Your Safari's Contribution to Conservation and Livelihoods in Africa
Published: 29 February 2024
Feel good, see good and do good - there’s a lot of ‘goodness’ when it comes to safari. Selfishly, you’re taking time out for yourself (you deserve it) and treating yourself to an experience where you’re waitered on hand and foot, but not so selfishly your safari helps conservation efforts and improves the livelihoods of communities. So sip that G&T, wear your khaki and know that by choosing to travel with Anywhere in Africa Safaris you’re staying at establishments that ensure your levies reach the people and wildlife who need it most.
The Conservation Challenge
Africa's unique ecosystems and iconic wildlife face numerous challenges, including habitat loss, poaching, and climate change - just watch any of Attenborough’s Planet Earth for context. Conservation efforts require substantial resources and a collective buy-in from multiple stakeholders, making it imperative to find sustainable funding solutions. This is where tourism, particularly safari tourism, steps in as a powerful force for positive change.
Don’t believe us? Read this blog we wrote during the height of Covid showcasing the impact of tourism on Africa and conservation.
Safaris: A Force for Conservation
Economic Contribution:
Safari tourism injects significant funds into local economies, creating a direct link between the value of wildlife and the well-being of communities. Entrance fees, accommodation, and guided tours generate revenue that can be channeled into conservation initiatives, providing crucial support for anti-poaching efforts and habitat preservation.
Community Empowerment:
Education and Awareness:
Safaris serve as educational platforms, enlightening visitors about the importance of preserving Africa's biodiversity. Informed and engaged tourists are more likely to contribute to conservation efforts, both during their visit and even upon returning home where we like to call our guests “ambassadors for Africa”. This heightened awareness and telling friends and family about safari experiences is essential for building a global network of conservation advocates.
Habitat Protection:
The revenue generated by safari tourism often goes towards establishing and maintaining protected areas. These areas serve as crucial havens for endangered species, allowing them to thrive without the constant threat of habitat destruction.
Case Study: Elephant Havens
When you travel with Anywhere in Africa Safaris a portion of your trip's cost goes towards Elephant Havens in Botswana. This organization does more than just save young orphaned and abandoned elephants - its reach is felt community-wide.
Through habitat protection, community outreach, and the rescue and hand-rearing of young elephants, this organization aims to become a leading voice in wildlife conservation awareness and protection.
They believe in creating a world where African elephants and local communities coexist in harmony, through educational programs, collaboration with local farmers and community inclusion.
The impact of tourism is felt not only by the young short-tailed orphan named Makoba, who escaped a leopard only to lose a portion of his tail, but also by the youth and local people—many of whom are now steady advocates for these elephants after seeing first-hand what a positive impact these wonderful creatures and a conservation mindset can bring to a community and a country.
Elephant Havens works very closely with the Shorobe Primary School where tourists can assist by bringing consumables such as pens, paper, calculators etc. But this isn’t all.
Visitors and donors managed to raise enough money to refurbish all structures and the original classroom (from 1963, pre-independence) in January 2024. This allowed children to be educated under a roof and not in tents. A bus service was also started which assists in bringing more children to and from school safely (prior to this they walked huge distances through wildlife country to get to school).
Gone are the days where elephants in the area were harmed for encroaching on farmland, they’re now celebrated and protected by a community who can thrive on knowing that their children are receiving a better education and employment opportunities are growing.
By adopting responsible practices and actively contributing to conservation initiatives, your safari becomes a beacon of hope for both the incredible wildlife of Africa and the communities that coexist with them. Together, we can ensure a future where tourism and conservation work hand in hand for the benefit of all.