Botswana lodge safari and Victoria Falls

Planet

As with many of our worldwide adventure tours one of the main areas of focus on this Botswana trip will be the remarkable array of wildlife that you can expect to encounter. From huge herds of elephants to big cats and predators, Botswana is a country filled with fascinating and beautiful creatures, and we place a huge importance on ensuring that they are protected. You can expect to witness these majestic animals in their natural habitats and it has never been more important to ensure that these habitats are allowed to thrive. We believe that responsible tourism to these parts of the world can have a positive impact on the conservation efforts that are in place across the country. By opening up the eyes of people across the world to the ongoing fight to conserve the habitats of the country’s wildlife and by actively encouraging investment in these schemes we can help the people of Botswana to preserve the elements that make this country so unique.

Your pre-departure information on this trip will contain information on ways in which we can all help, including information on local wildlife charities and conservation organisations. As a company 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 helps reduce the potential for disease transmission between domestic animals and Botswana’s wildlife populations.

Conservation is also directly supported through some of the accommodation used on this itinerary. At Pioneers Victoria Falls, US$5 from every guest night is donated to the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit to help fund anti-poaching patrols, wildlife rescues and conservation education. The lodge also supports the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, whose work encompasses wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, scientific research, human-wildlife conflict and community conservation.

The pre-departure briefing on this tour will also include information on respecting the wildlife which you will encounter, including keeping a safe distance from all wildlife and ensuring not to encroach upon their habitats or do anything which may place an animal under unnecessary stress or danger. Our local guides will ensure that the measures in place to protect wildlife and conserve these habitats are carefully observed throughout the trip.

As well as responsibility towards the ongoing survival of Botswana’s wildlife we also place a huge importance on protecting the environments through which you will be travelling. Your pre-departure information will include advice on travelling in an environmentally responsible way, including responsible use of water, a most precious commodity throughout many of the areas we visit, and appropriate waste disposal.

The accommodation used on this itinerary provides some particularly good examples of practical steps being taken to reduce environmental impacts. Karangoma Camp in the Okavango Delta uses solar energy to power its guest tents, including geysers, fans, lighting and charging facilities. Guests can also explore this fragile wetland environment using low-impact forms of transport including guided walking and traditional mokoro excursions.

Moela Safari Lodge is powered by a solar-hybrid system and uses thermodynamic solar technology to provide hot water. The lodge has been designed using traditional African architecture and construction techniques and was built by skilled Batswana craftspeople and artisans from the neighbouring Khumaga community.

Chobe Elephant Camp has also been designed to reduce its environmental footprint. Its thick sand-filled walls provide natural insulation against Botswana’s extreme temperatures, reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling. Renewable or reclaimed wood is used for construction and furniture wherever possible, while solar energy is used to heat water.

At Pioneers Victoria Falls, a 60kVA solar installation means that the lodge’s essential electrical circuits are powered by solar energy for much of the time, while all guest hot water is supplied using solar geysers. The lodge actively reduces single-use plastics through filtered drinking water, reusable guest flasks and participation in the Ecodrop refill scheme.

Pioneers is also an active member of the Pristine Victoria Falls Society. Lodge staff participate in weekly litter collections around Victoria Falls and the property makes monthly financial contributions towards clean-up projects, waste infrastructure and environmental education. Unavoidable food waste is collected for the organisation’s Black Soldier Fly Project, where organic material is converted into fertiliser or animal feed rather than being sent to landfill.

As a company we firmly believe that environmental responsibility starts at home. 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.

People

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. 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.

The providers that we use on this tour are passionate about protecting the communities, wildlife and landscapes of this remarkable country. The local ground handlers that we use are committed to creating and upholding transparent and respectful relationships with people living in the areas we visit, helping tourism create continued revenue, employment and career opportunities within Botswana. Through training, mentoring and ongoing development, local people are given opportunities to build successful careers within the country’s tourism industry.

Some of the accommodation on this itinerary provides particularly strong examples of how tourism and local communities can work together. Karangoma Camp in the northern Okavango Delta was developed in partnership with local elder Olatotse Sarefo and has strong links with the Bukakhwe San and Hambukushu communities. The camp’s identity, design and guest experiences draw directly on local culture, while community interactions provide visitors with an opportunity to learn about the traditions and knowledge of people who have lived in this landscape for generations.

Moela Safari Lodge provides another particularly tangible example. The lodge stands on land owned by the Ngande Trust, representing the local Khumaga community, and that land is leased to the lodge operators. This creates an ongoing economic relationship between tourism and the community rather than local people simply living alongside a tourism operation.

The development of Moela itself also created local economic opportunities. Its eight suites and main lodge were constructed by skilled Batswana craftspeople and artisans from Khumaga village, incorporating local workmanship and traditional African design. The lodge’s operating philosophy is based around partnership with communities bordering wildlife areas, with the aim that conservation and tourism generate benefits for the people who live closest to those environments.

Chobe Elephant Camp also gives visitors an opportunity to gain an understanding of local life through visits and interaction with the neighbouring Sibuya community. Experiences such as these can help ensure that tourism is not solely focused on wildlife but also gives visitors an appreciation of the people and cultures of the regions they are travelling through.

As well as only working with providers who have a proven track record, we are committed to using accommodation and tourism partners that support their staff and local communities fairly. The companies involved in this itinerary provide employment, training and skills development within the destinations in which they operate, while the use of local suppliers, craftspeople and community partnerships helps keep a greater proportion of tourism revenue within Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Our ground handlers also invest in social responsibility initiatives, including programmes supporting local schools, community transport and organisations working with vulnerable groups. By using local providers we are able to support these initiatives while ensuring that the people delivering the trip have first-hand knowledge of the destinations, their communities and their conservation challenges.

Solely using local agencies and providers also means that we have access to up-to-date local information and can therefore provide the most relevant information in our pre-departure literature. This includes advice on cultural etiquette and suggestions on how to engage respectfully with the communities we will be visiting. 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 spending 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.