What is a sustainable safari?
Is a safari sustainable? Years ago while at university I heard the phrase in one of my lectures “think locally, act globally “. More recently I’ve heard it switched around, “think globally, act locally”. Or was it the other way round? I clearly wasn’t a great student. In any case, this term has been adopted by many organisations as a framework to formulate strategies and base decisions on. We at Londolozi have taken this to heart, not only with our approach to hospitality but similarly, with our continuous pursuit of becoming a more sustainable safari destination.
In November 2021, the city of Glasgow hosted the Conference of the Parties, COP26. This event, which takes place every year, sees world leaders come together to discuss their national development commitments. These outline international agreements for reducing negative impacts on the earth’s climate systems. There is no doubt that for the benefit of our entire species, as well as our own wellbeing, we are going to need to drastically improve our relationship with the planet that supports us.
Sustainability Starts with One Step
For governments, industries, organisations and individuals, tracking a sustainable path forward is vital. Although the what and the how of the matter is incredibly complex. We will certainly need our governments to coordinate a worldwide effort to mitigate against climate change. However, it will be up to organisations and us as individuals to ensure that we keep the sustainable wheel turning in the right direction. With all of the world’s climate concerns facing us, this can seem a daunting task. However, as the ancient philosopher, Laoz, once said: “ the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step”, and here in the heart of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Londolozi’s staff have been taking step after step to ensure that “sustainability” is more than just a marketing buzzword.
If you have read a few of our blogs or spent time with Londolozi staff at the lodge, you may have come across the term “pioneering new systems for living”. This is a multidimensional ethos that on one level revolves around utilizing technology and working with nature. This is how we can maintain a harmonious balance within our community and the wilderness we live in. While on another level it recognises that we are more than just a game lodge, but advocates for the restoration movement that is beginning to gain momentum around the world. Here at Londolozi, there are many aspects to these new systems which form the building blocks of our sustainable safari model. Each of which would probably require their own blog post…
Harnessing renewable energy and reducing our footprint…
Futuristic African Village
Beyond the luxurious rooms and quiet decks overlooking the Sand River, lies the staff village and the hustle and bustle of lodge life. Here, people of all ages and different cultures go about their daily routines living and working in nature. Side note here, anyone who has ever worked in the bush will know these routines are far from boring! But getting back to the original question. What makes for a sustainable safari? For us, it is not just about what a guest’s eyes see. It’s more about what a guest usually wouldn’t see. It’s about what happens behind the scenes at a lodge.
The Londolozi Village is the place where the hardware of the lodge fuses with the heartware of its people. This is where we believe we generate the Londolozi ‘feeling’. For the guests interested in understanding the inner workings of the lodge, we welcome them on a walk behind the scenes and show them where and how we live. Guests gain an understanding of how we grow our food, manage our water, harness renewable energy, and reduce our waste.
Ecotourism & Developing Sustainable Safari
I recently put together a blog that summarised the Londolozi Ecotourism Story as a pioneering organisation in South Africa’s tourism industry. Over nearly a century Londolozi evolved from a bankrupt cattle farm to a for-profit conservation development model and is now a social enterprise within the economy of wildlife. This progression developed within a growing safari industry. An industry that, despite current circumstances in the world, still has the potential to harness Africa’s natural spaces for the benefit of both people and wildlife. However, it is critically important that this is done in an ethical and sustainable manner. Rejuvenative, restorative, or sustainable. It doesn’t matter which descriptive word is used, what counts is the process and the action on the ground. It’s about building momentum through small continuous steps in the right direction. At Londolozi, we refer to this as flywheels of sustainability.
