Holidays are usually a longed-for escape from our daily stress and struggles. It’s where we allow ourselves the opportunity to indulge in the finer things of life, leaving problems far behind. But more and more, travellers are willing to learn more about the “behind the scenes” elements of their travels. They want to know where their food is sourced from, what the home life of their guide is like, and whether their holiday actually benefits the local community.
Conservation
Another topic that is being discussed more in-depth is conservation. In the past, this aspect of a safari holiday was mentioned to guests, perhaps at the end of their holiday by their guide or on the last page of their room’s welcome pack. For a company like Jenman African Safaris, this is fundamentally changing. We strongly believe that conservation isn’t something you drop in at the end. In fact, it is what we lead with.
Connecting with anti-poaching scouts
One of the ways we do this is by giving our guests who are on a guided group safari that visits Hwange National Park the opportunity to engage with the scouts of an Anti-Poaching Unit (APU). This informal gathering takes place in the evening around the campfire after guests have returned from their game drives and the scouts have returned from their patrols. The scouts will share what motivates them as well as mentioning any successes of the day. Guests are invited to ask questions and find out more about the finer details of conservation, or simply just to connect with local members of the community who spend their days patrolling the bush protecting wildlife. They will definitely have some interesting stories to tell. Guests might be interested to learn just exactly what their job entails. It’s not only looking for and deterring poachers, but eradicating snares used for bushmeat poaching, preventing illegal logging of forested areas, and building an intelligence network in the fight against wildlife crime.
Our guests are people who are passionate about the world around them, they are engaged and involved. By selecting Jenman African Safaris they have already shown that they are looking for a safari holiday that positively impacts the environment, the wildlife, and the local communities. We are always incorporating innovative ways to involve guests more closely in their safari and change the way they experience Africa and think about their holiday.
