Botswana value safari and Victoria Falls

Planet

As with many of our worldwide adventure tours one of the main areas of focus on this Botswana trip will be the remarkable array of wildlife that you can expect to encounter. From huge herds of elephants to big cats and predators, Botswana is a country filled with fascinating and beautiful creatures, and we place a huge importance on ensuring that they are protected. You can expect to witness all of these majestic animals in their natural habitat and it has never been more important to ensure that these habitats are allowed to last. We believe that “good” tourism to these parts of the world directly has a very positive impact on the conservation efforts that are in place across the country. By opening up the eyes of people across the world to the ongoing fight to conserve the habitats of the country’s wildlife and by actively encouraging investment in these schemes we can help the people of Botswana to preserve the elements that make this country so unique.

Your pre-departure information on this trip will contain information on ways in which we can all help, including information on local wildlife charities and conservation organisations. As a company we support many wildlife organisations worldwide and further to this the ground handlers that we use for this trip are 100% committed to ensuring the ongoing protection of wildlife by supporting charities such as the Maun Animal Welfare Society which provides free veterinary treatment to low income individuals in Northern Botswana. In turn this vital service assists in preventing the spread of disease from domestic animals to the world famous Botswana wildlife population.

The pre-departure briefing on this tour will also include information on respecting the wildlife which you will encounter, including keeping a safe distance from all wildlife and ensuring not to encroach upon their habitats or do anything which may put the animal under any stress or danger. In most game reserves tourists are not permitted to leave their game vehicles, this is for the safety of both the tourists and the wildlife, and our local partners will ensure that the strict measures in place to conserve the habitats of this wildlife are stringently enforced.

As well as responsibility towards the ongoing survival of the wildlife species in Botswana we also place a huge importance on protecting the environments in which you will be traveling. Your pre-departure information will include advice on how to travel in an environmentally responsible way, including responsible use of water, a most precious commodity throughout the areas we will visit, and appropriate waste disposal.

We also ensure that all of the lodges and accommodations we use on this trip have appropriate “green” credentials and have policies in place for environmentally friendly operations. For example, the Bayete Guest Lodge where you will be staying during your time in the Victoria Falls region has an impeccable track record for creating accommodation which is as environmentally friendly as possible. They have recently achieved a Green Tourism bronze award and are constantly building upon their credentials to strive towards a silver award and inevitably a gold award. Practices in place include innovative composting methods, responsibly sourcing recyclable, biodegradable and sustainable products where possible, solely buying local produce, committing to the Keep It Clean Victoria Falls campaign by keeping the National Parks runway clear and assisting with litter collection, and assisting the National Parks with anti-poaching initiatives. They are also currently working on using solar energy throughout the property.

As a company we firmly believe that environmental responsibility starts at home. We encourage recycling of waste as a company and as individuals. Where possible for business use we use public transport. We are also heavily involved with a project to recycle used or damaged binoculars, which are then sent to conservation projects across the world.

People

As a company we believe in promoting tourism as a sustainable natural resource with the power to conserve, protect and improve lives, and this is particularly relevant on our Botswana itineraries. Tourism in Botswana is an exceptionally important revenue stream and we take every step necessary to ensure that the tours we provide create a 100% positive impact on the communities of the regions we visit.

The providers that we use on this tour are passionate about protecting the communities, wildlife and landscapes of this remarkable country. The small, local ground handlers that we use are committed to creating and upholding transparent and honest relationships with the local people from the areas we visit, working tirelessly to ensure continued revenue streams for local communities. Solely hiring local people, our agents provide career opportunities that without the tourism aspect would not be possible, and through established in-house training programs, mentoring systems and ongoing training these individuals are given the chance to prosper and succeed in their careers.

As well as only working with providers who have a proven track record, we are also committed to ensuring that on all of our tours we only use lodges and hotels that are proven to be treating their staff well and fairly. This is evident in all of the accommodations we use, where staff are evidently happy and well cared for. On top of offering career opportunities the accommodations we work with are also continually investing in social responsibility initiatives and they support numerous local organisations.

As well as this our ground handlers are also exceptionally passionate about creating an overwhelmingly positive impact on the communities we visit. From bed night levies to funding a community bus, they are continually investing in social responsibility initiatives that support this philosophy.

Solely using local agencies and providers not only means that we can be assured that as much of the revenue created as possible is filtered straight through to the local communities, but it also means that we have access to up to date local information and can therefore provide the most relevant information in our pre-departure literature. This information includes advice on cultural etiquette and suggestions on how to engage with and help the local communities we will be visiting. We offer first-hand advice on creating meaningful and respectful relationships between tourists and residents, along with advice on where to buy souvenirs (to ensure the proceeds are going directly to the vendors), where to eat & where to drink.

As a company we are proud of our principle based values which our community can always depend on. We support several home and overseas charities, organisations and campaigns including AfriCat, Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Save the Albatross, South Georgia Habitat Restoration Project, Wader Trust, Wildlife SOS India and sponsorship of individual and underprivileged children in many countries. We are committed to ethically working with overseas partners who employ and support local communities and local guides who know and love their region like no other, delighted to share knowledge and are dedicated to looking after our valued passengers.