How to Go on an Eco-Conscious Safari

Posted by Conde Nast Traveler

If you're concerned about sustainability and caring for the environment, that doesn't mean a safari goes against your values. Keep these four factors in mind when planning your trip.

CHECK LAND OWNERSHIP BEFOREHAND

Land title may not seem like the most obvious consideration when planning a trip, but Edward Loure begs to differ. One of the six winners of this year’s Goldman Environmental Prize, a prestigious annual award that honors leaders in grassroots environmental activism, Loure helps indigenous communities in northern Tanzania to legally claim back the land where traditional communities have long lived in harmony with the wildlife.

“Ask your safari whether they own or lease the land from the community,” Loure tells Condé Nast Traveler. The creation of some national parks turned traditional settlers into “conservation refugees,” he explains. By supporting companies that lease communal terrain instead of grabbing land, you are not only supporting the local Maasai and Hadza communities, but also encouraging working with locals who have knowledge of preservation.

SOFTEN YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

Despite the aviation industry’s ongoing research, flying to a far-flung safari will inevitably create planet-warming emissions. Lessen your impact by asking about your tour’s environmentally sustainable efforts. (Is a colossal diesel generator powering the camp, for instance?) Some countries have done the groundwork for you: Kenya, for instance, has awarded 24 “gold” ratings to properties that use solar power, collect rainwater, and build with locally sourced materials.

LEARN ABOUT THE CULTURE

Remember, you’re in someone else’s proverbial backyard, after all. Even the most remote parts of the world have been home to hunter-gatherer and pastoralist communities. Ask if your travel will include any cultural components. Some providers today have hands-on experiences that will have you interact in more meaningful ways beyond mere photo ops.

THINK LONG-TERM

For most travelers, a safari jaunt is a once-in-a-lifetime affair. But that doesn’t call for a hit-and-run approach. Ask the operator how long it has been the business, and what kind of long-term investments it makes locally and for the environment. Support businesses that have staked incentives in preservation—so that long after you’re gone, efforts will be continuously made to protect the wildlife.

“Tourism can certainly be a good part of preservation,” Loure says. “But tourists have to do more research.” The more you demand of the travel industry, the more it will pay attention.