Botswana family adventure

Planet

On this action packed family tour you and your family will expect to encounter a huge array of wildlife roaming free in their natural habitats. From meerkats and hyenas to big cats, giraffes and large herds of elephants, the unique abundance of wildlife is one of the things that makes a trip to Botswana so special, and as wildlife conservationists we place a huge importance on ensuring that your trip has a 100% positive effect on the conservation efforts that are in place to ensure the continued survival of these remarkable animals. That is why from the moment you book your tour you will be offered advice and information on how you, the tourist, can help and make your trip as positively influential as possible.

On every game activity you participate in you will be given clear guidance on how to act around the wildlife you will encounter, including strict distances that must be kept at all times, not only to ensure your safety but equally importantly so as to not encroach upon the natural habitats of the area’s wildlife population. Throughout your tour you will also learn about the conservation efforts in place, what is being done in terms of anti-poaching and rehabilitation for animals, and how you can help.

As a company we support many wildlife organisations worldwide. Further to this the ground handlers that we use for this trip are 100% committed to ensuring the ongoing protection of wildlife by supporting charities such as the Maun Animal Welfare Society which provides free veterinary treatment to low income individuals in Northern Botswana. In turn this vital service assists in preventing the spread of disease from domestic animals to the world famous Botswana wildlife population.

We believe that tourism to Botswana and Zimbabwe certainly has a positive effect. Many of our customers return from their trips with a renewed passion to help in the fight to protect the landscapes and wildlife that make this country so unique.

Further to our commitment to our customers, we place great importance on ensuring that all of our local partners and accommodation providers take their responsibility to the country’s resources seriously. This is evident in all of the lodges used on this tour. For example the operators of the Lokuthula Lodge are very heavily involved in numerous projects throughout Zimbabwe and Botswana that aim to help both the country’s people and wildlife. They are active in the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit as well as their own “Vulture Culture” feeding programme which has been set up to aid the survival of these remarkable, but endangered birds, allowing their numbers to be monitored, and also raising awareness of their plight at the same time. You and your family will be more than welcome to get involved with feeding and whilst this activity is free, a small donation is encouraged. Likewise, the operators of Planet Boabob are heavily involved in conservation efforts including the Makgadikgadi Brown Hyaena Project.

As well as the plethora of wildlife that enchants tourists on a trip to Botswana or Zimbabwe, the countries are also renowned for their stunning landscapes and unique environment, and we place a great importance on ensuring that all tourism operations we partake in cause as minimal impact on these environments as possible. We ensure that all accommodations used on this tour have appropriate “green” credentials and that processes and practices are in place for environmentally friendly operations. From eco-friendly construction methods to recycling initiatives all of our operators and providers are responsible travel advocates. This is particularly evident in our use of Chobe Bakwena Lodge, which prides itself on being an exceptionally eco-friendly luxury retreat. Bakwena Lodge is the only lodge on the Chobe River to have been built completely on environmentally friendly based eco principles. The chalets you will be staying in here have been constructed in the most environmentally friendly manner possible, using the sandbag method which allows the chalets to provide their own thermal regulation without the need for wasting energy on air conditioning units. The chalets have also been constructed fully using local and sustainable or renewable natural sources where possible, allowing the lodge to maintain a low carbon footprint. All decking is pine, sourced from sustainable plantations, and all furniture has been built on site using only sustainably sourced wood. Treatments on all wooden surfaces are not harmful to the environment as they are made from natural oils and plant extracts and the walls are treated and finished with ‘green paints’. On top of this, biodegradable laundry detergents, kitchen products and furniture soaps, oils and waxes are used throughout the lodge and solar technology is used to power the lighting, heating and water. This lodge really is a groundbreaker in terms of the use of environmentally friendly operations, allowing the guest to relax in the knowledge that their visit is causing as little carbon footprint as possible. Another example is the operators of Lokuthula Lodge who are involved in numerous schemes designed to give back to the environment, including national tree planting days and Victoria Falls clean up campaigns.

Your pre-departure briefing will also include information on how you can travel in an environmentally friendly way, including responsible usage of water and recycling advice.

People

Helping the people of the countries we visit to sustain the revenue streams created from tourism is exceptionally important to us. We take every step necessary to ensure that the tours we provide create a 100% 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 and Zimbabwe itineraries.

Solely using local agencies to provide the elements of your tour means we have up to date & relevant local information that we can pass on to you. This includes information on on-going initiatives and community efforts that we actively encourage our customers to become involved in, information on cultural etiquette and advice on how to engage with and help the local communities. We offer first-hand advice on creating meaningful and respectful relationships between tourists and residents and suggest local areas and communities to visit gaining cultural insights along the way, along with advice on where to buy souvenirs (to ensure the proceeds are going directly to the vendors), where to eat & where to drink.

The local providers that we use are also exceptionally passionate about protecting the communities, wildlife and landscapes of this remarkable country. They are committed to creating and upholding transparent and honest relationships with local communities and suppliers. We use small, local management companies so that not only do they hold intimate knowledge of the regions and how to protect them, but also so that as much of the revenue created as possible is filtered straight through to the local communities. The suppliers that we work with ensure continued revenue streams for local communities and only hire local people. Our agents provide career opportunities that without the tourism aspect would not be possible, and through established in-house training programs, mentoring systems and ongoing training the local people of the communities we visit are encouraged to prosper.

On top of this we are also committed to ensuring that on all of our tours we only use lodges and hotels that have a proven track record of treating staff well and fairly, and which have processes in place for giving back to the local communities. Your hosts at Chobe Bakwena Lodge for example are passionate about responsible tourism that supports local communities through employment and local trade. Every member of staff, including the management team, is from the nearby villages and wherever possible materials used in the lodge are sourced locally. Likewise, the operators of Lokuthula Lodge are involved in many schemes including local school development programs and “Pack for a Purpose”. The Pack for a Purchase initiative invites those who are travelling to the area to leave some space in their luggage to bring with them much needed supplies for local children and families. We encourage our customers to become involved in the scheme and can provide a list of suitable items that are currently required. Your hosts at Pom Pom Camp also have excellent social responsibility credentials including community outreaches for HIV/Aids screening & counselling, community development programmes and the sponsoring of regular events for the area’s underprivileged and orphaned children. Your stay at these lodges will directly contribute to the ongoing practices that are in place to ensure that every member of the local communities feel the benefits of Botswana and Zimbabwe’s tourism trade.

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