Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection (ZLLC), the owner brand behind Chichele Presidential, Puku Ridge, Lolebezi and Lolelunga Private Reserve, has announced the appointment of Wesley Hartmann as Wildlife & Conservation Ambassador. The newly created role marks the next steps in Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection’s commitment to placing conservation, education and meaningful connection at the centre of the safari experience.
Bringing together decades of ecological research, conservation leadership, and a lifelong connection to Africa’s wild landscapes, Hartmann will work across the collection to strengthen the relationship between conservation and luxury travel. His role will focus on sharing the stories behind Zambia’s extraordinary wilderness areas, supporting conservation initiatives, engaging with guests and travel partners, and helping create experiences that foster a deeper understanding of Africa’s ecosystems and the vital role tourism plays in protecting them.
Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Hartmann’s passion for wildlife and the natural world began at an early age and has shaped a career dedicated to understanding, restoring, and safeguarding Africa’s wild places. He pursued undergraduate studies in Biology at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, USA, before returning to South Africa to complete an Honours degree in Biodiversity and Ecology at Stellenbosch University. His journey continued to earning a Master’s degree in Applied Conservation Biology through Stellenbosch University, conducting research in Malawi’s Majete Wildlife Reserve.
Hartmann’s research focussed on elephant demography and conservation management, combining field ecology with applied conservation to support evidence-based decision-making. This foundation in scientific research continues to influence his approach today: one that balances ecological understanding with practical solutions designed to protect landscapes, wildlife and communities.
Alongside his conservation career, Hartmann spent several years as a secondary school teacher, helping inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. The experiences bolstered his passion for scientific communication, leadership and developing people – skills that remain central to his work in conservation and his ability to connect complex ecological stories with wider audiences.
Most recently, Wes spent several years with Wilderness Botswana, progressing from Conservation Ecologist to Head of Environmental and Conservation Operations. In this role, he led biodiversity monitoring, environmental compliance and conservation strategy across one of Africa’s most significant wildlife landscapes. Working closely alongside government authorities, researchers, NGOs and local communities, he helped deliver practical conservation outcomes while supporting innovative conservation economy initiatives that demonstrated how thriving ecosystems can create lasting benefits for both wildlife and people.
“Conservation is at the heart of the Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection, and Wesley’s appointment reflects our commitment to creating safari experiences that inspire deeper understanding and connection,” said Jennifer Beattie, Director of Sales & Marketing for ZLLC. “His scientific expertise and passion for storytelling will help bring Zambia’s extraordinary conversation work to life for our guests and partners.”
“Zambia’s wilderness areas are among Africa’s most remarkable, and I am thrilled to join the Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection in sharing stories that make these places so special,” said Wes Hartman, Wildlife & Conservation Ambassador for Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection. “By connecting guests with conservation in a meaningful way, we can inspire a greater appreciation for the places we are working to protect.”
Hartmann’s appointment reinforces ZLLC’s broader conservation vision, which spans habitat respiration, wildlife protection and long-term ecosystem recovery across its portfolio. This commitment is particularly felt at Lolelunga Private Reserve – a pioneering conservation landscape where extensive restoration efforts have transformed, and are transforming, a once-degraded wilderness area into one of Zambia’s most ambitious rewilding projects to date.
In 2026, Lolelunga reached a significant conservation milestone with the return of lions to the ecosystem for the first time in over 15 years. The initiative, undertaken in partnership with Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Ministry of Tourism, represents a landmark step in restoring a fully functioning ecosystem and showcases the Collection’s deep-rooted commitment to supporting progressive conservation solutions.
Through his role as Wildlife & Conservation Ambassador, Hartmann will help bring these stories to life, connecting guests, advisors, and partners with the people, science and conservation initiatives behind some of the country’s most remarkable wilderness experiences.
“Conservation is not separate from safari, rather, it is the reason these places exist,” said Jennifer Beattie, Director of Sales & Marketing for Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection. “By bringing Wes’ expertise into the Collection, we are able to strengthen the connection between our guests and the landscape they travel far to experience, while showcasing the incredible work taking place to protect Zambia’s natural heritage.”
From the wildlife-rich plains of South Luangwa and the waterways of the Lower Zambezi to the pioneering restoration work at Lolelunga Private Reserve, Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection continues to redefine luxury safari travel through experiences and offerings rooted in place, purpose, and conservation.
