"Biodiversity &
CSI consultants"

Originally formed in 1976 as a snorkelling safari operation in the gullies of Port Elizabeth which soon developed into the involvement and support of marine conservation and research projects.

In 1990 after a relocation to Johannesburg, Outdoor Escapes became actively involved in terrestrial conservation and biodiversity projects and used radio 702 as a medium to gain exposure for a variety of projects in the Pilanesberg National Park. 

In 1993, Outdoor Escapes became involved in research, project design, development, implementation, and management for medium and large corporations in both Biodiversity and Community upliftment projects. In 1995 wildlife filming and photography was added which developed into producing many corporate documentaries in the fields of biodiversity and social responsibility projects. 

In 2019, Liezl Kok joined Outdoor Escapes to enhance the skills and focus of the organisation. In 2023 Outdoor Escapes became known as “ODE” to remove any confusing connotations of a Tourism Operation. In 2024 Liezl Kok assumed the lead role in ODE to enhance the offerings of the organisation and tasked with taking ODE into the future.

Today ODE is recognised as an organisation that operates as a catalyst in sustainable biodiversity conservation projects in a variety of disciplines with a particular interest in the involvement of rural communities as additional project beneficiaries. Through research, project design and development ODE brings together the researched need, the beneficiaries, and the funders and with their many years of experience ODE is well appointed to manage and monitor the project and to apply continual adaptive management practices to achieve the required and agreed sustainable goals.