Conservation

Conservation is at the heart of everything we do and the safari industry plays a critical role in the preservation of not just the wildlife, but the ecology, the environment, and local cultures. At Geographic Group, we choose partners who share the common goal of low-impact sustainable tourism.

While managing lodges, we saw first-hand how critical it is to economically empower the local communities. In the northern Okavango, our safari company leased land from the Okavango Community Trust (OCT). We agreed to hire our staff from the nearby villages and provide management training, chef training and guide training. The OCT would use this money on roads, water holes, clinics, education, and much more. It is critical that the people see a financial benefit of protecting their environment. This model above, is very common through Africa and the Safari industry and proves our industry is committed to “leaving it better than we found it”

Equally as important is exposing Children to the benefits of wildlife conservation. There are many groups whose main focus is taking children from the inner cities and even villages out to the bush to see the wildlife.

One of the biggest threats to wildlife throughout Africa is loss of habitat. Through the work of our partners, large landscapes are being protected, wildlife corridors have been established to link protected areas, and local communities are being educated on sustainable agriculture.

Another significant resource is water. On average, women and girls in developing countries walk 3.5 miles a day carrying 20 liters (42 lbs) of water. Through the work of NGO’s, water holes are being drilled in remote areas to bring clean drinking water to communities. Furthermore, the safari industry continues to drill bore holes to bring drinking water to animals who suffer from drought conditions.

We encourage our guest to get involved at any level. Below are some organizations that do incredible work across the continent.