Botswana off beaten track holiday

Planet

We are committed to responsible values, which are echoed in all elements of our tours and holidays. We work with accommodation providers and local suppliers who share this dedication to responsible travel by focusing on environmental, conservation and community initiatives.

For example, this Botswana Off the Beaten Track holiday features eco-friendly accommodation, such as Savute Under Canvas, which moves to different private campsites every five days, in compliance with national park regulations, to preserve this stunning environment. There is no power, and the camp uses hurricane lamps run from solar batteries for lightings. Footsteps Across the Delta also has an emphasis on sustainable practices, as the camp is semi-permanent and is set up in a way which has minimal impact on the environment, to ensure that when the camp is moved, it leaves no trace. The camp avoids using plastic, and instead uses natural and recycled materials wherever possible including stainless steel and glass water bottles.

You will visit several national parks and reserves on this itinerary. In our detailed pre-departure travel pack we have included a note to remind you not leave any litter in the national parks and reserves – everything you carry in, you must carry out. Aside from the environmental damage, litter can be harmful to the wildlife.

People

During your time in Botswana we encourage you to support the local economy by buying authentic handmade products such as cotton fabrics, wood carvings, pottery and silver jewellery at markets, villages and small-scale souvenir shops, rather than hotel tourist shops or on organised shopping trips. When you buy products at markets, villages and small-scale souvenir shops you are helping to support a fragile economy and supporting local artisans helps keep traditional crafts alive.

We encourage you to support the Pack for a Purpose initiative and use a small amount of space in your luggage to pack supplies for local community projects in Botswana. You can leave your donations with our partner hotels and lodges who will pass them on to the school, medical centre or animal welfare project. Selinda Adventure Trail and its organiser, Great Plains Conservation, run a conservation education programme at schools in the neighbouring Duba and Selinda Reserves. You can see a full, up-to-date list of supplies needed to run the programme (mainly school supplies) on the Pack for a Purpose website under the Selinda Adventure Trail name.