Wander Wise, A Case Study
Scaling Safari Bookings with Nomad Africa
Nairobi, Kenya – Powerful AI and intuitive digital experiences can revolutionize any industry. For Purple Elephant Ventures (PEV), we translated decades of safari expertise into WanderWise.com, an AI‑driven travel companion that delights explorers and drives bookings.
Customer's Official Platform
Background & Objectives
PEV’s deep knowledge of East African lodges, wildlife patterns, and travel logistics was unmatched. Their vision for WanderWise.com was to:
- Turn anecdotal expertise into actionable, personalized travel plans.
- Deliver an AI‑first platform that understands nuanced traveler preferences.
- Seamlessly integrate as a core component of the broader Nomad.Africa ecosystem.
Key Challenges
- Structuring Insider Knowledge: Codifying tips on migration timings, hidden photo spots, and seasonal offerings into a format AI can use.
- True Personalization at Scale: Enabling real‑time itinerary generation that feels bespoke, not templated.
- Robust, Modular Architecture: Ensuring each service—from AI recommendations to booking workflows—scaled independently and integrated smoothly.
- Engagement Across Channels: Bridging communication gaps via a unified platform to keep travelers and support staff in sync.
Our Approach
A. Building the Intelligence Core
- Ontology & Knowledge Graph: We mapped lodges, parks, species, seasons, and activities—defining relationships that power contextual insights.
- Large Language Models & Engagement Bridge: Our LLMs interpret traveler queries, generate tailored itineraries, and feed into our multichannel customer engagement platform, ensuring follow‑ups via email, WhatsApp, and more.
- Dynamic Recommendations: Each plan includes “insider tips” (e.g., optimal wildlife-viewing windows and family‑friendly amenities) sourced directly from PEV’s expertise.
B. Crafting a Modular Platform
- Microservices Infrastructure: Independent, cloud‑native services for AI, bookings, content, and user profiles—auto‑scaling with demand.
- API-Driven Integration: Secure APIs connect WanderWise.com to front‑end apps, payment gateways, and Nomad.Africa.
- Content Management: PEV’s team can update destinations and experiences in real time, keeping the intelligence engine fresh.
C. Designing a Seamless Experience
- Conversational UI: Natural language input lets travelers request “a family safari under $3,000 in July” and instantly see tailored options.
- Interactive Itinerary Builder: Drag‑and‑drop features let users tweak plans—with instant AI feedback on logistics and cost.
- Unified Booking Flow: One cohesive interface from discovery through payment, reducing friction and boosting conversions.
Collaboration & Iteration
We partnered in agile sprints, with frequent reviews of AI outputs alongside PEV’s safari experts. This iterative cycle ensured every recommendation reflected real‑world insights and PEV’s high standards.
Outcomes & Impact
- Deeper Engagement: Time spent generating itineraries rose 50%, with users exploring more personalized options.
- Higher Conversions: AI-driven booking saw a 35% lift in completed reservations.
- Operational Efficiency: Automated itinerary creation cut manual planning time by 70%, freeing PEV staff for strategic tasks.
- Scalable Expertise: PEV’s knowledge is now a dynamic, learnable asset—continually refined by user feedback.
“Collaborating with the team was transformative,” Jacob, (PEV’s Head of Technology.) “We didn’t just launch a booking tool—we built an intelligent core that powers our vision.”
Next Steps
We’re enhancing WanderWise with richer AI insights, multilingual support, and in‑app video consultations to ensure every traveler feels informed and inspired.
Ready to redefine your industry with AI and custom platforms?
Published Project
