Conservation-led experiences
Southern Africa
© Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
Celebrating conservation-focused travel
Southern Africa is a destination where luxury and conservation often go hand and hand, with countless safari lodges, farm stays, and hotels incorporating conservation as a critical touchstone in their hospitality models. Especially in Southern Africa, where wildlife and nature-based experiences are the biggest attraction, travelers are increasingly savvy in scoping out conservation-led stays.
Skift contributor Samantha Shankman noted that “luxury travelers expect to see gorgeous, pristine surroundings — and are willing to pay more for it — but they now more than ever want to book a property with an ecological conscience.” That said, it's not always easy to suss out who is walking their talk in the conservation space and going about it in a way that’s sensitive to the needs of the local community.
Properties like Wolwedans and Tok Tokkie in the NamibRand offer ecologically sustainable, low-impact experiences that contribute to the upkeep of the nature reserve. And at the same time, their operations are giving back, empowering, and educating local communities on the benefits of conservation-led tourism.
Another eco-darling, Singita, has long been lauded for its efforts to restore and safeguard the wild and wildlife while simultaneously building partnerships with local communities to help them prosper socially and economically.
And for those seeking more affordable conservation-led stays, eco-pioneer Farm 215, nestled in the heart of a fynbos reserve, is all about conservation management and actively engaging the local community in its biodiversity and conservation efforts.
