Whether you’d like to bask in the luxury of a renowned hotel or surround yourself with the rustic charm of mobile or semi-mobile tent lodges, you can plan an ecotourism vacation to Africa that will live up to all your dreams.
In order to ensure that your trip meets your expectations and contributes to more ecologically sustainable practices in Africa, take the time to follow through on each of these pre-travel items.
#1: Choose a reputable sustainable tourism agency.
There are many of ecotourism companies that arrange trips to Africa. When choosing the one you work with, consider its trustworthiness (i.e. whether it actually promotes environmentally friendly practices) and its expertise in planning the type of vacation you want.
Specifically, look for…
Knowledgeable staff members. The people you talk with should be able to offer you plentiful information about ecotourism activities and programs where you plan to travel, and should explain how these efforts affect the health of the environment. Ask specific questions to educate yourself and determine whether the company has done its homework.
- Sustainable tourism credentials. Certification from outside bodies that regulate ecotourism is a sign that a company has real chops in the sustainable travel industry. Hills of Africa (with which this blog is affiliated) is certified by Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA), a major regulator of ecotourism in Africa. Another positive sign is that a company works in conjunction with (or has established of its own accord) a conservation foundation.
- Evidence of travel partners. Experienced eco-travel companies generally have Africa-based partners that include safari guides, hotels and other accommodations, tour guides, and more. Get a list of travel partners from any company you consider working with, and research the partners on your own. This will give you an idea of whether a vacation planned by this company will meet your criteria for an excellent trip.
- Testimonials from satisfied clients. Testimonials provide some of the clearest evidence of a company’s success (or failure)! If you can’t find evidence of testimonials on a travel company’s website, ask about them.
#2: Learn about your options.
Planning your trip to Africa will involve three major planning categories: accommodations, activities, and dining (once you’ve taken care of transportation). Speak with your travel agent about your options for each of these, and research them on your own to get an idea of how you want to spend your time.
#3: Choose your accommodations.
If you’re on a budget, consider “treating” yourself to some luxury accommodations and balancing these with more rustic options in other locations. Your choices for where to stay will run the gamut, so be sure to do location-specific research before committing so you know what to expect from each place you stay!
You may also consider choosing your accommodations based on which you perceive to be the most “eco-friendly.” Most sustainable accommodations provide information about their specific efforts to conserve resources, and those efforts range from using solar panels to building only with renewable materials to offering tours only on foot or bike.
#4: Plan your activities!
As you research your activities, be sure to learn about the ecological impact each has. Some safaris, for example, donate part of every fee to conservation efforts. If you prefer to get off the beaten path, consider asking your travel guide about places you can volunteer your time and energy to help build sustainable structures or participate in service activities.
Start Planning Your Sustainable Trip to Africa!
If you can hardly contain your excitement for your next ecotourism adventure to Africa, feel free to contact our eco-travel agency for more information!