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This trip combines the best game viewing in Africa with plenty of cultural interaction. We spend half of the trip in National Parks and Conservation areas searching for big game such as lion, elephant, rhino and cheetah. We do not disturb the delicate eco-systems of the Masai Mara, Serengeti, Lake Nakuru and Ngorongoro Crater as we camp in designated areas, and rigidly adhere to low impact camping guidelines.
Straight away on day 2 of this trip the tour visits and camps at the East Africa Mission Orphanage (EAMO), located near Nakuru in Kenya. That afternoon you will be able to meet the children and share dinner with them at the orphanage. They love to practice their English skills and also are excited to know more about the world - be warned they will have lots of questions for you over dinner! The East Africa Mission Orphanage looks after more than 200 children ranging in age from 2 to 20 years of age. The complete needs of the children, including full school education, are provided for by the orphanage. It was the first beneficiary of our Community Trust with the camp fees we pay going directly towards the running of the orphanage.
There is also a visit to the School of St Jude in Arusha as part of this tour. Our company donates US$10 per client to help with the school's running costs. Founded by Australian woman Gemma Sisia, the school is 'fighting poverty through education' in Arusha, Tanzania, by providing free education to over 1500 students. These students are the poorest of the poor in the region. We spend time with the students and teachers at their weekly assembly or a school lunch. Meeting these bright kids, it’s hard not to be touched by their optimism and drive. Don't be surprised if the highlight of your trip isn't a lion in the Masai Mara, but time spent at EAMO or the School of St Jude- be warned it’ a powerful experience.
This trip is focused on respecting and benefiting the local people and the environment of this country. On this trip you will be lead by an experienced local leader passionate about their country's history, heritage and natural beauty that will help you to get 'under the skin' of their country and see it through the eyes of a local. This trip stays at locally run accommodation and ensures we eat at local restaurants. This ensures the financial return to the local economy opens up training and employment opportunities - and allows for informal and meaningful interaction between our travellers and local people. We also get the chance to explore a very traditional Masai village in northern Tanzania and gain an insight into the daily life of the Masai. A Masai woman shows us her house and we learn how the Masai women actually build their houses.
We are constantly seeking new and innovative ways of neutralising our impact on the environment. Consequently we offset the land component of all our tours carbon emissions. We think that since it’s our tours that created the emissions then it’s our responsibility to do something about them; we don’t think it’s fair to simply transfer our responsibility to you. We work with Climate Care to use Gold Standard carbon offset projects (or accredited equivalent) to offset our emissions.
In 2010/11 we paid $120,030 to Climate Care Projects. The money goes towards projects like the Uganda Efficient Stoves Project, where efficient wood burning stoves are supplied to families and institutions in Uganda. Other contracted projects include hydro and solar projects.
*Our Community Trust provides funds for local community projects and initiatives that promote esponsible and sustainable tourism development in the destinations in which we operate. First and foremost, but not exclusively, the Trust supports projects and initiatives that advance education and employment within the tourism and hospitality industry. The Trust operates on a not-for-profit basis, with every cent of funds donated by us, our staff and our travellers, going to the nominated projects.
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!
