A Journey from Protecting Wildlife to Building a Safari Legacy
Summary
A Childhood Dream of Wildlife
Kevin Garrad’s passion for wildlife began at an early age. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a zookeeper, spending some of his summers helping his cousin, an endangered species zookeeper in the UK. He fondly recalls feeding red pandas and African wild dogs during those visits. But life had other plans. Kevin’s path first led him to his other dream: becoming a soldier. After his family moved to America in 2001, Kevin joined the US military shortly after the terror attacks of 9/11, where he served for 2 decades, including 10 years as a Special Forces ‘Green Beret’. While he longed to join wildlife conservation efforts—often watching videos of gorillas, rhinos, and tigers on YouTube—the War on Terror kept him in military service, driven by loyalty to his team and a sense of duty to protect his country.
A New Chapter: Conservation and Healing in Africa
In 2017, Kevin finally made the leap, traveling to South Africa to begin his anti-poaching ranger training. This marked the start of a new chapter—one focused on protecting wildlife and mastering the survival skills needed to safely be on foot in the wilds of Africa. But for Kevin, conservation became much more than a profession—it was a lifeline. After years of combat, he understood the struggles that many veterans face upon leaving service. PTSD and trauma can take an enormous toll, and too many veterans lose their battle, tragically taking their own lives.
For Kevin, the wild saved him. “Conservation gave me a renewed purpose,” Kevin says. “It gave me a new mission.” Being surrounded by the vast, untamed beauty of Africa’s wilds offered healing that no medicine could provide. Medically proven evidence supports the profound benefits that time in nature can have for veterans and those with trauma. Kevin is living proof, as he now spends his days fully immersed in the wilderness—24/7.
Protecting Wildlife Across Continents
After three years protecting rhinos from poachers, rescuing pangolins with law enforcement, and training with local rangers, Kevin and his wife Cassandra moved to Thailand. There, they worked with Asian conservation groups and charities, supporting ranger teams and jungle reforestation efforts, and learning more about the connectivity of wildlife crime between Africa and Asia (Bangkok is one of the world’s hubs for illegal wildlife trade). During this time, Kevin founded Wild Response, a global wildlife conservation organization. Over five years, Wild Response trained more than 1,800 rangers, rescued dozens of animals, and removed thousands of illegal poaching traps (snares), saving countless more animals.
Returning to Africa: A New Beginning
But Kevin’s heart remained in Africa, and in 2020, he returned to South Africa, settling in the small town of Hoedspruit nestled alongside the Greater Kruger National Park. Kevin loves the wild location, often sleeping with his bedroom windows open to listen to lion prides roaring and hyenas whooping throughout the night. Leopards, too, call his reserve home, and they regularly walk by his house, announcing their presence with deep, resonating roars.
A New Path with Conservation Beyond Borders
In 2024, after accomplishing so much and making countless friends in conservation, Kevin decided to close Wild Response. “It wasn’t sad,” he reflects. “It was just time to follow a new path.” Stepping away allowed Kevin to focus on what he does best: training those in need and doing good in conservation. Soon after, Kevin was hired by the NGO Conservation Beyond Borders as a fellow, where he now serves as the Protected Areas Specialist and Ranger Advisor. In this role, he oversees missions in Africa and Asia, focusing on on-the-ground training and advancing academic research to better enable wildlife rangers to protect endangered species.
Spreading the Message of Conservation
For Kevin, conservation isn’t just about reacting to threats—it’s about education and creating a culture of responsibility for the natural world. He helped start school programs that teach children the importance of protecting wildlife, ensuring that the message of conservation reaches future generations. Conservation, he believes, is the key to long-term success in preserving endangered species.
A Life Full Circle: From Soldier to Conservationist
Today, Kevin is an African game ranger, a conservation practitioner, an expedition leader, and a tracker with qualifications in ‘Track and Sign’ and ‘Tactical Man Tracking.’ His life has come full circle—from soldier to hippy conservationist, finding healing in the wilds of the world. Through Wild Werx, Kevin shares his passion for nature’s power to heal and inspire, offering travelers the chance to embark on their own journey of discovery and purpose in the world’s wild wilderness.