Learn more about sustainable tourism!
My goal this week was to find a company offering tours through Namibia, and especially through the Himba villages, that could provide an eco/cultural-friendly experience. After reading through a few resort and safari websites, I found one company that really stood out to me as being more concerned with the native people and land, than with profits. The company, Wild Safari Africa, is ran by a former member of the Peace Corps, who spent 27 months living with a Namibian tribe while teaching their children English.
Tourism is one of the biggest economic boosters in Namibia. With few other resources in the "Oldest Desert in the World", locals have come to depend on tourists. The problem is that if sustainable tourism guidelines are not met, the beauty and wonder of Namibia, which is what brings tourists in the first place, will be a thing of the past. It is fundamentally important then that we educate each other on the importance of choosing companies whose top concern is the well being of the people and natural environment of the location we want to visit.
One paragraph in particular stood out to me on the Wild Safari Africa website (www.wildsafariafrica.com), as showing the eco-friendly integrity of the company's founder, Jeremy Allen:
"Wild Safari Africa makes environmental and cultural sensitivity a TOP PRIORITY to ensure the integrity of both indigenous peoples and our prestigious ecosystems. Ecotourism is an intricate design at Wild Safari Africa, with a mission to provide low impact sustainable travel, while enlightening YOU with local cultures and majestic animals."
Along with providing sustainable tourism experiences, Wild Safari Africa is dedicated to donating $25 for every customer they have to Empower Women in Africa, Inc. The founder has also written guidebooks to give visitors a better understanding of the local cultures, hoping to ensure visitors will be sensitive to the needs of the Himba villagers to maintain their traditions without
any unnecessary influence of the outside world.
I am sharing this example of a sustainable-friendly company in hopes that readers will do their research when choosing vacation accommodations. Please be sure to take the time to find a company that is dedicated to the local people and environment; otherwise these beautiful and wondrous destinations may not be around much longer.
Tourism is one of the biggest economic boosters in Namibia. With few other resources in the "Oldest Desert in the World", locals have come to depend on tourists. The problem is that if sustainable tourism guidelines are not met, the beauty and wonder of Namibia, which is what brings tourists in the first place, will be a thing of the past. It is fundamentally important then that we educate each other on the importance of choosing companies whose top concern is the well being of the people and natural environment of the location we want to visit.
One paragraph in particular stood out to me on the Wild Safari Africa website (www.wildsafariafrica.com), as showing the eco-friendly integrity of the company's founder, Jeremy Allen:
"Wild Safari Africa makes environmental and cultural sensitivity a TOP PRIORITY to ensure the integrity of both indigenous peoples and our prestigious ecosystems. Ecotourism is an intricate design at Wild Safari Africa, with a mission to provide low impact sustainable travel, while enlightening YOU with local cultures and majestic animals."
Along with providing sustainable tourism experiences, Wild Safari Africa is dedicated to donating $25 for every customer they have to Empower Women in Africa, Inc. The founder has also written guidebooks to give visitors a better understanding of the local cultures, hoping to ensure visitors will be sensitive to the needs of the Himba villagers to maintain their traditions without
any unnecessary influence of the outside world.
I am sharing this example of a sustainable-friendly company in hopes that readers will do their research when choosing vacation accommodations. Please be sure to take the time to find a company that is dedicated to the local people and environment; otherwise these beautiful and wondrous destinations may not be around much longer.
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