Environment

Accommodation and Meals:
For 11 out of 12 nights we stay at a campsite, meaning our environmental impact is relatively minimal compared to using hotels and other fixed accommodation. Most of these campsites also make use of solar panels to power lights and cooling facilities. We are in support of campsites and lodges that employ local people and show an interest in local communities. Although sourcing local produce may be troublesome in a country as arid as Namibia, our chefs try to use nearby suppliers as much as possible. Dinner at camp will usually be a locally sourced BBQ over an open fire.

Conservation:
Our local partners make annual donations to the Save the Rhino Trust, who carry out conservation studies, educate young children about endangered species’ and train game guards from local communities to defend Rhinos from poachers. Our entrance fees to National Parks like Etosha, also go towards the maintenance of this incredible environment and the several species of wildlife which make this trip so exciting. These fees also help nearby communities by contributing to the wages of those who are employed there and also supporting initiatives in surrounding villages.

UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.

Community

Local Craft and Culture:
We visit as many produce and craft markets as possible on this tour as a means of supporting the local community and in some cases celebrating traditional craftsmanship. For instance, on the way to Windhoek, we stop at Okahandja, which is an important centre for woodcarvers from the north. Here we will visit the woodcarvers' market on the side of the road and this is a great place to buy some souvenirs. When we visit the indigenous Ovahimba people, clients have another opportunity to purchase small gifts, jewellery and textiles which have been handmade by village members.

Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.