Botswana wildlife adventure, lodge safari

Planet

On this and every tour to Botswana we place significant importance on ensuring that the wildlife and environment of this spectacular country is conserved and supported. Botswana is steadily becoming one of the world's leading ecotourism destinations and we strive to do all we can to help this to continue. One of the ways in which we can do this is to ensure that all travellers have been fully briefed regarding travelling in an environmentally responsible way. Your pre-departure information for this trip will include advice on how you can reduce your carbon footprint, including advice on 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 environmental credentials and policies in place for reducing their impact. Chobe Game Lodge, your first stop on this tour, has been at the forefront of responsible safari tourism in Botswana for many years and was among the first ten properties in the country to achieve the highest Botswana Tourism Organisation Ecotourism certification.

The lodge pioneered electric safari activities in Botswana, introducing its first electric game-drive vehicle and electric-powered safari boat in 2014. It now operates four electric safari boats, three of which are fully solar powered, alongside electric game-drive vehicles. Monitoring of the fleet has recorded savings of 9,617 litres of diesel and an estimated 25,296kg of CO2 from its electric vehicles, while its electric boats have saved 5,495 litres of petrol and an estimated 12,749kg of CO2.

Environmental initiatives extend throughout the lodge operation. Approximately 60,000 litres of grey water are treated every day and reused as part of the irrigation system, while around 95% of lodge waste is sorted and recycled. Glass is crushed and used to manufacture bricks on site, tins and plastics are prepared for recycling, and food waste is processed through a biogas system.

The other three camps on this itinerary are operated by Kwando Safaris and also make extensive use of renewable energy. Splash Camp in the Okavango Delta operates on 100% solar power, with generators retained only as backup. Lagoon Camp in the Kwando Private Reserve and Nxai Pan Camp in Nxai Pan National Park both operate primarily using solar energy with backup generators, reducing their reliance on fossil fuels in these remote wilderness areas.

The trip also incorporates lower-impact ways of experiencing Botswana's wilderness. At Splash Camp activities can include guided nature walks, mokoro excursions and boating, while Lagoon offers boat safaris along the Kwando waterways. These activities allow guests to experience sensitive ecosystems without relying solely on conventional vehicle-based game viewing.

As a company we firmly believe that environmental responsibility starts at home and in the workplace. 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.

One of the most important and exciting elements of your trip to Botswana will be the numerous wildlife encounters that you can expect to experience. From big cats and numerous predators to massive herds of elephants, you will be witnessing these remarkable animals in their natural habitats and we place a huge importance on ensuring that these fascinating creatures and their homes are protected.

The private areas visited on this itinerary also play an important role in maintaining large areas of habitat for wildlife. Lagoon Camp lies within the 232,000-hectare Kwando Private Reserve, while Splash is situated within the Kwara Private Concession in the Okavango Delta. Keeping these landscapes economically viable through responsible wildlife tourism helps provide an incentive for their continued protection.

All game-viewing activities are operated by experienced guides and trackers who have an intimate knowledge of Botswana's wildlife and ecosystems. Kwando limits guest numbers in its safari vehicles and restricts the number of vehicles attending individual sightings, helping to reduce pressure on animals while also providing a more respectful wildlife-viewing experience.

We support many wildlife organisations worldwide and further to this the ground handlers that we use for this trip are committed to ensuring the ongoing protection of wildlife by supporting charities such as the Maun Animal Welfare Society, which provides veterinary treatment to low-income individuals in Northern Botswana. In turn this important service assists in reducing the potential for disease transmission between domestic animals and Botswana's wildlife populations.

The pre-departure briefing on this tour will also include information on respecting the wildlife which you will encounter, including keeping a safe distance and ensuring not to encroach upon their habitats or do anything which may put an animal under unnecessary stress or danger. In national parks and protected areas guests must follow the regulations put in place to safeguard both visitors and wildlife, and our local partners and guides will ensure that these measures are carefully observed.

People

Tourism in Botswana is an exceptionally important revenue stream and we take every step necessary to ensure that the tours we provide create a positive impact on the communities of the regions we visit. 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.

The providers that we use for this tour are passionate about protecting the communities, wildlife and landscapes of this remarkable country. We use local partners who understand the regions in which they operate and who create employment, training and career opportunities for Botswana citizens, helping a greater proportion of tourism revenue remain within the country.

This is especially evident at Lagoon Camp, Splash Camp and Nxai Pan Camp, which are all operated by Kwando Safaris. Kwando is 100% Botswana citizen-owned and managed and was the first safari company to have its camps staffed entirely by Batswana. The company places particular emphasis on creating long-term careers rather than temporary employment and many members of its management team began their careers in junior roles within the business.

Kwando also has a strong record of promoting equality and career progression. The company employed Botswana's first female safari guide, tracker, pilot and CEO, and today reports gender equality across the wider business and parity within senior management. Its training and development approach has enabled staff to progress from roles such as waiters and trackers into camp management and senior guiding positions.

Chobe Game Lodge also has a strong record of employment and skills development. More than 65% of its workforce is female, including its professionally trained all-female guiding team. Since 2006 the lodge's youth development programme has trained just under 200 young people from local communities, with 55 subsequently gaining permanent employment at the lodge.
The lodge also contributes financially to more than 20 community initiatives in the Chobe district and provides staff welfare and professional-development support. These programmes sit alongside its wider commitment to creating career opportunities and increasing the participation of women and young people within Botswana's tourism industry.

Our ground handler partners are also continually investing in social responsibility initiatives and support local projects including schools, community transport and organisations working with vulnerable people. These include Women Against Rape and Bana Ba Letsatsi, which provides support and a place of safety for vulnerable children in Maun.

Solely using local agencies and providers means we have up-to-date local information and can therefore provide relevant information in our pre-departure literature. This includes information on ongoing initiatives and community efforts, cultural etiquette and advice on how to engage respectfully with local communities. We offer first-hand advice on creating meaningful relationships between tourists and residents, along with advice on where to buy locally produced souvenirs and where to eat and drink so that tourism expenditure can benefit local businesses and individuals.

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, are delighted to share their knowledge and are dedicated to looking after our valued passengers.