International volunteer organisation GVI has closed after 28 years, cancelling all current and future programmes as it enters a formal liquidation process.
In a closure statement, GVI said it is “with an incredibly heavy heart” that it is “closing its doors” and that it “deeply regrets the effect that GVI’s closure will have on staff, projects and customers”.
GVI said staff on the ground are supporting participants as they make plans to leave GVI bases. Affected participants will receive formal correspondence outlining the liquidation process and how to lodge a claim. Suppliers and partners will receive formal notice from the liquidators regarding the claims process.
The closure has left many clients with questions. On the consumer review site Trustpilot, some people are concerned about recovering funds from cancelled trips, mentioning issues with communication, unfulfilled promises and lack of support.
According to the reviews, in the past few months before the liquidation announcement, there were instances when customers felt the advertised experience did not match reality and some faced unexpected challenges like base closures or permit issues.
GVI CEO Andrew Valentine couldn’t be reached for comment.
New conservation school
The closure also affects GVI’s long-running presence at Karongwe Private Game Reserve where the organisation operated as a tenant for years.
Karongwe Executive Director Brett Bowes told Tourism Update that GVI was based on the reserve for at least 15 years before Karongwe Investment Holdings bought five lodges and a majority share of the land in December 2024. GVI paid rent to operate from the property and also assisted with conservation-related work such as grass and branch evaluations, soil sampling and ecological support.
Bowes said concerns about the condition of the facility and GVI’s financial position prompted discussions with Bushwise months before the closure announcement.
“We were on a new track with Bushwise a long time before the liquidation was announced.”
According to Bowes, Bushwise MD Eugene Relling approached Karongwe and outlined a plan to take direct control of the Karongwe facility, settle outstanding bills and reposition the operation as a conservation school.
Bowes said the plan was to move away from GVI’s volunteer model towards formal conservation training on the site.
Bushwise has now formally confirmed the new venture.
“We are delighted to have entered into an agreement with Karongwe to operate the Karongwe Bushwise Conservation School,” said Relling.
The school will focus on practical conservation training aligned with Karongwe’s needs, he pointed out.
“Bushwise has been supporting and training students interested in conservation for many years. The new conservation school will focus on assisting Karongwe with its conservation management strategy while giving students practical experience in conservation management. We will also be working with Karongwe to sponsor students from local communities with the ultimate goal of finding employment within the sector.”
Relling said the first students are expected this September.
Bushwise stressed that GVI’s closure will not affect its business or current students.
According to Relling, GVI “occasionally introduced prospective students to Bushwise” and the link between the two organisations is “purely historical”.
“Bushwise is an independent business and GVI’s closure has no impact whatsoever on Bushwise students or the business. Nonetheless, we were sorry to hear of GVI’s closure as we would be about any organisation working in the conservation sector,” he said.
