Welcome and thank you for being here.
The wilderness has shaped my life from a young age, from African sunsets to distant horizons that always seemed to call me forward. What began as a passion for wild places and travel slowly evolved into something deeper, a lifelong pursuit of meaningful journeys rooted in understanding, connection, and respect for the natural world.
Equally central to that journey has been a love for guiding and educating others. Over the past decade, I’ve discovered that the most powerful moments in the wild aren’t just what we see, but what we come to understand, the stories behind the landscapes, the behaviour of wildlife, the subtle details that bring a place to life. Guiding, teaching, and sharing knowledge has become as important to me as the journey itself, creating experiences that are enriching, grounding, and quietly transformative.
Wilder Escapes is the natural extension of that path. It exists to share the wonder, depth, and perspective that only the wild can offer, thoughtfully designed, personally guided, and shaped with intention. Each journey is created not only to take you somewhere extraordinary, but to help you see it more deeply, connect more meaningfully, and return with a lasting sense of perspective long after the journey ends.
What We Create
Every journey begins with you — guided with care, intention, and experience.
Tailored Escapes
Private safaris, family adventures, and photography-led expeditions, crafted entirely around your interests, pace, and sense of curiosity.
Immersive and Seamless
Each escape flows effortlessly — thoughtfully planned, expertly guided, and designed to feel safe, authentic, and unhurried.
Guided by Experience
Shaped by decades of hands-on guiding across 20+ countries and four continents, ensuring every detail is informed by real time in the field.
Education and Emotional Impact
Journeys grounded in respect for wildlife, culture, and the natural world — designed to deepen understanding, foster connection, and create lasting perspective.
Storytelling and Photography
Experiences that ignite curiosity, create stories, and help you capture the world through your own lens — whether refining your skills or discovering photography as a way of seeing more deeply.
Experience That Shapes Every Journey
Built on over a decade of guiding, teaching, and inspiring guests across some of the world’s most iconic wild places, Wilder Escapes draws its foundations from years spent in renowned wilderness areas, leading private journeys shaped by real time in the field.
Along the way, knowledge has been shared through guiding, photography and post-production tuition, bespoke journey design, webinars, film and podcast storytelling and public speaking. Each experience has honed the ability to craft journeys that are not only seamless in execution, but emotionally resonant, carefully considered, enriching, and quietly transformative.
This depth of experience informs every Wilder Escape, shaping choices you may never notice, but will always feel.
The W.I.L.D.E.R. Philosophy
It’s more than a name, it’s the philosophy behind every journey created.
W — Wild places that stir the soul
I — Intimate experiences, far from the crowds
L — Luxury that feels effortless, never forced
D — Deep connection to land, wildlife, and culture
E — Exploration driven by curiosity, not checklists
R — Remarkable moments you’ll carry for a lifetime
This philosophy ensures every escape feels purposeful, personal, and true to the spirit of exploration.
An Invitation to Travel Differently
Wilder Escapes is a boutique travel and destination company crafting deeply personal journeys — from private safaris to once-in-a-lifetime expeditions — built on experience, trust, and a genuine love for wild places.
Every journey is an opportunity to guide, to educate, and to create stories, moments, and memories that linger long after the journey ends.
If you’re ready to travel with intention and experience the WILDER world:
Who Wilder Escapes Is For?
For those who want to travel with intention.
Whether it’s a first safari,
A shared family adventure,
A photography-led journey, or a return to the wild in a deeper, more meaningful way, each experience is carefully curated to reflect who you are and what matters most to you.
No templates. No rush. Just thoughtful journeys designed to leave space for wonder.
I’m Michael Laubscher
Founder of Wilder Escapes
Hello,
I’m Michael Laubscher
Founder of Wilder Escapes
Welcome and thank you for being here.
The wilderness has shaped my life from a young age, from African sunsets to distant horizons that always seemed to call me forward. What began as a passion for wild places and travel slowly evolved into something deeper, a lifelong pursuit of meaningful journeys rooted in understanding, connection, and respect for the natural world.
Equally central to that journey has been a love for guiding and educating others. Over the past decade, I’ve discovered that the most powerful moments in the wild aren’t just what we see, but what we come to understand, the stories behind the landscapes, the behaviour of wildlife, the subtle details that bring a place to life. Guiding, teaching, and sharing knowledge has become as important to me as the journey itself, creating experiences that are enriching, grounding, and quietly transformative.
Wilder Escapes is the natural extension of that path. It exists to share the wonder, depth, and perspective that only the wild can offer, thoughtfully designed, personally guided, and shaped with intention. Each journey is created not only to take you somewhere extraordinary, but to help you see it more deeply, connect more meaningfully, and return with a lasting sense of perspective long after the journey ends.
Where Wilder Escapes Began
Wilder Escapes was born from a life spent in wild places, not chasing destinations but lingering in moments. From watching first light spill across the savannah, to listening to the quiet rhythm of a rainforest, or standing in stillness at the edge of ice and sea, these experiences shaped not only where journeys unfolded, but how the world came to be understood.
Over time, a clear truth emerged. The most powerful journeys aren’t defined by how far you travel or how much you see. They are shaped by how deeply you connect, how a place makes you feel, what it teaches you, and the subtle ways it stays with you long after you return home.
Wilder Escapes exists to create those kinds of journeys and experiences that feel less like travel, and more like a return to what matters.
What We Create
Every journey begins with you — guided with care, intention, and experience.
