How Going on Safari Benefits Conservation & Local Communities

To recover (whether from unhealthy patterns, or a new sense of self) is to recognise our interconnectedness with the world around us. In awakening to this, it becomes unavoidable that we recognise the imprint that our existence has on this world.

In this way, my mission in starting Africovery is inseparable from my desire to contribute to the conservation of sustainable African ecosystems and the thriving of the communities surrounding them.

I believe there is a massive societal need for joy and connectedness right now in a very atomised, angry world. Should you spend any time consuming news about the environment, you will be exposed to a level of human greed and selfishness that may tempt you to withdraw from the world and dwell in the dark feelings of despair. But I don't see this as helpful, nor does it encourage positive progress.

Contributing to conservation efforts doesn't just have to happen by donating money from the safe confines of your living room couch. In fact, your contribution can be as joyful as it is helpful.

Africovery's core values are about balance, and conservation requires a balanced approach — in this instance, meeting at the crossroads of conservation and joyful contribution to our planet through positive impact. Some might see it as counterintuitive; however, we believe booking a trip in the ecotourism industry, and with a travel company that prioritises slow, conscious travel - is more impactful than sitting at home in protest.

When you go on an Africovery safari, you aren't just investing in your growth and well-being, you're contributing in countless ways to the land and communities you will be visiting. That's because an integral element of our philosophy in designing the Africovery experience is that it promotes a circular economic system that works to decrease extraction and increase regeneration —a central tenet of ecotourism.. 

What is a circular economy?

The circular economy is a model of production and consumption that shifts away from extracting from nature and instead seeks to build regenerative natural capital. From the lodges and vendors we partner with to how we distribute revenue, Africovery ensures that an investment in your well-being is also an investment in the well-being of all.

Here are some ways you're supporting sustainability and conservation efforts by booking an Africovery safari:

Responsible Wildlife Tourism

Africovery exclusively partners with lodges in nature reserves that optimise conservation and protect the precious land and species under their care. We partner with sources of wildlife management that work to mimic natural processes and closely monitor the well-being of the ecosystem. This provides space and support for protecting endangered species such as rhinos, allowing for the re-growth of their devastated population. We also do our best to include conservation activities during retreats we organize, which is an incredible opportunity for guests to experience conservation in practice. The conservation fee included in your safari quote goes directly to these initiatives. In addition, 10% of the net revenue generated through commissions we receive and retreats will be distributed to an independent anti-rhino poaching task force who actively risk their lives to defend our precious rhino every day.

Eco-Friendly Accommodation

One of nature-based tourism's most notable positive impacts is increased environmental awareness. Tourism can (and should) involve educating visitors on the importance of our natural environment and the dire need to protect it. In conjunction with preserving wildlife via partnering with conservation-first lodges, we also ensure that our accommodations are eco-friendly. I am committed to partnering with lodges whose practices are sustainable, ensuring they make use of regenerative practices like rainwater harvesting and use renewable energy sources. Lastly, all of our lodge partners give back through their own community funds and projects to the nearby local communities and ecosystems that they inhabit.

Regenerative Community Employment

As you help to fund conservation efforts, you are also helping to create employment opportunities in the hospitality sector. By working with tour operators that hire local guides, using village-based vendors, and staying in lodges that employ local community members, you can directly impact the local economy. Our retreat gift bags also feature locally hand-made goods that go straight back to the women and their families who sewed them, another unique way to diversify the local economy. 

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"While there is no formal data to substantiate precisely how many people are employed within the sub-sector, it is generally known that for every eight to ten tourists in South Africa, one job is created. Ecotourism is one of the fastest-growing sub-sectors worldwide, reporting growth of between 10% and 15% annually.

In conclusion

A trip with Africovery enhances each traveler's sense of interconnectedness with the world by engaging first-hand with the relationship between visitors and the natural environment, local culture, and economy. Our seemingly momentary actions can have a tremendous long-term impact, and my hope is that a trip to Africa will inspire you to enact positive change in yourself and the world around you.