WebCitz started working with this client in 2015
- Client: Wild Planet Adventures
- Platform: Joomla
- Industry: Entertainment / Recreation
- Services: Digital Marketing, Ecommerce, Maintenance / Support, Web Development
The Challenge
Wild Planet Adventures faced a “technical debt” crisis when they first joined WebCitz. Their primary hurdles included:
- Non-Standard Development: Much of the original site’s functionality was hard-coded outside the Joomla CMS, making it nearly impossible for the client to update trip details or images without deep technical intervention.
- Global Expansion: Launching complex, multi-continent itineraries (Africa, Asia, South America, etc.) required a flexible structure that the legacy site lacked.
- Payment & Logistics Friction: They needed a more robust way to handle high-value international bookings and synchronize those reservations with their internal management systems.
The WebCitz Solution
We implemented a multi-year strategy to “recapture” the site back into the CMS while expanding its commercial capabilities:
- Joomla Standardization & Corrections: Since 2015, we have systematically moved hard-coded elements back into the Joomla framework. This has empowered the Wild Planet team to manage their own content, ensuring that pricing, dates, and wildlife sightings are always current.
- Global Trip Launch Support: We have assisted in the digital rollout of dozens of new itineraries across different continents. Each launch involves complex page building that balances high-resolution wildlife photography with intricate day-by-day itineraries and logistical data.
- Advanced PayPal Integration: Given the high-ticket nature of luxury safaris, we implemented a sophisticated PayPal integration. This allows for secure, streamlined online payments for deposits and full trip balances, providing peace of mind for international travelers.
- Airflow Reservation Integration: To modernize their back-office operations, we helped integrate their website with Airflow for reservation management. This ensures that when a guest books an “Ultimate Amazon” or “Secret India” tour, the data flows correctly into their scheduling and logistics system.
- Joomla Lifecycle Management: We have managed multiple major Joomla upgrades over the years. By keeping the core software and extensions updated, we protect the site from security vulnerabilities and ensure compatibility with modern browsers.
The Result
By trusting WebCitz for over 11 years, Wild Planet Adventures has maintained a functional and reliable digital home while their business expanded into one of the world’s most respected wildlife tour companies. We have successfully mitigated the risks of their early “custom-coded” site, turning it into a manageable e-commerce tool. We look forward to the next phase of our partnership: a complete ground-up redevelopment that will bring their incredible wildlife content into a modern, mobile-first ecosystem.