Tailored Escapes
Private safaris, family adventures, and photography-led expeditions, crafted entirely around your interests, pace, and sense of curiosity.
Immersive and Seamless
Each escape flows effortlessly — thoughtfully planned, expertly guided, and designed to feel safe, authentic, and unhurried.
Guided by Experience
Shaped by decades of hands-on guiding across 20+ countries and four continents, ensuring every detail is informed by real time in the field.
Education and Emotional Impact
Journeys grounded in respect for wildlife, culture, and the natural world — designed to deepen understanding, foster connection, and create lasting perspective.
Storytelling and Photography
Experiences that ignite curiosity, create stories, and help you capture the world through your own lens — whether refining your skills or discovering photography as a way of seeing more deeply.
Experience That Shapes Every Journey
Built on over a decade of guiding, teaching, and inspiring guests across some of the world’s most iconic wild places, Wilder Escapes draws its foundations from years spent in renowned wilderness areas, leading private journeys shaped by real time in the field.
Along the way, knowledge has been shared through guiding, photography and post-production tuition, bespoke journey design, webinars, film and podcast storytelling and public speaking. Each experience has honed the ability to craft journeys that are not only seamless in execution, but emotionally resonant, carefully considered, enriching, and quietly transformative.
This depth of experience informs every Wilder Escape, shaping choices you may never notice, but will always feel.
A Life Spent Exploring the Wilder World
Our inspiration extends far beyond Africa. From exploring the lush, layered depths of South American rainforests to the stark, ice-carved landscapes of Iceland. While sailing through Greenland’s mighty fjords and reflecting in the polar silence of Svalbard, then to awakening amid the spices, colours and culture of India’s mystic wilds, every journey offers a chance to see the world differently.
Across all continents and the countless cultures, one truth remains constant. Wild places have the power to slow us down, open our eyes, and reconnect us with something larger than ourselves. These experiences continue to shape how Wilder Escapes approaches travel, with curiosity, humility, and a deep respect for the land, its wildlife, and the communities that call these places home. Each journey is designed to honour the uniqueness of the environment and to leave guests with a sense of wonder, perspective, and lasting connection.
The W.I.L.D.E.R. Philosophy
It’s more than a name, it’s the philosophy behind every journey created.
W — Wild places that stir the soul
I — Intimate experiences, far from the crowds
L — Luxury that feels effortless, never forced
D — Deep connection to land, wildlife, and culture
E — Exploration driven by curiosity, not checklists
R — Remarkable moments you’ll carry for a lifetime
This philosophy ensures every escape feels purposeful, personal, and true to the spirit of exploration.
Who Wilder Escapes Is For?
For those who want to travel with intention.
Whether it’s a first safari,
A shared family adventure,
A photography-led journey, or a return to the wild in a deeper, more meaningful way, each experience is carefully curated to reflect who you are and what matters most to you.
No templates. No rush. Just thoughtful journeys designed to leave space for wonder.
An Invitation to Travel Differently
Wilder Escapes is a boutique travel and destination company crafting deeply personal journeys — from private safaris to once-in-a-lifetime expeditions — built on experience, trust, and a genuine love for wild places.
Every journey is an opportunity to guide, to educate, and to create stories, moments, and memories that linger long after the journey ends.
If you’re ready to travel with intention and experience the WILDER world:
A Life Spent Exploring the Wilder World
Our inspiration extends far beyond Africa. From exploring the lush, layered depths of South American rainforests to the stark, ice-carved landscapes of Iceland. While sailing through Greenland’s mighty fjords and reflecting in the polar silence of Svalbard, then to awakening amid the spices, colours and culture of India’s mystic wilds, every journey offers a chance to see the world differently.
Across all continents and the countless cultures, one truth remains constant. Wild places have the power to slow us down, open our eyes, and reconnect us with something larger than ourselves. These experiences continue to shape how Wilder Escapes approaches travel, with curiosity, humility, and a deep respect for the land, its wildlife, and the communities that call these places home. Each journey is designed to honour the uniqueness of the environment and to leave guests with a sense of wonder, perspective, and lasting connection.
Where Wilder Escapes Began
Wilder Escapes was born from a life spent in wild places, not chasing destinations but lingering in moments. From watching first light spill across the savannah, to listening to the quiet rhythm of a rainforest, or standing in stillness at the edge of ice and sea, these experiences shaped not only where journeys unfolded, but how the world came to be understood.
Over time, a clear truth emerged. The most powerful journeys aren’t defined by how far you travel or how much you see. They are shaped by how deeply you connect, how a place makes you feel, what it teaches you, and the subtle ways it stays with you long after you return home.
Wilder Escapes exists to create those kinds of journeys and experiences that feel less like travel, and more like a return to what matters.
What We Create
Every journey begins with you — guided with care, intention, and experience.
Tailored Escapes
Private safaris, family adventures, and photography-led expeditions, crafted entirely around your interests, pace, and sense of curiosity.
Immersive and Seamless
Each escape flows effortlessly — thoughtfully planned, expertly guided, and designed to feel safe, authentic, and unhurried.
Guided by Experience
Shaped by decades of hands-on guiding across 20+ countries and four continents, ensuring every detail is informed by real time in the field.
Education and Emotional Impact
Journeys grounded in respect for wildlife, culture, and the natural world — designed to deepen understanding, foster connection, and create lasting perspective.
Storytelling and Photography
Experiences that ignite curiosity, create stories, and help you capture the world through your own lens — whether refining your skills or discovering photography as a way of seeing more deeply.