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:: RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
The Way Forward | Our Policy | Our Contribution | Our Guideline | Your Ideas
The
way forward.
Tourism
is the second largest, and perhaps the most rapidly
growing, industry in the world and birding holidays,
the area in which Mbango Safaris has specialized is
one of the fastest growing components of it. As part
of this rapid development there has been recent, and
increasing, concern and recognition that tourism can
adversely affect the culture and natural environment
of the host country. However, the assessment and reduction
of these negative impacts is complex since there are
so many countries and operators involved, and such a
wide range of tourist requirements on the one hand,
and local needs on the other. There is also a need to
appreciate the great many positive benefits that tourism
can bring, particularly to developing countries and
to local/rural communities, and for tour operators to
focus on, and maximize these.
When developed in an appropriate and responsible way, tourism not only has a very positive contribution to make to local economies, but also greatly benefits conservation... of wildlife, habitats, landscapes, monuments, towns, villages and cities! For example, by taking tourists to a country to see its wildlife, not only are a range of local employment opportunities created in an area that might otherwise be bypassed by them, but the association between protecting wildlife and a healthier economy indicates to both local people and national government alike the importance of conservation, and the great potential of national parks and wildlife reserves.
Clearly, there is an obvious need for all of us working in the industry to ensure that such positive aspects of tourism are developed, and all negative aspects reduced or avoided, by developing a "responsible" approach to tourism which contributes to the long-term future of a country's wildlife, people, culture and heritage. As part of this growing concern, today's tour operators are increasingly recognizing the need for greater transparency and accountability which can be aided by the provision of a company statement or policy on Responsible Tourism. To date, there are no universal standards for a Responsible Tourism Policy although there are several bodies which offer advice to travelers and guidelines for tour operators. It is ultimately up to each individual tour operator to design a Responsible Tourism Policy of their own that sets attainable standards for staff and clients alike.
Mbango Safaris regards the development
of a detailed Responsible Tourism Policy by every tour
operator as an essential step forward. The following
information details our contribution to, and involvement
with, the movement towards Responsible Tourism to date.
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Our
policy.
� To
focus on visiting less visited national parks, reserves
and wilderness areas of East Africa.
� To
minimise environmental damage by exploring in small
groups and, as much as possible, on foot.
� To
use, wherever possible, local guides� and to train them
to the highest standards expected by modern-day tourists.
� To
involve local communities wherever possible in our operations,
and to ensure that they benefit from tourism.
� To
use, wherever possible, locally owned accommodation
with a wildlife/conservation bias and sympathy.
� To
purchase, where possible, local produce.
� To
develop and commit to long-term plans to visit rural
areas and support the local communities.
� To
contribute financially to projects local to the areas
that we visit (ie. schools, hospitals, etc.).
� To
educate the local people on the importance and long-term
benefits of wildlife tourism.
� To
keep our clients well-informed on aspects of wildlife
management and conservation.
� To
work with local conservation bodies and organizations
to develop new wildlife tourism destinations.
� To
encourage and develop a passion for birdlife, wildlife
and wild places amongst our clients.
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Our
contribution.
Operationally, responsible tourism
and the Mbango Safaris are, in many regards, intertwined.
With all Mbango Safaris tours escorted by at least one
expert ornithologist or naturalist with an inevitable
concern for conservation of habitats and species, and
the holidays appealing almost exclusively to like-minded
wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists, the need
to actively push a policy of Responsible Tourism, let
alone to market on this front, has not previously been
a priority. Essentially, Mbango Safaris founders, staff
and tour leaders are naturalists and conservationists
turned tour operators, guides; not the other way around!
The biographies of these key staff and tour leaders
may be found on the Mbango Safaris website: www.mbangosafaris.com/guides.html
combining between them a fascinating and unrivalled
range of commitments and achievements in the fields
of wildlife, conservation, ornithology, etc. All
the guides and staff of Mbango Safaris ensures that
the company keeps abreast of 'RT' developments and standards
within the industry, and that Mbango Safaris remains
fully committed to the role that Responsible Tourism
must play within the tourism industry in East Africa
today, making as full a contribution as possible.
