Zimbabwe & Botswana safari, tailor made

Planet

Zimbabwe and Botswana are remarkable lands where many big cats, predators and massive herds of elephants roam free in their natural habitats, and we place a huge importance on ensuring that these fascinating and beautiful creatures and their homes are protected. We believe that “good” tourism to these parts of the world directly has a very positive impact on the conservation efforts that are in place across the countries. By opening up the eyes of people across the world to the ongoing fight to conserve the habitats of the countries’ wildlife and by actively encouraging investment in these schemes we can help the people of Botswana and Zimbabwe to preserve the elements that make these countries so unique.

As a company we support many wildlife organisations worldwide and we actively encourage our customers to donate to conservation efforts in Botswana including Save the Rhino and Big Cat initiatives. Further to this, the ground handlers that we use for this trip are committed to the ongoing protection of wildlife by supporting organisations such as the Maun Animal Welfare Society, which provides veterinary treatment to low-income communities in Northern Botswana. This important work also assists in reducing the potential spread of disease between domestic animals and Botswana’s wildlife populations.

The accommodation providers used on this trip also contribute to wildlife conservation. In Victoria Falls, Batonka Guest Lodge supports both the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust and the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit. A contribution from each guest’s stay goes towards wildlife conservation and anti-poaching work in the region, helping to support initiatives including wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, conservation research, environmental education and measures designed to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

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 the animal under any stress or danger. In most game reserves tourists are not permitted to leave their game vehicles, this is for the safety of both the tourists and the wildlife, and our local partners will ensure that the strict measures in place to conserve the habitats of this wildlife are stringently enforced.

Your pre-departure information will also include advice on how to travel in an environmentally responsible way, including responsible use of water, a most precious commodity throughout the areas we will visit, and appropriate waste disposal.

We ensure that the lodges and accommodation providers we use on this trip demonstrate a commitment to reducing their environmental impact. Chobe Elephant Camp, overlooking the Chobe River floodplains, is a solar-powered property and has been designed with environmental considerations in mind. Its chalets use thick sand-filled walls which provide natural insulation, helping to reduce the energy required to keep rooms cool, while reclaimed and recyclable materials have also been incorporated into the property.

Moremi Crossing in the Okavango Delta is another particularly strong example. The camp operates on 100% solar power, with generators retained as backup, and its raised, tented accommodation has been designed to sit lightly within the sensitive Delta environment. Activities here also include low-impact ways of experiencing this remarkable ecosystem, including guided nature walks and traditional mokoro excursions when conditions allow.

Likewise, Batonka Guest Lodge in Victoria Falls operates a number of initiatives designed to reduce its environmental footprint. These include solar water heating, energy-efficient lighting and air conditioning, greywater recycling for the gardens, timed irrigation systems, responsible linen and towel washing and the separation of waste, with organic waste used for composting. The lodge also participates in the Ecodrop initiative, providing access to filtered water refill stations to reduce the use of disposable plastic water bottles.

Bomani Tented Lodge on the edge of Hwange National Park is also powered by solar energy. Its operator, Imvelo Safari Lodges, is heavily involved in conservation throughout the Hwange region, including supporting water provision for wildlife and increasingly using solar-powered pumps at boreholes to reduce reliance on diesel. Imvelo also works closely with neighbouring communities through conservation initiatives designed to ensure that wildlife and local people benefit together.

As a company we firmly believe that environmental responsibility starts at home (and the workplace of course). 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 the organisers of this Botswana & Zimbabwe tour, we have ensured that all suppliers or agents that we use to provide the elements of your tour are passionate about protecting the communities, wildlife and landscapes of these remarkable countries. The providers that we use 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 remains within the destinations visited.

The suppliers that we work with endeavour to create continued revenue streams for local communities and provide employment and career opportunities for local people. Through training, mentoring and ongoing development, tourism can provide sustainable employment and opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to access in remote rural areas.

We are committed to ensuring that on all of our tours we use lodges and hotels that demonstrate a commitment to treating staff fairly and giving back to the communities in which they operate. This is particularly evident at Bomani Tented Lodge, whose operator Imvelo Safari Lodges has developed a long-term model of community-based ecotourism around Hwange National Park. Tourism revenue helps to support conservation alongside practical community initiatives in areas such as education, healthcare and access to clean water.

Bomani is also closely involved with the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative, which has returned white rhino to the Hwange ecosystem in partnership with local communities. Community land has been allocated for rhino conservation and income generated through rhino tourism is channelled back into participating communities and the employment of local wildlife protection scouts. Guests staying at Bomani contribute directly through a Community Rhino and Conservation Initiative levy, helping to support the sanctuary, its neighbouring communities and the local scouts who protect the rhinos.

Guests at Bomani can also gain an insight into life in rural Matabeleland through community experiences and, when available, visits to nearby schools. These experiences help create meaningful connections between visitors and local residents while demonstrating how tourism and conservation can provide tangible benefits for communities living alongside Hwange National Park.

As well as this our partners continually invest in social responsibility initiatives and support local projects including education, healthcare, conservation, clean water provision and other programmes designed to deliver sustainable and tangible assistance to the communities in which they operate.

Using local agencies and providers means we have up-to-date local information and can therefore provide the most relevant information in our pre-departure literature. This includes information on ongoing initiatives and community efforts that we actively encourage our customers to become involved in, cultural etiquette and advice on how to engage respectfully with 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, along with advice on where to buy souvenirs, where to eat and where to drink so that tourism spending can benefit local businesses.

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.