The world is moving into a new era. With climate change and the general impact that people can have on a location being on the minds of many travellers, more and more people are looking for sustainable travel options that will allow them to have a holiday without feeling guilty about climbing on an aeroplane and travelling to a fascinating new place.
Sustainable safaris are fast becoming a popular way to travel. The goal of this way of travelling is to see the world in such a way that the impact that you have on the destination is at best not felt and at worst, is at least positive. Since most of the world’s most popular places to travel are often overcrowded with tourists, the impact on the destination can be quite negative. Overcrowded destinations can take quite a knock, with the environment, the communities and even the local economy sometimes being negatively affected. With sustainable safaris, and sustainable travelling in general, you can explore the world guilt free.

How can safaris become sustainable?
It is not just the way that you travel but also the things that you do while you are on safari that can make the difference. One of the best ways to experience a more sustainable safari is to book a tour with a company that has made a commitment to providing guests with a sustainable safari experience.
But aside from booking the right kind of tour, you can also do a few things when you are travelling, to ensure that your trip has that sustainable factor.
- Treat everything and everyone with respect
The key to any kind of sustainable safari is to treat every person, place and situation with respect. When you are holidaying in a new destination, you are essentially the guest. One way to be respectful is to do no harm and to always be kind to the people and animals you encounter while on safari.
2. Choose a thoughtful tour operator
Going on tour with the sort of company that is willing to share their knowledge and to help you learn more about what you are seeing and where you are going is something that can make your safari a whole lot more special and it can also be a guide as to how to behave and how to act in a sustainable way.
3. Leave the wildlife alone
Many travellers make the mistake of thinking that the animals they come across aren’t all that wild. No matter where you travel in Africa, you are going to come in contact with wildlife, and it is best that you leave the animals alone. Appreciate them from a distance but don’t try to touch them.
4. Buy a reusable water bottle
Instead of buying single use plastic bottles, invest in a high quality reusable plastic bottle that can be refilled. There are plenty of places in Africa, especially Southern Africa, where you can get safe drinkable water from a tap.
5. Don’t buy endangered or unethical products
Going home with something memorable from your trip is something you should definitely do. But when you are shopping, don’t buy anything that looks suspicious, and avoid buying anything that looks like it was once alive.
If you want to have a Namibia holiday to remember, book your trip with Namibia Safaris. We are an ethical and sustainable Namibia tour company.