When you go on safari, chances are, you want to make sure that your trip benefits the local region. As an African-born company, we make sure that your unforgettable adventure contributes to local communities and the protects region’s wildlife.
When it comes to sustainable travel, we keep three main factors in mind:
- Environmental: Upholding environmentally friendly practices and protecting endangered species
- Social & Cultural: Preserving local heritage and supporting host communities
- Economic: Support the local economy & providing fair employment
Read on for a few ways that we’re making your next adventure more sustainable.
SUSTAINABLE SAFARI TIP #1
Buy Local
Work with Local Guides
Local guides know the region like no one else. Our guides have spent years guiding travelers, venturing through Africa’s wild spaces, and working amongst the wildlife. They bring an unmatched knowledge of the region’s wildlife, as well as the cultures and history that make up each unique country—and they’re delighted to share it with you on safari.
Your one-of-a-kind trip supports local employment and helps create new opportunities for our guides, their families, and their communities.
Stay in Local Eco-Lodges
East Africa is home to an incredible array of lodges—whether you’re staying in refined bandas on the banks of the Nile to luxury tents in the midst of the rainforest.
From supporting local businesses to creating valuable employment, your visit has a positive impact on the local economy.
And by working with safari lodges that have adopted eco-friendly practices, we help minimize our environmental footprint wherever possible. Solar power, in-house gardens, natural building materials, and eco-friendly water filtration systems are just a few of the practices that help support the environment around many of these lodges.
SUSTAINABLE SAFARI TIP #2
Invest in Local Communities
Enjoy Cultural Tours that Directly Benefit Local Communities
When you visit with members of the Batwa tribe after gorilla trekking, take a village walk near Kibale Forest, or learn traditional handcrafts with a local women’s cooperative, our safaris focus on cultural tours that are run by members of the local community.
That way, you get to make an authentic connection with indigenous communities and cultures while making sure that your trip directly benefits their work.
Support Education for At-Risk Youth
Since our founding, we’ve worked alongside our partner school in Uganda to support the education of local students who otherwise may not be able to afford their tuition.
We also coordinate longer volunteer experiences for visiting school groups—for example, a group of U.S. students working with their Ugandan cohorts to design and paint a brilliant mural at the school.
These experiences foster genuine connection across cultures and provide meaningful support for our partner school and its students.
SUSTAINABLE SAFARI TIP #3
Support Wildlife & Environmental Conservation
Protect Local Wildlife
When it comes to protecting wildlife, the gorilla conservation efforts in Uganda are a case study in success. Once on the verge of extinction, the mountain gorillas’ bleak prospects have brightened thanks to dedicated conservationists and ecotourism in Uganda.
The permit fees for gorilla trekking help support their conservation, and we’ve seen the gorilla population grow in recent years as a result of these efforts. And when you stay in the region’s lodges, embark on a cultural tour with us, or hire a porter during your trek, you’re also supporting the local community in ways that make a real difference.
The mountain gorillas of Uganda are just one example of how our safaris support and protect local wildlife. To learn more about how your safari supports wider conservation efforts in East Africa, contact us.
Get Involved
For every guest that travels with Hornbill, we plant a tree where it’s needed—and if they’d like, our travelers are invited to join in. We’ve seen interested travelers grab a shovel and plant trees in the wild spaces of in Western Uganda, and schoolchildren learn about the environment through our tree plantings near Lake Victoria.
Sustainable travel creates a cycle that keeps giving, and we’re proud to keep that cycle going with every trip we offer. To plan your safari or learn more about how your journey has a positive impact in the region, just contact us.
