Safari Club International Expands Global Presence with New Office in South Africa

Posted on: Apr 11, 2025

Pretoria, South Africa

April 10, 2025

Safari Club International (SCI), the global leader in defending the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation, is proud to announce the official opening of its newest international office in South Africa — a global hub for hunting and biodiversity.

This strategic expansion underscores SCI’s long-standing commitment to science-based conservation, sustainable hunting, and international advocacy. Opening an office offers a unique opportunity to further engage with African leaders, local partners, outfitters, and conservation agencies to advance the shared mission of protecting wildlife and preserving hunting heritage.

“The opening of this office is more than symbolic — it’s strategic,” said W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO of Safari Club International and Safari Club International Foundation. “By being on the ground in South Africa, we’re deepening our partnerships with governments and communities who depend on sustainable use and ensuring SCI is present where critical conservation decisions are made. SCI is the only American organization on the ground in Africa committed to the protecting our combined hunting heritage.”

John McLaurin, President of SCI went on to say, “We strive to ensure the perpetuation of wildlife for today and the future.  Sustainable use is the only studied and proven successful way of accomplishing that vision.  The cornerstone of sustainable use is hunters and hunting.”

In attendance were members and representatives from the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa, Gauteng and Northwest Members of the Executive Council, South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, and officials from SANBI.

The new office will serve as a regional base for SCI’s operations that fund and support projects across the African continent through the SCI Foundation — including wildlife surveys, anti-poaching programs, and support for rural communities that coexist with all game species. The South Africa office represents a significant step in formalizing SCI’s presence and leadership in the region.