for tourists to see in the future. The reality is that conservation must be sustainable and that’s where tourism funding comes in. It’s a privilege for Carol and I to be able to enable our guests the opportunity to enjoy our unique wildlife safaris, while at the same time contributing towards wildlife conservation”.
Their contribution to wildlife conservation continues through the On Track Foundation will new projects pushing the boundaries of big cat research.

Here is their story
Will and Carol are originally from North Yorkshire where they met and married in 1982. Over the next twenty years they raised a family and spent every spare moment in the English countryside, where they were hands-on managing many wildlife and habitat programs.
Family is very important to the couple and so their dream of working with wildlife on other continents was put on hold until their daughter was older. For the time being their involvement in Africa was limited to short visits assisting conservation projects. However, a chance meeting on one such trip in 2003 saw them quitting finally moving to South Africa.
By sheer serendipity they happened to briefly meet the then Manager of the INGWE Leopard Project. It was while hearing about the issues facing Leopards that a desire to make a bigger contribution to wildlife conservation was re-ignited. As Carol says “a light came on, and we knew that our next adventure would be working to conserve Leopards”.

Moving to Africa to join the INGWE Leopard researchers wasn’t without its challenges. But Will and Carol threw themselves into those challenges, which took them from rookie researcher’s living in a remote cottage in the bush to becoming managers of the reborn INGWE Leopard Research program. The managerial skills that they employed in their early carriers, coupled with the new skills they learned after years living in the African bush, combined to enable them to make a significant contribution to wildlife conservation.
Along the way they founded the Leutla Conservancy (a protected area of like-minded landowners), they were instrumental in creating Kudu Private Nature Reserve in 2012 (the first such protected area to be demarcated since 1994), rebuilt rural schools and formed a South African non-profit organisation Protecting African Wildlife (PAW) Conservation Trust. Will was the founding Chairman of PAW, and together Will and Carol steered PAW to become an established contributor to wildlife conservation and community education.

Serendipity again played its part, when Will and Carol met master wildlife trapper Dairen Simpson from the USA, who has since become a close friend. From 2007, over a five year period Will trained with Dairen catching and releasing Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and Hyena for conservation projects. Will learned the intricate and often-subtle field craft, techniques and understanding of animal behaviour needed to capture and work with large predators (either to relocate an endangered animal or for researchers to fit a tracking collar). After years of training alongside Dairen, Will was able to work independently, especially with Leopards and Hyena and is invited to assist with big cat projects worldwide, but he still manages to fit in the odd trapping expedition somewhere in the world with his old friend. As he says, “You’re always learning”!

In all aspects of their life, Will and Carol are involved with wildlife. Leopard conservation, is at the very heart of what they do. They are also passionate about wildlife education and telling the real story from the African bush.
In 2010 they invested in, and Will became a Director of, WildEarth Media, producing LIVE wildlife safari TV shows from the African bush. They have also appeared in several wildlife documentaries and Will has directed many of WildEarth’s TV shows, broadcasting LIVE to viewers around the world and especially in North America with the National Geographic channel.

From their first days with the INGWE project it was very evident to Will and Carol that funding conservation required a fresh approach. During what they now call their first careers Will and Carol had gained significant experience in project management and accountancy and knew things needed to evolve and change.
And so, in 2007, they formed On Track Safaris, not only to raise funds for their work in conservation, but as importantly, to offer their guests a unique and immersive safari. Their aim was to create a safari experience that weaves together all the elements one expects from a safari with a modern twist, offering a real insight into real wildlife conservation. Each itinerary is hand picked by Will and Carol and each safari is (in reality), the safari they would take themselves. Since its inception OTS has developed and grown in standing to become a leader in wildlife safaris. Carol was present at the World Responsible Travel awards in London when they were awarded for their work in wildlife conservation. Will is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a visiting Research Fellow with Reading University and often lectures on wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism.
In 2014 they created the On Track Foundation, a UK charity that receives the net profits from On Track Safaris and under the management of its board of trustees funds wildlife conservation and education programs in Africa and India.
The future looks bright for On Track Safaris and for their work in conservation.

As each element that they are involved in grows and develops, new people are joining their team, bringing fresh ideas but always remaining true to Will and Carols ethos, or better put, staying On Track!