We are passionate about Africa and recognise that in carrying out our work as a tour operator we have a responsibility to respect other people’s places and ways of life. We aim to maximise the benefits our clients’ travels can bring to an area, and we aim to be responsible in all our dealings in the areas of environmental, social and economic impact.

Africa

In Africa we work generally with small camps and lodges that understand that in the long term, they will benefit from working in a responsible way. They protect their local environment, its flora, fauna and landscapes; they respect local cultures and try and benefit local communities through employment, sourcing of supplies and support of local schools, healthcare facilities and other community projects; they minimise their impact on their environment.

Camps would be delighted to chat with clients about this, often overlooked, area of their work.

Affiliated Charity

This year, we’ll be donating a proportion of our profit to Kivuli Trust in Kenya, which supports children with mental and physical disabilities who attend Gilgil Special School alongside a mainstream neighbouring school. These “forgotten” children receive specialist education and support within a regular school environment. Kivuli Trust (Kivuli meaning “shelter” in Kiswahili) built and operates two hostels for children attending the Gilgil Special School. A safe haven, providing the children with regular meals, proper beds, and the pastoral care and support they deserve that will help them to thrive in the future. For further details about the charity and how you can help support the “forgotten children of Kivuli”, visit their website kivulitrust.org.

Sponsored guide and ranger training programme

Aardvark Safaris contributed towards a guide and ranger training programme at Saruni Rhino camp in the Sera Community Conservancy, northern Kenya.  When it opened in February 2017, the camp was be the first property to offer on foot tracking of the 11 black rhinos relocated to the conservancy.  During the course the rangers and guides learned the necessary skills to walk safely in the bush with guests.   The training was designed to push rangers and guides in areas of their jobs not usually explored.  Rangers are used to walking with rhinos but are not used to interacting with guests, while guides are used to hosting guests but until now expected to lead walking safaris.  After the intensive three week training course, both rangers and guides were able to offer guests a unique safari experience with these rare and endangered animals.  Fees raised through guest participation will be put towards further conservation of the rhino here and we were delighted to be able to assist with this outstanding project.

Tidworth, Hampshire & Musselburgh, Edinburgh

Within our offices we have reviewed our working practices and as far as possible we aim to reduce the resources we use. We then reuse scrap paper and recycle as much of our waste as possible. Unusually for tour operators our brochures are not date specific, so do not have to be thrown away, and we print only enough newsletters to fulfil current demand. Responsible tourism is an agenda point at each staff meeting to encourage ideas.

We encourage our clients to act responsibly when they travel and provide information for them in our predeparture information notes.

We were pleased to have been awarded a 4* award by AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) to recognise the efforts we made in this area.