When the welfare of people is enhanced by wildlife, then the people cannot afford to live without wildlife. If wildlife is a problem, people will not afford to protect them. Wildlife have been alienated from Africans since the colonial era when the people lost their rights to wildlife; now, programs between governments and the people are working to restore wildlife values locally. Agriculturists—ranchers and farmers—operating elsewhere in the world with the “public's”; wildlife on their lands, face similar philosophical, economic, and management dilemmas and could benefit from philosophies and policies used in southern Africa. This paper reviews programs and research from landowner‐based initiatives enabled by governments in southern Africa, and infers by association that greater involvement of local people is a necessary strategy for conservation in general. Keywords: Africa, empowerment, enfranchisement, wildlife enterprises, wildlife ranching.