Greater Good South Africa

As consumers, we are increasingly aware about what goes into the products we buy. We look for make-up that isn’t tested on animals, fair-trade coffee and chocolate, packaging made from recycled materials, locally grown fruit and vegetables, and clothing made in factories where people earn a fair wage. But when we decide on where to go on holiday, how many of us think of the impact we have on the communities we visit? GreaterCapital’s LAURIE SCHOLTZ recently visited four lodges in Namibia that aim to uplift their communities as much as they aim to give tourists the trip of a lifetime.

Some of the most beautiful landscapes and tourist spots in Africa lie off the beaten track on land that is often owned by the communities who inhabit the area. Being so removed from industrial and economic centres, many of these communities are characterised by high levels of unemployment and poverty. Historically, local communities saw very little benefit from externally-owned tourist lodges. An emerging trend called “community impact travel” aims to change this by putting communities at the heart of the business.

Access to capital
In the past, communities have not had the necessary access to capital to develop their own hospitality businesses. Today, there are a growing number of investors who want to partner with communities in order to build eco-friendly lodges and develop camp sites that not only benefit the communities, but also offer tourists a uniquely African holiday. By bringing tourists on to their land they have the ability to create a wide variety of employment such as chefs, nature guides and accommodation managers.

While in Namibia I was fortunate enough to have discussions with community members, investors as well as nature conservation representatives. It is clear that there are benefits for everyone involved in these projects: communities benefit from new jobs and investment; natural ecosystems are more likely to be preserved as the community comes to see them as assets; and investors are excited by the opportunities for growth in the market.  

Community impact travel
On my last morning in Namibia, while sitting on my bed drinking a cup of good coffee and watching a giraffe and rhino drink from a watering hole only a hundred metres from my room, I began to wonder why more people have not chosen this path of travel. My conclusion: most people probably have never heard of the concept of community impact travel.

While the concept remains fairly new in South Africa, there are still exciting places to visit such as The Bulungula Lodge in the Transkei. Namibia has had large developments in community impact travel over the past couple of years with an array of campsites and lodges to choose from. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has played an important role in the communication to communities around the protection of wildlife in Namibia. This has resulted in Namibia having one of the greatest success stories of wildlife rehabilitation in the world.

Happy travelling
So as you plan your next adventure keep the idea of community travel in mind, and look out for eco-friendly and fair trade certified accommodation. This type of travel caters to all kinds of travellers so if camping and backpacking are not for you then you can call on the expertise of tour operators such as Wilderness Safaris to ensure you have the ultimate luxury experience.

Happy Travelling!