“A great flywheel builds compounding momentum over a very long time. Decision upon decision, action upon action, turn by turn- each loop adding to the cumulative effect. A flywheel isn’t merely a next action step on a list, It’s an inevitable consequence of the step that came before.” Jim Collins
A Continuous Sustainability Journey
So what makes for a sustainable safari? There may not be a simple answer to this question. However, with a determination to look after the ecosystem that looks after us, there are several processes that can be put in place to continually monitor progress on a sustainable journey and track a sustainable path forward. At Londolozi, we have been inspired by global thought leaders, such as Johan Rockström and Kate Raworth, who are reimagining ways in which we can live more sustainably. We are adapting and implementing these global ways of thinking within our own community. As the Kiswahili word “safari” translates to “journey”, a sustainable safari is exactly that. A sustainable journey on the path to preserving natural spaces for future generations of both people and wildlife.
If you are involved in or know of any incredible sustainability initiatives please let us know. We’d love to hear about them! If you would like to explore our sustainable safari initiatives you can click through to our Impact site below…
Londolozi’s Flywheels of Sustainability
Sustainability is the future of everything and the responsibility everyone. Thanks for sharing.
Hi William, we couldn’t agree more!
Garrett very interesting blog and unique way that Londolozi is a sustainable and ecotourism safari. It took lots of information, time, money, restoration and love for the ground to where Londolozi is today. From being a bankrupt cattle farm to a world renowned safari lodge is absolutely astounding. Well done all involved at Londolozi for their hard work and determination to being one of the best sustainable safaris ever.
Thank you very much Valmai. Taking one step at a time we will continue to do our best.
So freaking amazing! I had no idea that Lond0lozi was doing all of this. Wow! This to me is the most important post I have read. I hope others take the time to read in order to understand the vast vision and execution Londolozi has taken to support this planet and her wards. Very impressive post considering all the work it took to share what Londolozi is doing. Not only inspiring for other safaris but for the world. If you all can do this in such a large operation there is literally no excuse for those of us who have a simple home. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being so innovative, acting upon your visions and being a shining example for the world. Maybe COP27 should be at Londolozi! Thank you for this post–I am in awe!
Hi Johanna, your kind words are greatly appreciated. Just as we draw inspiration from others within the global restoration movement, we hope (like yourself) that sharing ideas and communicating sustainable actions will have a positive ripple effect around the world.
Today I was visiting friends and coincidentally, we were talking about sustainability on safaris, or on going on holiday to African countries. They questioned it. And I also sometimes asked myself whether it is a good thing to do or not.
But I have come to the conclusion that, yes, it is. First of all when guests come to visit and watch animals, it helps the people to have a good income, to support their families and give their children a good education. It also supports the animals that would otherwise be so endangered. The animals can be protected from poaching thanks to the tourism industry. As long as people love and appreciate the wilderness, the animals and their habitat, they will probably be safe. And the way nearly all the safari lodges and camps do things is so good, like using natural resources of energy, serving home grown food, taking care of the water, involving the villages round the natural reservations into the work done there, in one word, doing everything in a sustainable way.
And as a guest, you get so much from such a holiday, it’s so rewarding as no other holiday can ever be.
Hi Christa, absolutely, and it is all made possible by your continued support of sustainably conscious organisations within the safari industry. Thank you!
Thank you Garrett for continuing to educate your blog followers about the sustainability practices implemented over the years by the Londolozi management team, and by extension, all their staff members. If only all safari destinations followed a sustainability plan, the African nation would be all the better and richer for it.
Hi Denise, thank you. I think there are a number of other organisations doing great work, and so hopefully, we will see a snowball effect that leads the safari industry more and more sustainable direction.
Garrett, Thanks for the awesome post about sustainability and how Londolozi accomplishes its part in that quest! We were at Londolozi the day the solar power went live – it was incredibly exciting! We are very involved in a local sustainability project that we identified and have been leading in our own city. Check out https://www.thebaysarasota.org/ to see what we have accomplished so far with incredible support from our community!
Hi Terri and Michael, wow The Bay looks like a fantastic sustainable development. I spent a bit of time on the site. Public spaces like this, designed in a manner that allows nature to return and thrive alongside people, are the future of urban environments! It will be amazing to watch nature respond to all the indigenous gardens and the mangrove forests!