Europe's Wildlife Tourism Platform Funds Nature Recovery

Imagine watching herds of semi-wild horses kick up dust across sun-drenched plains, framed by towering limestone peaks. This isn't Africa—it's Croatia's Lika Plains, where a new kind of tourism is helping wildlife make a remarkable comeback.

Wilder Places, a booking platform launched in July 2025, is connecting travelers with Europe's recovering wild landscapes while funding the conservation work that makes it possible. The concept is simple: book a safari or nature stay, and 15% of your booking fee flows directly back into protecting the land you visit.

The numbers tell a story of growing momentum. By October 2026, about 175 travelers from more than 15 countries had booked through the platform, with 90% of those bookings happening in 2026 alone. Those trips generated nearly €60,000 for local nature-based businesses across nine rewilding areas.

Guests are tracking wolves and bears in ancient forests, exploring free-flowing rivers, and photographing species once on the brink of extinction. European bison, griffon vultures, and apex predators are bouncing back across the continent, creating safari experiences many assumed only existed in distant lands.

"We wanted to make it easy for travelers to find experiences that give something back to wild nature and the people living alongside it," explains Bart Schutz, Rewilding Europe's Tourism Manager. Guest ratings average 4.9 out of 5 stars, suggesting the model resonates with visitors seeking meaningful travel.

The Ripple Effect

The impact extends beyond wildlife counts and booking fees. Local communities that once struggled economically are finding new livelihoods tied to nature recovery rather than its destruction. Rural businesses now have financial incentives to protect and restore habitats rather than develop them.

The platform won second place in the Sustainable & Regenerative Tourism Award at the 2026 Tourism Innovation Summit in Seville, standing out among more than 200 entries. The recognition brings wider attention to rewilding tourism as a viable economic model that benefits both nature and people.

On Croatia's Lika Plains, released herds of Tauros and semi-wild horses are restoring 1,500 hectares of grassland and scrub, creating rich habitats that boost biodiversity. Visitors witness this transformation firsthand from the windows of rugged Land Rovers, watching hoopoes dart between grazing animals just as they might on an African savannah.

Europe's wild comeback is rewriting what conservation can look like when local communities become partners rather than bystanders in nature's recovery.