India safari holiday, lions tigers & bears

Planet

As custodians of our planet, we explore natural wonders, connect with local communities and cultures, while respecting its wildlife and habitats. We recognise the importance of minimising our ecological footprint and providing experiences which maximise the positives travel can bring. To this end, we work with partners worldwide to implement sustainable practices that benefit the destinations we visit, actively supporting conservation efforts, rewilding projects, and community-based initiatives that foster the long-term health of ecosystems.

CARBON REDUCTION

The providers of this tour take their commitment to sustainable travel exceptionally seriously and operate in line with their affiliation with the Virtuoso Sustainability program. They were also India’s first signatory to the Glasgow Declaration, highlighting their agreement to implement the commitments detailed in the declaration.

Additionally, the hotels and lodges chosen on this tour have been determined by their sustainability quotient. In Gir National Park you will stay in an Eco-friendly Wildlife Speciality Lodge, with a firm commitment to preserving the surrounding environment. Practices include eco-friendly waste management techniques and the growing of their own vegetables organically to be used in their wonderful restaurant where farm-fresh home food served. There is a focus on vegetarian meals here and the use of pre-packaged food items and bottled water is greatly discouraged.

The Bamboo Forest Safari Lodge in the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve pride themselves on providing “eco-luxury redefined” and are a major part of creating an eco-friendly and eco-sensitive tourism infrastructure around this burgeoning area. It is the lodge’s constant pursuit to blend with the natural surroundings and flora and fauna. Innovate initiatives include the introduction of India’s 1st battery operated luxury safari vehicle which offers zero environmental impact or pollution to the forest. They also practice continual tree plantation and have their own organic vegetable garden.

Likewise at the eco-luxe Pench Tree Lodge, they keep their carbon footprint to the bare minimum, and provide a Farm to Fork dining experience with ingredients sourced from their own organic garden and sustainability firmly at the heart of all menu creations. They offer menus solely consisting of items sourced from the neighbouring 5 villages and have eradicated the use of tinned & packaged food. The company adopted ESG in 2020, the international sustainability criteria for hotels, provided by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and have a zero single-use plastic policy at the lodge. The lodge is continuously re-wilded with native species and 50 KV net metering solar plants are installed which takes care of about 75% of the power need. At Reni Pani Jungle Lodge there is a focus on non-motorised exploration, with walking, canoeing, non-motor boat safaris and cycling encouraged as an alternative to jeep safaris. Throughout your trip, your guides will offer valuable insights on local environmental issues and ways in which to reduce the amount of waste created on your tour.

As a company, we are stringent about reducing our environmental impact, both on the tours we provide, and at home. Our marketing materials and brochures are printed in line with FSC® certification. We are committed to protecting the environment by reducing landfill and promoting recycled paper, and all office/print waste is bailed and recycled using a local recycling company. We encourage cleaner transportation methods for staff, and we monitor the sustainability of our tours through traveller evaluations and through feedback from our tour leaders in order to allow for continuous improvement.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

As a company we support many wildlife organisations worldwide and we actively encourage our customers to donate to the conservation efforts that are in place across the destinations they visit. We work globally with partners dedicated to wildlife welfare, following guidelines that forbid touching non-domesticated animals or performing unnatural tasks. Our standards emphasise appropriate accommodation, enclosures, and structured schedules. Continuous assessment based on customer feedback ensures guideline adherence. If shortcomings persist, we work with partners to reinstate best practices; if not possible, we withdraw support promptly.

India boasts an incredible diversity of wildlife, and it is our duty to ensure that is protected. We only work with suppliers and operators who echo our commitments, and this includes the lodges and accommodations used on your trip. Whilst India’s most iconic species, like the big cats, will be a highlight of your tour, emphasis is also placed on the lesser-known species that also call India home. Gir Birding Lodge has a dedicated conservation programme focusing on pangolins, which you will be invited to learn more about and contribute to whilst on your wildlife explorations. In fact, the whole concept of the lodge was developed to promote the concept of nature and bird conservation and help develop a love and respect for nature through wholesome and meaningful experiences. Throughout your stay here, this ethos will be firmly emphasised. Likewise, at every lodge you will stay at, you will have the opportunity to learn all about the ways in which they contribute to the conservation efforts within the national parks and refuges in which they are based. All activities will be accompanied by expert naturalist guides who know and love these lands like no other, with the vast majority of these guides coming from the local areas. Each lodge also has their own innovate projects in place designed to restore, replenish and protect the natural world surrounding them.

People

As a company, we advocate for the promotion of tourism as a sustainable natural resource with the capacity to preserve, safeguard, and enhance lives, especially evident in our India itineraries. Tourism serves as a significant source of revenue in various parts of India, and we are dedicated to taking all essential measures to ensure that our tours contribute solely to the positive development of the communities in the regions we explore.

LOCAL ECONOMY

Throughout your trip, you will predominantly be staying in locally-owned and managed accommodations, avoiding the use of international chain hotels wherever possible. We ensure that the accommodations you are staying in have excellent track records of employing and training people from the local communities. For example, Pench Tree Lodge has been chosen thanks to its innovate sustainable tourism vision, and 70% of the team there is comprised of locals who are also in managerial & key positions. They have also adopted excellent farm-to-table initiatives, and over 70% of the lodge’s services and procurement needs are met locally. This is echoed in every lodge you will visit, with a firm commitment to employing local people and working closely with local communities. The ground handlers for your tour are also India’s first and only travel company to feature on in the top 50 employers in Mid-Sized companies by the Great Place to Work Institute.

Throughout your stay in India you will be encouraged to visit the local communities from the areas in which you will be staying. Each lodge offers local village visits and immersive cultural experiences. With the knowledge of local guides and your tour operator, visit local bazaars to purchase indigenous crafts and products of the area, knowing that all revenue is going directly back to the local communities. Visit local schools and education initiatives to see the work being done by the lodges to promote education in the local areas and improve local infrastructure.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Our commitment extends to only using accommodations that have demonstrated a consistent commitment to supporting local communities and treating their staff with fairness and respect. We ensure that the accommodations you are staying in have excellent track records of employing and training people from the local communities.