Suppliers

One of the significant reasons we chose to work with our partners in Africa, Conservation Corporation Africa, is because we support their belief that it is crucial that local communities benefit from tourism in meaningful and sustainable ways whilst retaining their own values and culture.  Together with the Africa Foundation, this is achieved through consultative interaction resulting in partnerships which facilitate the empowerment and development of people living in or near protected areas such as CC Africa Reserves.  For further information please see Responsible Safaris and the African Foundation websites.

Alongside information about hotel and lodge facilities, we also provide information about the community and employment projects supported by these individual properties or their parent bodies.  We actively encourage hotels to seek the Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa trademark.  By electing to stay at or use the services of such a business, tourists can be assured that their travel benefits local communities and economies.  Current member properties include Spier and Wild Olive in the Winelands, Grootbos and Jan Harmsgat in the Overberg and Hog Hollow in the Garden Route.

We also encourage clients to consider including the stunning yet malaria free Madikwe Game Reserve in their itinerary.  The Park was established after government research determined that wildlife-based tourism would generate the highest income for the region, once the most impoverished in South Africa.  A stay at any Lodge here will support the local community, but none more so than at Thakadu, which is wholly owned by the Molatedi Village.

Charitable Donations

Since our launch, we have undertaken to donate at least 5% of our pre-tax profits to the Bushbaby Charity.  The prime beneficiary is currently the Cape Town projects of Nazareth House and most recently the Home for special needs children in Vredehoek where we sponsor the salary of the House Mother, Debbie.  Please click here for full information.  Other projects supported include the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund,

In addition to support offered via the Bushbaby Charity, we directly support other ‘grass roots’ projects in South Africa benefiting local communities.  Recently that has included a ‘greening’ project for a local township, implemented by Grootbos Nature Reserve in Western Cape and funding beadwork training for women at the Maphoto Craft Art Centre in Limpopo.  Please click here for further information.

Carbon off-setting

Bushbaby Travel supports the Tourism Industry Carbon Offset Service (TICOS), an industry wide programme to stimulate collective action by all tour operators and travel agents selling holidays which include air travel.   It is supported by a number of international and national agencies including UNESCO, IUCN World Commission for Protected Areas and AiTO. It consists of both a carbon reduction programme and a carbon offset service.

Revenue raised funds projects where there is a real additional and measurable carbon saving and wider social benefits which favour the environment; wildlife; pro poor policies and community improvements. Bushbaby Travel and our clients booking air packages are currently supporting a project run by the The Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa to replace electric geysers supplying hot water to visitors in the National Parks with solar panels.  To offset a return flight to Cape Town the cost would be £15, but clients are invited to contribute whichever sum they wish. To find out more click here or visit www.ticos.co.uk.