The
fact that our business revolves, almost exclusively,
around guiding birds and wildlife enthusiasts to the world's national
parks, wildlife reserves and wilderness areas, supporting
locally-owned hotels, lodges and the local guides and
other staff in these regions, encourages (we hope!)
locals to value and protect these unique habitats and
their wildlife. Other aspects of the style of a Mbango
Safaris holiday also allow us, hopefully, to minimize
damaging environmental impact. Notably, our operation
of small groups (4-16, average 10 clients); our preference
for exploration on foot, rather than vehicle, wherever
possible; our use of local naturalists / guides and
other local guiding and support staff on most holidays;
our ensuring benefit, and employment opportunities,
to local communities, so important when developing wildlife
tourism in remote areas where Western tourists have
been previously unknown our contributing financially to local projects
in the areas visited rather than broad scale environmental/community
schemes; our working with conservation organizations
(notably Born Free Foundation, Youth for Conservation,
Care for the Wild, Nature Kenya) to develop and expand
avitourism into new areas of East Africa in which
the species diversity and habitat value might otherwise
go unrecognized locally.
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Our
guidelines; your choice.
Here are some suggestions on ways
in which you may travel as a Responsible Tourist.
Your
desire to travel (whether or not on a Mbango Safaris
holiday!) in order to visit national parks and reserves
is crucial to the survival of the world's birdlife and
wildlife.
It is not otherwise, however, an altogether environmentally
friendly pastime. Please consider the following measures;
they will help to minimise damage caused by your travels,
and may also provide a benefit to your host country:
Support 'climate care'
Air travel
is one of the major causes of global warming and most
holidays involve flying.We encourage you to negate
your share of the carbon dioxide emissions created by
your international and domestic flights by making a
small donation.
Birdlife and wildlife first
Watch
and photograph birds and wildlife with minimum obtrusion, and
respect the viewing instructions of your guide and tour
leader. Remember that all birds and wildlife sightings are a bonus;
none are guaranteed! The removal of any specimen � whether
plant, seed, bird or animal � from its natural environment
is not acceptable.
A holiday with Mbango
Safaris is, first and foremost, an opportunity to experience
important birds and wildlife habitats, not a species shopping
trip with list in hand! If you don't see your target
species, your visit (through park fees, local employment
opportunities, etc.) will nonetheless be supporting
the preservation of the habitat on which it relies,
and further, you will have a very good reason for a
return visit!
Respect others
Remember,
our so-called 'high standards' have come largely at
the expense of our environment. If you cannot accept
and enjoy the different standards and cultures of less
affluent countries, you should stay at home!
Before
traveling, read widely to familiarize yourself with
your destination's history, background, culture, customs,
standards, etc. The well prepared tourist is likely
to have a fulfilling holiday, with minimal problems
and regrets.
Your accommodation
Wherever
possible Mbango Safaris aims to use small, locally owned
and managed accommodation (ideally locally constructed
in a traditional style) serving traditional home-cooked
meals. Sometimes such accommodation cannot match the
multi-national comfort offered by larger hotels. However,
such smaller hotels do both minimize environmental impact
as well as support local communities, and their styles,
culture and traditions. In choosing your holiday destination,
please do consider your accommodation in terms of minimizing
environmental impact.
Your dress
Dress
practically and conservatively, paying particular attention
to observe local dress codes to ensure that you are
not offending your host country's cultural or religious
beliefs (particularly in Hindu and Muslim regions).
If in doubt, cover up (you'll also avoid sunburn, insect
bites and consequential ill-health!).
Your
guide
Please remember to use your guide to the full. You are paying for them (and perhaps
tipping them if they are good); allow them to shine
and revel in enthusing about their birds, wildlife and
country. Get to known
them, ask them questions, show your appreciation, and
make their job fun. Make an effort and you will get value
for money from your holiday� and perhaps a lifelong
friend!
Above all, by showing your interest in,
and your appreciation of, your host country's birds,
wildlife
and natural environment to your guide(s), driver and
other local staff, you are actively developing in them
a pride, and interest in their environment which bodes
well for its future preservation by these local people
and, ultimately, their governments.
Photography
Be sensitive to local conditions, laws and customs,
asking your local guide if in doubt. Seek advice and
their permission before photographing local people,
thus showing respect and awareness of another's culture
and beliefs. At all times avoid the obvious display
of cameras and other expensive items; you'll find more
in common with the locals, and avoid becoming the victim
of theft.
