Responsible tourism
The South Luangwa National Park is one of the world’s last true remaining wilderness areas. In order for it to stay this way and for our grandchildren’s children (and their children!) to be able to enjoy it as much as we do today, Gavin Opie Safaris is committed to sustainable tourism, ethical safari guiding and wildlife conservation. For us, coming on safari is to experience wild animals behaving naturally in their natural habitat while also giving back to the local community; if you lose that, you lose the essence of safari. Here’s our approach to responsible tourism:
Giving back
For every guest who stays with us at Nkonzi Camp, we donate USD 10.00 per night to two wonderful local NGOs. The first, Chipembele Education Trust, provides sponsorship for local children to attend school as well as running wonderful after-school conservation clubs to foster a love of Zambia’s rich natural resources.
Our second chosen recipient is Conservation South Luangwa, an incredible organisation working on the front line of wildlife conservation every single day. Each year CSL rescues hundreds of animals from illegal snares, works with local communities to limit wildlife-human conflict, and leads numerous vital anti-poaching patrols.
We’re very proud to be supporting these two incredible NGOs, whose work is helping to ensure that the South Luangwa’s wildlife is protected and benefits local communities into the future.
Ethical safari guiding
We know that responsible tourism starts with us, and we want to lead by example. That’s why we are proud to follow the South Luangwa Responsible Safari Guiding Policy at all times, which means never overcrowding a wildlife sighting and causing stress to an animal; never causing untold damage to the environment by driving off-road; always giving animals right of way; and never influencing the hunting patterns of the wildlife.
And the best bit? By doing things right, you’re rewarded with safari karma
Yes, we believe safari karma to be a genuine phenomenon. You do things right and the South Luangwa National Park will reward you with incredible sightings. We’ve seen it so many times, it can’t be coincidence! And even if we’re wrong about safari karma, is
there anything better than lying in bed, reliving the amazing experiences of the day, knowing that you only had a positive impact on the world around you?
Want to be part of the solution with us?