Ecotourism in Africa

How you are able to contribute directly to Ecotourism?

An African Safari Package is truly a brilliant life time experience of Eco Tourism in Africa and as travellers today we like to feel informed and in control of the journey. We all have a choice and this blog on Ecotourism in Africa will provide you with the answers on what questions to ask your travel advisor. The aim is to also explain how you are able to contribute directly to the protection of the delicate African wildlife and support the local communities while having the most magical African Safari Tour.

After specialising in tailor made African Wildlife Safari Packages for the past 25 years,  I have seen firsthand the positive impact tourism can have on the wilderness, wildlife and communities. I’ve had the ultimate hands on experience working in a remote Safari Camp in the South Luangwa National Park Zambia for 2 years between 2016 – 2018.

So what is Ecotourism in Africa?

It is where the travellers experience will have a minimum impact on the environment, contribute to supporting local communities and protection of wildlife and wilderness for generations to come. Travellers need the tools to choose operators that are proactive and transparent and here is a list of examples of how they are making a difference:

• Employing and training local communities in the business
• Working in co-operation with local businesses, government and authorities
• Implementation of recycling
• Waste minimisation and reduction of plastic
• Growing in camp and sourcing locally grown fruit and vegetables
• Source locally made furniture and products
• Sponsorship of school education programs
• Regular servicing an updating of lodge vehicles and equipment
• Employing and training qualified guides in the field of wilderness and wildlife protection
• Educating guests with visits to the local communities, NGO’s and shopping villages
• Involving staff and community on running Clean up the village working bees
• Communicating to guests how they are implementing the camps Ecotourism strategies
• Stocking in camp gift shops only locally produced goods
• Implementing recycled water programs
• Installation of solar powered
• Chemical free products throughout the lodge

Statistics on Africa’s endangered wildlife 2017 *Lions less than 20,000, *African wild dogs 5000, cheetah *11,000, African Leopard *9000. Gathered from Wildlife protection bodies

What are the major impacts on the falling numbers of African Wildlife? 

Poaching for illegal trade, big game hunting, disease, poaching by local community members to feed their families, land clearing and destruction of eco systems due to tourism, farming, mining and increase in population.

A win for Ecotourism in Africa, wildlife and the Silverback Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda, Uganda and Congo in 2018 . The population of gorillas in 2006 was estimated at less than 450 and in 2018 recorded 1060. This increase in population was driven by the hard work and experience of conservationists who have worked with local government, tourism sectors and NGO’s who have implemented strategies to enforce sustainable tourism, training of local guides and patrol teams, support and education of the local communities and public awareness.

Examples of Ecotourism in Africa

Here are five great examples of African Safari partners who are transparent and committed both financially and morally to Ecotourism in Africa:

Singita – Committed to preserving and protecting large areas of African wilderness for future generations through three pillars, namely Biodiversity, Community and Sustainability. Singita is a conservation brand that has been preserving African wilderness for the past 25 years, offering guests an exceptional safari experience with 12 luxury, award-winning lodges and camps across five regions in Africa.

Video: Singita Fara Fara Tanzania

Wilderness Safaris is deeply committed to its 4Cs sustainability ethos of Commerce, Community, Culture and Conservation. Wilderness Safaris is dedicated to conserving and restoring Africa’s wilderness and wildlife and operates in seven countries with over 40 camps Dedicated to ecotourism while working in co-operation with the local communities.

Great Plains Conservation Foundation – committed to African Conservation Experiences conserving and expanding natural habitats. The business model takes stressed and threatened environments, surrounds them with compassionate protection and intelligent, sustainable management, and funds them with sensitive, low-volume, low-impact, tourism. Communities are an intrinsic part of this model and benefit directly from it. The final piece of the puzzle are the travellers who stay in the camps located across Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Conservation South Luangwa is a great example of an NGO located in Zambia whose goal is to stop poaching, to eradicate wildlife trafficking and protect and optimise wildlife and natural resources. Ecotoursim in Africa

Mulberry Mongoose is a brilliant business dedicated to employing local women and educating them with business skills and jewellery making while delivering the world beautiful jewellery made from snare wire and local products.

Africa Safari Specialists are driven by the commitment to connecting you the traveller to our partners who are actively protecting Africa’s pristine wilderness, wildlife and supporting local communities with the goal of long term sustainability.

Click to view Ecotourism in Zambia

Contact Us Today

Sincerely written by Wendy Buckley, travel advisor and MD of Africa Safari Experts. For more information and to make an enquiry contact wendy@africasafariexperts.com.au or phone +61414 557667.

Supporting and working with operators committed to Ecotourism in Africa