Off limits
Do not enter
restricted, dangerous, sensitive or private areas. If
in doubt, seek your guide's advice.
Souvenirs
Be
selective. Buy locally made goods only, thus encouraging
a pride in traditional culture and crafts and discouraging
the import of other goods. Avoid souvenirs sold to the
detriment of wildlife and the environment (shells, corals,
skins, ivory, etc). Ensure a fair
price when bargaining, taking advice from your guide.
Bargain hard by all means, to maintain respect, but
above all retain a measure of common sense and fairness;
remember that, ultimately, it is your salesman's family
that is going to be very much more disadvantaged by
a low price than you (or yours).
Gratuitous
gifts
Handouts of sweets, pens, etc. undermine
pride and cause tooth decay. Donate instead to schools,
or local conservation or charitable organisations, details
of which we can advise.
Avoid litter
Don't
leave litter. Consider very carefully what you really
need to take on your holiday before you travel and take
care to leave at home all unnecessary packaging and
wrapping. Take home with you all your non-biodegradable
rubbish (particularly plastics, used batteries, etc.)
where it can be more reliably disposed of. Carry a lighter
or matches to burn all toilet tissue and other paper
waste created during your holiday.
Choose
environmentally friendly travel products
Use
environmentally friendly shampoos, detergents, etc.,
and keep them out of the rivers!
Conserve
energy and water
Conserve energy by turning
off lights, air-conditioning, heating, etc. when not
required. Minimise your requirement for clean towels,
napkins and sheets. In many countries water is very
limited; minimum usage conserves a precious resource.
If possible purify water with purification tablets rather
than by boiling.
Communicate
Leave
only friendship behind in the countries you visit. Communicate
with local people at all times in a friendly manner,
and make an effort to learn a few words and phrases
of the local language. Accept local foods or drinks
when offered them, and indicate to your hosts your interest
in, and support for, their wildlife, landscapes and
culture to promote their value both to local people
and ultimately their governments.
Support local
and international wildlife conservation organisations
Read
widely about your destination's birds, wildlife and conservation
priorities before your departure. Such wildlife conservation
organisations as Nature Kenya, Nature Uganda (Both are
BirdLife International partners in East Africa) and
WWF are worth contacting, or even joining. More importantly,
at the end of your holiday, become an overseas member
of your host country's bird club or conservation organisation,
and continue your interest in that country.
In
virtually every country through which you choose to
travel you will find a practice or policy (perhaps several!)
which offends you. It might be a country's
trade in endangered species, bull-fighting, the hunting
of migrant birds, deforestation, or hunting. The
chances are that they offend us too; but were we to
boycott travel to that particular country (as you might
wish us to), we would, frankly, have no destinations
left to offer, such have been the demands upon us over
the years! Instead, we choose to make no such judgements;
it is you, after all, who make your own choice of holiday
destination. Further, in all these countries, live many
people who share your concerns. They would much rather
you visit; to lend them support, to understand more
fully the problem, and to protest more rationally, on
your return home, to the offending nation's government,
tourist board, embassy, etc.
Your help and
suggestions needed!
On returning from your travels,
do let us hear your thoughts on any environmental, cultural
or economic impacts of the trip that you think we should
know about, also of any practices that you observed
and considered beneficial, or otherwise, to a country's
wildlife.
Should you have other ideas that would
enhance this code of conduct, we should welcome them.
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Your
ideas
Finally, do take time, before and after
your tour, to reflect on how the culture, birds and wildlife
of your chosen holiday destination can benefit in the
short and long term from your visit. The role of tour
operators and travelers today has never been of more
importance in contributing to the long-term future of
the world's natural environment.
If you have
any ideas on ways in which our policy could be enhanced,
please contact us.
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Safari Destinations | Conservation | General Info | Booking Terms | Links | Photo Gallery | Tour Reports | News
P.O.
Box
8914 - 00100, Nairobi, East
Africa,
Kenya. Langata Shopping Mall, Ground Floor.
Tel:
00 254 20 211 24 33 / 4. Fax: 00 254 20 222 93 40. Cellphone: 00
254 710 336 485. E-mail:
info@mbangosafaris.com
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Safaris Ltd. Web
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