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Rift Valley lodge safari in Tanzania

COUNTRY:
Tanzania
LOCATION:
Rift Valley, Serengeti National Park, Zanzibar
DEPARTURES:
2012: 11 Feb, 25 Feb, 26 May, 2 Jun, 30 Jun, 12 Jul, 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 22 Sep, 27 Oct, 22 Dec
2013: 9 Feb, 23 Feb, 25 May, 1 Jun, 6 Jul, 10 Aug, 24 Aug, 21 Sep, 26 Oct, 21 Dec
PRICE:
From £2599 - £3399 (10 days ) including UK flights
MORE INFO:
From £1899 - £2199 excluding flights.
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Rift Valley lodge safari in Tanzania

Rift Valley lodge safari in Tanzania

How this holiday makes a difference

Environment

Responsible mission: As adventure travellers we relish and celebrate the diversity of the world. We also recognise our obligation to protect the environments that we explore. Our aim is to tread lightly, whilst contributing to maintain the world’s culture and nature, and most importantly to engage the help of all our customers to utilise the potential of tourism as a tool to aid sustainable development. We believe that responsible travellers are welcome in the places that they visit.

On this trip: We travel in small groups (max 12 people) so have a minimal impact on the environment as we go. On this trip we use a local agent from Tanzania, locally owned hotels, local leaders. Not only does this mean that more of the money we generate stays within the community, but their local knowledge and expertise helps us to better understand the environment in which we are travelling, whilst reinforcing within the local community that preserving this environment is both important and worthwhile.

This trip also stays at the Kirurumu Tented Lodge which prides itself on operating within strict environmental guidelines including using solar power to heat the spring water. The lodge is also involved with setting up the Kirurumu Gorge Conservation Area which hopes to help local villagers and protect the gorge.

Responsible code: Being Responsible is at the heart of everything our company does - full details of our code can be found on our website. The local supplier for this trip will promote our responsible travel code throughout your adventure. You will also receive specific information on this trip’s responsibility in your trip notes.

Helping to minimise negative impact: All of our customers are invited to offset their international flight emissions. Contributions go to the Blue Ventures Carbon Offset program, a non-profit organisation which provides solar stoves for subsistence communities in Madagascar, benefiting the people and protecting the environment. We also contribute £2 per person towards offsetting of your in-country travel. We fully offset all emissions from our staff travel and run an energy efficient office.

Giving something back: We have a foundation that collects the funds that you donate to us to support our projects. All our customers are invited to make a £1 per person contribution to the foundation at the time of booking. We will match every contribution that you make with our own £1. You as a customer choose where these funds are used from a shortlist of nominated projects – so it really is YOUR foundation.

Partnerships: As a company we support The Travel Foundation, a UK charity that has been established to promote responsible travel practises throughout the whole of the travel industry. We also work with a number of charity partners who work in the destinations that we visit; including Friends of Conservation and Born Free Foundation. We partner with many small grassroots projects throughout the destinations that we visit - they all share our responsible vision.

Community

We actively supports the Arusha Children’s Trust, donating $5 per person travelling, which is dedicated to improving rural education.

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Rift Valley lodge safari in Tanzania

Reviewed 05 Oct 2010 by Susan Hunter5 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


There were so many memorable moments it's hard to choose one. But seeing a leopard in a tree with its kill was right up there.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Remember a torch and a spare camera battery!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Visiting the orphanage supported by Tropical Trails certainly showed the benefit to local people.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Trip of a lifetime - fantastic.

Reviewed 08 Jul 2008 by Anna Olsson5 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Animal spotting - lions, rhinos, giraffe, warthog, etc.... And of course the knowledgeable guide - Wilson!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


The Zanzibar extension is for people on their honeymoon (not single travellers) and there is not much more to do than to scuba dive, walk along the beach and relax. Please note that not all meals are included on the Zanzibar extension (lunch must be paid separately at Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel, although stated as included in the itinerary).

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


The visit to the Maasai village felt "fake" as they have a visitor group every day. I had the feeling they saw dollars earned when they looked at me...

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Excellent, but expensive!

Read the operator's response here:

It is great to see that the wildlife and the guide were the highlight of the trip. We would agree that Zanzibar is geared to relaxation though many of our clients choose to visit in order to experience the unique culture of Stonetown and for the great scuba diving. The lunches at the beach hotel in Zanzibar should have been included and we would apologise for this oversight by the hotel, we will of course reimburse any expenses incurred.

Including an experience such as visiting the Masai Village is always a difficult decision and we would not deny that it is very touristy, which is why we offer it as an optional excursion only. Whilst indeed nowadays it may not be a completely authentic experience it does provide a real income for the Masai. The entry fee goes directly to them, not to ourselves or our ground agent, our clients pay the community leader or guide directly.
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Holiday Reviews

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!

Read our review policy

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