About us

Basecamp Explorer is a tourism company that operates a collection of destinations across the globe, in an enlightened and responsible way.

HOW DID IT ALL GET STARTED?

Svein Wilhelmsen founded Basecamp Explorer in 1998, following a life-changing meeting with an old Maasai Chief named Ole Taek. Sitting around the fire one evening, the respected Maasai elder told a worrying tale about his people’s threats. Wilhelmsen was inspired by his concern to found a company that would care, a company that would leave a positive footprint wherever it operated and would have a positive impact on the people it worked with. Since 1998, the Basecamp Group has grown to incorporate unique tourist destinations spread across the globe – in Kenya and Spitsbergen. Today our responsible tourism business supports projects like reforestation, waste management, empowering women and youth, and securing land for wildlife to flourish.

Meet our board of directors in Kenya and Spitsbergen

BASECAMP EXPLORER KENYA LTD

60% owned by Basecamp Explorer / 40% owned by Norfund

Svein Wilhelmsen, Norway
Chairman
sw@basecampexplorer.com

Brita Knutsen Dahl, Norway
Board Member
brita@basecampexplorer.com

Justin Francis, UK
Board Member

Isabella Wilson, Kenya
Board Member

Kjartan Stigen
Board Member, Norfund

Oliver Karius, Switzerland
Board Member, LGT Venture Philanthropy

Riccardo Orizio
Board Member, Basecamp Explorer Kenya

BASECAMP explorer SPITSBERGEN AS

90% owned by Basecamp Explorer

Brita Knutsen Dahl
Chairman and co-owner
brita@basecampexplorer.com

Svein Wilhelmsen
Board Member
sw@basecampexplorer.com

Lars Weyer–Larsen
Board Member

Jarle Roth
Board member

Henning Nielsen
Board member

Bjarne Slapgard
Board member