We care about the planet and believe in treading lightly and putting back into the local economy. We promote respectful travel – protecting animals, keeping children safe and endorsing sustainable actions.
We understand that ecosystems are fragile yet important environments. And we know the impact our adventures have on sustaining local communities. One of the key components of our company’s mission statement is to actively promote environmental protection through education, actions, and initiatives that promote responsible travel.
Our intention is to promote responsible travel and leave no trace. We partner with a number of organisations to guide our practices and help us achieve our sustainability goals.
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Best known for their work to protect elephants, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) operates the most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation programme in the world. They not only work to protect elephants, rhinos and giraffe, but entire ecosystems and the diverse flora and fauna sustained in these places of stunning natural beauty. As one of Africa’s oldest wildlife charities and a leading conservation organisation, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) embraces all measures that complement the conservation, preservation and protection of wildlife.
Gorilla Doctors
Gorilla Doctors is the only organisation in the world dedicated to conserving mountain and eastern lowland (Grauer's) gorillas through veterinary medicine, science and a One Health approach. Their international veterinary team provides hands-on medical care to ill and injured mountain and Grauer’s gorillas living in the national parks of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With only 1,004 mountain gorillas, and an ever decreasing number of Grauer’s gorillas left in the world today, the health and well being of every individual gorilla is vital to the species’ survival. The Gorilla Doctors also help rescue and treat mountain and Grauer’s gorillas orphaned by poachers.
Gorilla Doctors
Street Children Iringa
Street Children Iringa is a small UK registered charity supporting a home for Street Children in Iringa, Tanzania.
The home was set up by Street Children Iringa's founder, Letty, in 2016 when she received permission by the council and social welfare office to become the legal guardian of these children and raise them in a home. The house was originally home to 9 boys aged 11 - 19 and two girls now 19 years old but 5 more children have now been added. The boys and girls in the house have excelled hugely since having a safe place to call home. The house provides the kids with three good meals a day, water, educational needs and medical bills.
When the orphanage was closed by the council in 2016, Letty fought for the right to open her own home, in Iringa, for the nine children left homeless.
She founded Street Children Iringa as a UK registered charity and has taken another five children into her home after meeting them on the streets and through the safe house that she runs.
None of the children was attending school and lived in between the streets and the orphanage when she first met them but their lives have changed immensely since moving into Letty's home.
Thanda Island
Thanda Island is part of research and conservation projects on the region’s sea turtles, dugongs and whale sharks, as well as the preservation and rehabilitation of the Shungimbili coral reef. The island provides a basis for its neighbouring Mafia Island’s Marine Park Rangers to patrol the western side of Mafia and several other islands to stop illegal fishing in the area. Thanda Island is deeply committed to the education and wellbeing of the young people on Mafia, including programmes on sustainable fishing and marine conservation, and the development of healthy sporting activities. We employ members from the community on the Island and offer high-end hospitality skills development and employment advancement.
The Emakoko
The Athi – Kapiti plains which border Nairobi National park, is the home to the nomadic Maasai tribe. Unfortunately the traditional pastoralist lifestyle of the Maasai in the area is now under threat due to the encroachment of Nairobi’s urban ‘sprawl’. The Maasai are now feeling the pressure of a new cash driven society buying up pastoral land and pressures to abandon tradition are great.
Fortunately the Masaai in their area have yet to be touched by the new urban wave and this is something that they would like to maintain. There are various projects in the area initiated by The Emakoko and as visitors to the lodge we encourage our guests to participate.
Nairobi National Park is managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) who along with the Kitengela Landowners Association (KLA) distribute some of the park’s revenues for community projects in the area. There are many issues with wildlife predation on domestic livestock, and the KLA and KWS have an enormous task of managing human / wildlife conflicts. By visiting the Emakoko, one contributes directly to this revenue which is instrumental in looking after both the community and the park.
The Emakoko has supported the local community with the ‘lion lighting scheme’ which is one way in which predators have been deterred from attacking the community Bomas. To date they have ‘lit up’ 8 Bomas in the area and so far so good.
How Many Elephants
How Many Elephants is a conservation charity with a difference. They aim to educate a global audience about the devastating impacts of the African elephant ivory trade and raise vital funds for front-line rangers. They support all female rangers working tirelessly on the frontline in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
How Many Elephants
Elewana Elsa’s Kopje Meru
The Born Free Foundation – an international wildlife charity devoted to preserving their animal species across the globe and preventing extinction through careful and considered conservation and education – has had and is continuing to have a significant impact on the way the world cares for its animals.
Born Free
Ol Malo
Ol Malo partners with the Samburu Trust, founded by Julia Francombe in 2000, to protect and secure the future of the Samburu people and their land through education, conservation, healthcare, water supply, women’s opportunities, and eco-tourism. Because of this deep and long-standing relationship, guests of the ranch are invited to visit the neighboring villages and manyattas (homesteads) for intimate and personal encounters not often experienced by outsiders.
Samburu Trust
Ngare
Serian
The very foundation of Alex Walker’s Serian is constituted by a deep respect for the beautiful wilds of Kenya and Tanzania, as well as its people and cultures. The preservation of these precious spaces lies at the heart of our ethos and practice, and this manifests itself in a number of ways. One of the keys to conservation is managing the way people interact with these wild spaces, and the game that they harbor. As human populations increase, and pressure on resources mounts, it’s crucial to invest in ways that makes it profitable to local populations to keep conservation alive.
Ngare Serian
Mnemba Island
&Beyond’s impact in conservation & community includes A Clinic For All – Zanzibar. This clinic in Kigomani, Zanzibar was started by the Government in 2012 but funds ran out before the project was completed. Africa Foundation assisted in completing the medical staff’s accommodati0n and the construction of an abolution block which was a major stumbling block to the clinic opening. The official pening of Kigomani Clinic was on 9 October 2020. Now, in addition to the Kigomani villagers, about 11 000 people from nearby communities including Matemwe, Mbyutende and Kijini will have access to the clinic’s general medical treatment for outpatients, and Reproductive and Health Services (RCH). The six clinic staff in place include two clinicians, two trained nurses and two nursing attendants. While this local clinic has been a long time coming, the health care benefits and additional resilience that it brings to these communities are immeasurable.
A Clinic for All
