Christopher Bartlett is the founder and Managing Director of Indigo Safaris, as well as a passionate field guide, adventure traveller, and underwater photojournalist.
Christopher Bartlett
Founder of Indigo Safaris
&
Indigo Earth Foundation
Instilled with a sense of helping others from an early age, Christopher created the Indigo Earth Foundation to support the people, places, and causes that have inspired him throughout his journeys.
Establishing the foundation has been a deeply personal ambition, one he nurtured for many years and often discussed with clients and friends, and seems the logical extension of the assistance Indigo Safaris has been given since its inception in 2009.
From Explorer to Founder
Through the foundation, Christopher aims to strengthen and sustain projects that make a genuine difference. His goal is to provide meaningful support, promotion, awareness campaigns, and structure to initiatives that align with his vision: empowering communities, protecting wildlife, and inspiring others to take part in lasting, positive change.
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Since 2009, Christopher has reinvested part of Indigo Safaris’ profits into conservation and community projects encountered along his travels. initiatives that have proven their integrity and relevance over time.
Many of these are small, remote, and little-known projects, where even modest support can have a tremendous impact. They are chosen not for their fame, but for their authenticity, sustainability, and the dedication of the people behind them.
PURPOSE AND VISION
His passions reflect his journey: African wildlife, the marine world explored through scuba diving, swimming with whales, underwater photography, and the vibrant cultural mosaic of Papua New Guinea, where traditional ways of life continue to thrive.
A Life Shaped by Africa and the Ocean
Giving back has been part of Christopher’s life since his early adulthood. Aged 19, he launched his first, ultimately unsuccessful business venture, Sid’s Rhino Fund, which sold air and water purifiers while donating a portion of proceeds to rhino conservation in Africa.
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His professional path has been anything but linear, from brewing craft beer and teaching English to translating for international institutions and working as an underwater photojournalist, before founding Indigo Safaris in 2009.
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His love affair with Africa began as a teenager, reading Wilbur Smith, Laurens van der Post, and Karen Blixen, and was cemented during a trip to Namibia in 1997. 9 years later, after qualifying as a FGASA NQF2 Field Guide, he guided safaris across Southern Africa and East Africa, later combining his expertise in wildlife and diving to develop unique travel experiences.
Professional Journey
Today, Indigo Safaris gives 50% of its net profits to selected organizations dedicated to conservation, education, and community development.
As Christopher often says: “Travel should be about learning, fostering understanding, concern, and compassion.”
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He believes that wildlife conservation and human development are inseparable, forming a virtuous circle where protecting nature improves lives and education becomes the foundation for a sustainable future.
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Beyond wildlife and environmental work, Christopher also supports broader humanitarian initiatives, especially those tackling malaria prevention and access to clean water, causes he considers essential for human dignity and long-term progress.
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Through the Indigo Earth Foundation, Christopher continues his mission: to give back more, inspire change, and help build a future where people and nature thrive together.