Malawi safari and beach vacation

Environment

Mvuu Camp is run on some commendable environmentally-responsible practices, such as recycling bottles into drinking glasses, making plant ties out of old tyres...... but more importantly they are very involved with numerous conservation projects in Liwonde National park. They have a really positive influence in their region.

Locals are employed at the lodges and as safari guides who will help you to view wildlife responsibly when on safari and snorkelling.

The company that organises this vacation is a multi award-winning responsible travel company. They try to ensure that nothing they do at home (in UK), or abroad, compromises the environment or wildlife or exploits people. They believe in ensuring that travelers are well-informed, as an informed traveler tend to be a more respectful and sensitive traveler. They also believe in giving back to the country, people wildlife and environments which are affected by tourism. In terms of information, all travelers are given guidelines on Traveling with Respect, which includes advice on cultural aspects of your travels as well as protecting the environment.

Flights are automatically carbon offset through The Travel Forest, which plants indigenous trees on your behalf (currently in Malawi). Whilst the primary motivation for planting the trees is to offset carbon emissions, the project also works as a poverty alleviation and environmental improvement scheme.

Community

The company backs a charity called The Tribes Foundation with funds and administration. This is a registered UK charity whose principle aim is to relieve the poverty of indigenous communities in areas outside of the UK which are affected by tourism. The charity backs poverty alleviation, education, cultural preservation and conservation projects within these regions. It has backed schools, clinics, micro-business projects and more. They constantly raise funds for grassroots projects, which travelers are encouraged to donate to if they would like to give something back.

Working with partners on the ground in each destination, the company only uses local guides. They also primarily promote locally-owned services (hotels etc). They have internally eco-rated about hundreds of properties worldwide which they work with closely, so they are very clear which accommodations have good environmental and social responsibility credentials. This information is used to ensure that any traveler wanting to ensure they are really making a difference, can choose between one property and another on eco-issues. They also promote community-owned projects and services where applicable and possible. Indeed they were instrumental in setting up two community-owned ventures in Tanzania and Peru.