Responsible travel at The Safari Edit

At The Safari Edit, we believe that the best way to travel is to do so with the local communities, wildlife and environment in mind. With our founders, Fin & Wendy, having travelled extensively and lived in Africa – our ethos is grounded in the approach that travel should benefit both the person visiting a destination and all elements that make that destination so special. Through our responsible travel initiatives, we aim to make sure that every safari experience leaves a positive and lasting impact on the continent that we care so much about.

Our focus areas can be divided into 3 distinct categories: community, wildlife and environmental conservation. Here’s how we achieve this: through collaborations with leading conservation organisations and by integrating sustainable practices into our travel experiences. Read below to discover how our partners achieve incredible feats of conservation and protection of some of Africa’s wildest spaces…

1. Community Conservation:

Conservation is only truly effective if the communities who share an environment are considered as well as the wildlife, after all, not only are these places their home, but the communities remain as custodians of the land long after your safari ends. Uplifting local communities is one of the best ways to create a knock on effect that ensures wild spaces and their precious animals remain that way, as well as promoting the benefits of conservation for future generations.

Children in the Wilderness

The Children in the Wilderness programme, which is affiliated with one of our partners, offers a range of comprehensive educational and supportive programs to support children and young people across various locations in Africa. Offering a range of initiatives that promote sustainability and development for local children, including scholarship programs, camps and eco-clubs – Children in the Wilderness is aimed at encouraging both environmental awareness and appreciation through long-acting initiatives that benefit local children’s future opportunities.

Destinations covered by this initiative include:

• Botswana
• Malawi
• Zimbabwe
• Zambia
• Rwanda
• Namibia

2. Wildlife Conservation

Africa’s wildlife is among the world’s most precious natural treasures, and protecting it is central to our mission at The Safari Edit. We partner with forward-thinking organisations to ensure that future generations experience the wonder of Africa’s incredible biodiversity.

The Natural Selection Foundation

This Foundation, as an arm of Natural Selection, has some incredible initiatives that produce actionable results in Southern Africa. In Namibia, programs focus on protecting the unique desert-adapted species such as rhinos, lions and giraffes. The foundation also supports various anti-poaching, wildlife monitoring, and human-wildlife mitigation programs in Botswana.

Destinations covered by this initiative:

• Botswana
• Namibia

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

As a long-standing emblem of wildlife conservation in East Africa, The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is best known for its rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned wildlife. However, the Trust has a tremendous array of projects ranging from aerial surveillance, canine units, anti-poaching units and water for wildlife programs.

Destinations covered by this initiative:

• Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
• Kibwezi Forest, Kenya
• Nairobi, Kenya

Big Life Foundation

Known for their incredible work in anti-poaching and wildlife protection in East Africa, the Big Life Foundation is also a fantastic group which helps mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the vast areas it covers. In addition to offering predator compensation to local farmers and helping avoid conflict with communities and elephant populations with rapid response ranger units.

Destinations covered by this initiative:

• Amboseli National Park, Kenya
• Tsavo National Parks, Kenya
• Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania

3. Environmental Responsibility

Luxury travel should never come at the cost of the environment. At The Safari Edit, our goal is to blend uncompromised luxury with sustainability. To make sure our safaris are as exceptional as they are sustainable, we partner with lodges and camps that share our dedication to reducing environmental impact.

One Planet Living

Through one of our partners, we are proud to support their One Planet Living sustainability framework. This framework is expansive, covering community and wildlife conservation elements. However, it also encompasses sustainable sourcing of food sources and water use across lodges and camps, along with zero waste approaches and using renewable energy.

Destinations covered by this initiative:

• South Africa
• Zimbabwe
• Tanzania
• Rwanda

Pave your own way on safari

At The Safari Edit, we aim to make our safaris beneficial on many levels – not simply for the traveller, but for the communities and places that they visit. We aim to partner with groups who offer actionable and far reaching programs which are both accountable and accessible for you on your holiday.

Are you ready to embark on a responsible and luxurious safari? Get in touch with The Safari Edit, and let’s create a bespoke journey that aligns with your values and creates tangible change.