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For each of our tours, every client receives a detailed confirmation pack prior to departure, which includes information on the area which they visit and information on the rules of wildlife watching. This is then reinforced on arrival in country as each of our specialist expert leaders provides a briefing on wildlife watching and ensures our clients adhere to a strict code of conduct. On our clients return, we then ask them to complete a questionnaire, which asks them to rate the guides and activities to ensure our tours they maintain the highest standards of responsible wildlife travel.
Community
This tour is operated jointly with the Wilderness and Wildlife Conservation Trust of Sri Lanka.
Not only does this trip include a donation of £100 per person to the WWCT, but the guides we use on this tour are from the surrounding region and money raised from this tour helps support the training and education of the guides themselves. We also involve our clients in meeting local communities whose land borders the park to discuss the issues they face with wildlife conflict and the information gained here is invaluable to the SLWCS in planning long term conservation solutions.
Environment
The lodges we use are constructed of local materials with all staff being employed from the surrounding region. The lodge uses home cooked food, also sourced locally wherever possible. For every one of our group departures we provide clients with an in depth information pack on how to travel responsibly offering advice on travelling in country. This ranges from cultural sensitivities, to environmental awareness with an emphasis on showing respect to your hosts ensuring that each traveller sets a precedent and adheres to a strict code of conduct. We limit our group sizes to a maximum number of 10 people, thereby minimising the impact our groups have. When spending time with wildlife – Please keep your voices low. You will then also be able to observe the great bird life and other wildlife in the forest. Keep a safe distance from wildlife. Your guide will be on hand to advise – listen to your guides advice at all times. Do not eat or drink whilst you are near wildlife. Eating or drinking inevitably will increase the risk of food/drink morsels/droplets falling, which could increase the risk of transmission of diseases. Please remember that although much of the wildlife is semi-habituated, they are still wild animals. You should always strictly adhere to the guidelines explained to you by the ranger before you embark on the trek. Providing you do so, you will be minimising any potential threats. It goes without saying, but DO NOT touch any wildlife of any sort. The guides and rangers will give you a full briefing on the rules of conduct before you embark on the trek and it’s very important you adhere to them. It is us who are being given a privileged insight into the natural world and we should treat all wildlife with respect!
To mitigate the carbon dioxide released into the high atmosphere through your air travel, for EVERY international flight we book from the UK, we are giving £10 per client to Rainforest Concern. Rainforests have a central role to play in the slowing of climate change and yet we are removing forests from the planet at a faster rate than they can grow back. It is thus axiomatic to try and preserve the forests that we have rather than replanting. Rainforest Concern was established in 1993 to protect threatened natural habitats, the biodiversity they contain and the indigenous people who still depend on them for their survival.
Passionate animal-lover Jules was galloping on a horse across the plains of Mongolia when he had the idea to set up a travel company which used tourism to raise funds and awareness of the plight of endangered animals. He worked with the Orangutan Foundation in Borneo to put together one of his first trips and today has a portfolio of incredible holidays that work with leading authorities on wildlife and contribute toward conservation. All staff share his ethos of ‘travel to protect’ and believe responsible tourism can be an effective tool if it helps local people realise the economic potential of their natural habitats.
Listen to the podcast below:
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
