Sustainability

Without safari goers such as yourself, many of Africa’s wilderness areas would cease to exist. Tourism to Africa –and especially tourism to Africa’s great wildlife areas – plays an extremely important role in ensuring the survival of wildlife and wilderness. Communities benefit hugely from tourism income, especially with regards to finding employment. Safari lodges and camps (such as that we take people to) employ anything from 2 – 4 people per each and every bed. An upmarket 10-bedded camp will employ as many as 40 people.

As an example, there are more than 50 safari camps in the Okavango Delta each employing between 32 and 64 people, or a total of 1600 – 3200 people. The same trend is reflected in countries across Africa. Add to this the number of support staff needed to keep these camps running, as well as any related businesses such as transport, food supplies, maintenance, building supplies and fuel, and you begin to realise that the benefits to the economy run much deeper than what you see on the surface.

Being such an important driver of the economy and employment in Africa, tourism will continue to be looked after as an industry, by communities and governments. Since the biggest tourism drawcard is the wildlife and wilderness, these will in turn be protected.

Much of the money you spend on a safari is pumped back into preserving the future of the wilderness areas that you’re enjoying, so every tourist should recognise the important role they play in ensuring the survival of wildernesses and wildlife.