Responsible Travel

Responsible tourism has a number of aspects:

environmental, sustainable, ethical and responsibility.

Visitors, have a particular part to play when it comes to responsible tourism. You are visiting another country with very different cultures and expectations. Please consider the following:

Be sensitive to local customs
o Conduct that may be acceptable in certain Western communities (ie. Drug use, nude sun bathing, loud and gregarious public conversation) is not appropriate in this region and culture.
o Don't hand out sweets, loose change or small gifts, this only serves to corrupt and create begging mentality where none existed before.
o Churches are often viewed as tourist attractions; however, their primary purpose is as houses of worship for local residents; visitors should be quiet and respectful.
o Be aware of people's sensitivity to be photographed; always ask first.
o Be perceptive of your own cultural values and how they affct your judgement of others. There are many different concepts of time, personal space, communication etc. which are not wrong or inferior, just different.
o Act as an example for other travellers who are less informed than you!

Be flexible in your expectations
o Approach your travels with an open mind and you won't be disappointed. Sometimes plans change and an chance for more in-depth learning or a unique cultural experience presents itself. Adapt yourself to the situation rather than trying to change the situation to you.

Bridging the cultural gaps
o Take the opportunity to be a cultural ambassador. Much of the world's image of western tourists is based on the unrealities of television and magazines. Look for situations for cultural exchange whereby leraning about each other's lives is mutual. Getting to know the person sitting next to you on a local bus or the person cooking your food takes is often a rewarding experience.

Practice environmental minimum impact
o Follow the international "Leave No Trace" rules. Pack out everything that you bring in, including toilet paper (if there is no toilet) or plastic water bottles. Relieve yourself at least 100 metres from any water source. Remove litter that others leave behind.
o When hiking, stay on the trail. Don´t trample delicate vegetation or remove any form of plant or animal life.
o Don´t approach, surround or chase animals you may observe in order to get a photograph.
" Please don't encourage the exploitation of wildlife by buying any endangered animal products.
" We only drive on the recognised pistes in Game parks.

Specifically:

Always try to leave everything as you find it, i.e. camps, parks, hotels etc.
Absolutely no rubbish to be thrown out of the truck.
We have provided different methods of cooking i.e. gas, petrol, so as not to
be solely dependent on scarce wood and charcoal supplies.
We carry a lot of purified water so no need to buy bottled water.
Please get into the habit of not wasting water. Under some circumstances we may ration water for washing, but drink as much as you want.
Any other drinks should ideally be in returnable bottles.
At local wells or pumps, make sure to ask permission first before you take any water.
Be careful with washing up in rivers or lakes. You may pollute the local population's water source.
You can have a nice fire without it being excessive.
Always extinguish fire well before breaking camp.
Please dispose of your cigarettes ends carefully, as this maybe the start of the next bush fire. Butts are litter too. Dispose of them thoughtfully.

• Recycling
  For toilet stops, always bury waste / toilet paper.
  Any biodegradables should be buried.
  Truck bar drinks should be in returnable bottles.( where ever possible)
  Use re-useable truck-shopping bags, not plastic ones.
  Keep any containers for distribution later.