HOW TO SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION WHEN YOU TRAVEL
A trip to southern Africa can be life changing…if it’s done right. For many, going on a ‘safari’, or any nature based tourism experience in this part of the world, is a once in a lifetime experience. But its also an opportunity to improve the lives of many, not just yours. Keeping conservation at the forefront of your decision making ensures that the money you spend goes further than just your bed and board. It can contribute to the protection of wildlife and wild spaces and allow for the enhancement of the socio-economic status of many local communities.
But for many, figuring out how to support biodiversity conservation when travelling is extremely confusing. So what follows is a list of what we consider to be the most important considerations when planning a conservation focused trip to southern Africa.
1) Don’t be sold on the Big 5
Elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino. The iconic ‘Big 5’. Unfortunately, lodges and protected areas sell themselves on having the Big 5, tourism marketing companies push trips which include the chance to see the Big 5 and so it is only natural that guests want to see them - after all, when you’ve been told to look out for 5 (or 6) species why would you look for anything else? This goes even further to encourage guides to race around the bush looking for these species when they could instead be educating guests about the interlinked nature of ecosystems and the value of megafauna in shaping the environment you’re in. When you have the opportunity to learn about an entire ecosystem it seems a shame to only focus on a handful of species. Have a look at our Big 5 article to learn more.
2) Don’t go cub petting
Lion cubs are cute. So why wouldn’t you pay to pet an orphaned lion cub? You’re supporting lion conservation and these animals will be returned to the wild, right? No and no. It’s extremely uncommon to find an orphaned lion cub and do you think that being handled by humans is helping this orphan prepare for their return to the wild? Unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous lion breeders who take advantage of well-meaning tourists, they farm lions to produce cubs which tourists will pay money to pet. The cubs then mature and go onto ‘walking with lions’ experiences, eventually ending up in pseudo trophy hunts and having their bones shipped off to south east Asia. Despite what you will be told, the cubs will never be returned to the wild. In fact, they never came from the wild. They are farmed, like livestock. There are so many opportunities to contribute to lion conservation, but petting a cub is not one of them. Please think twice and don’t be exploited. The fewer people that go to these ‘wildlife sanctuaries’ the more likely it is that these farms will stop breeding lions. To learn more, have a read of our cub petting article.
3) Find lodges that support communities as well as wildlife
There are few protected areas in southern Africa that aren’t (or weren’t) home to people too. These communities are in remote areas and therefore education and work opportunities are a real struggle. So, a lodge can be life changing. They can provide jobs and support community development projects. Make sure you pick a lodge which supports local people through not only employment, but skill enhancement and capacity building too.
4) Learn before you travel
Read some blog posts, listen to a podcast or learn a few words of the local language. Starting out with a bit of knowledge will help you to understand why your guide gets excited when there are vultures close by or why they ask you to not post geo-tagged photos of rhinos on social media. Saying ‘Good Morning’ or ‘How are you?’ in a local language will most certainly allow you to develop a connection with the people around you. With this understanding your time in the bush can only be enhanced.
5) Support lodges with Anti Poaching Units (APU)
The reason a guide might ask you to not post images of rhinos is because both black and white rhinos are being poached to extinction. Evidence suggests that poachers use images on social media to identify locations with rhinos. Anti-Poaching Units work tirelessly to protect rhinos from these poachers. Most lodges or reserves will have an APU, chances are you’ll never see them, but they’ll have seen you. APUs spend their time following rhinos night and day to ensure that they come to no harm. They’re just one cog in a whole protection system and you can play your part too by not posting your images on social media, but if the reserve that you’re visiting has rhinos you want to be sure that the lodge you’re staying at supports their APU. Learn more about the importance of APUs and rhino conservation here.
6) Visit the less well-known areas
Kruger National Park, the Okavango Delta and the Masai Mara are the classics. And they’re classics for a reason. They are spectacularly beautiful and have incredible wildlife populations. But their beauty means that they’re extremely popular with tourists which unfortunately can lead to over-tourism. As something which we have experienced more than just a few times, over-tourism can absolutely ruin your experience of what was supposed to be a pristine, untouched African wilderness. In fact, it was an experience with over-tourism that led us to starting Thatch and Earth. To get away from this consider finding protected areas that aren’t as well known - you’ll appreciate their splendid isolation and you may be surprised at what you see. Try Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana or visit Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania for some spectacular wildlife sightings. They might not have the Big 5 but instead they could have a particularly high density of a rare species. They might not have vast rivers, but instead they could have red sand dunes featuring supremely adapted species. There is so much diversity out there, it seems a shame to not find the path less trodden. You will be amazed at the gems you can find.
7) Embrace the little things
Even if you do take a well worn route to an iconic protected area, this doesn’t mean that you have to rush around finding megafauna. Take time to watch the spectacled weavers building their nest or observe how a dung beetle meticulously builds and rolls their ball. The wild areas of southern Africa have so much to offer. It can be meditative to sit and observe the smallest events happening right around you. Its also a reminder that you’re not just visiting the land of the megafauna, you’re visiting an ecosystem and it should be seen as such. Each of those large species you’re looking for is linked with the tiny insects or brightly coloured birds you’re driving past on your game drive. Take time to appreciate the little things - just don’t forget your binoculars.
8) Go for a walk
The best way to observe the little things is to take a walk in the wilderness. Many lodges will offer this so take the chance if you get it, it will be a transformative experience. You will be able to get up close and personal with some fascinating biodiversity and you’ll return feeling connected with the environment around you. Don’t worry, the objective of a walk is not to get charged by an elephant and feel like your life is at risk, it really is a peaceful experience where you can learn about tracking wildlife, botany and birding. It is designed to help you feel connected with the world you’re visiting and it is certainly worth doing once, if not for a whole week on a walking safari. In one of our podcast episodes we spoke with Steve Faulconbridge, a walking safari guide with years of experience. He shared what he loves about walking trails so if you’re not yet convinced, definitely give that episode a listen.
9) Look for ethical guided experiences
Did you know that most safari guides are paid a very low salary with the expectation that guests will top this up with tips? So, it makes sense that guides might want to rush around the bush damaging everything in their path on the way to find you exactly what you’ve asked for in the hope that you might tip them to bring their wage up to something reasonable. Make sure you have realistic expectations and find a guide who doesn’t chase down sightings, doesn’t drive off road unnecessarily and who takes time to educate you about the wilderness you’re in. If you find that your guide does anything that you’re not comfortable with or that you feel is ecologically damaging then please feel free to have a word with them. At the end of the day, guides are there to make you feel comfortable and you will be amazed at the response you get from a guide who realises they they don’t need to rush. You will have formed a strong connection with the guide and I can assure you that they will put in extra effort on your next game drive.
10) Share what you’ve learnt
Your experience in southern Africa will transform the way you see the world and your role in it. It presents you with the opportunity to become a wildlife conservationist everywhere you go, whether that’s on your next trip to southern Africa or in your garden at home. Share your experiences with your friends and family and encourage them to visit these incredible wild spaces. Share the lessons that you’ve learnt. Its hard to feel connected with southern Africa when your back home dealing with all the stresses of your daily life. But by creating awareness of the importance of conservation you are doing your bit. Together we can all make a difference. We should all support biodiversity conservation in our travels because we are part of ecosystems, just as much as elephants and meerkats.