Who we are:
Conservation Travel Africa is dedicated to bridging the gap between wildlife conservation and community development. We use responsible tourism and unique volunteer experiences to raise awareness and support for the long term preservation of Africa’s wildlife and the well-being of local communities.
Our company was founded by four friends who shared a vision to restore Africa’s wildlife and wilderness areas to their previous abundance, and to establish safe areas where communities and wildlife can thrive together.
Our goals:
We believe that wildlife-based tourism, and in particular volunteer tourism, has a huge part to play in the delivery of solutions to the human-wildlife conflict and can help slow or reverse the critical decline of many of our iconic animal species. Volunteer tourism enables local communities to share the financial and cultural benefits which come from overseas visitors, and exposes volunteers to real life situations. We believe that responsible tourism can ensure the protection of wildlife areas for future generations.
The projects our volunteers are involved with existed prior to the rise of voluntourism, and were not set up simply to entertain travellers. As projects have developed and volunteers have joined, their input has enabled them to become more effective. All our projects have long term environmental or community principles.
Our team:
We are based in Southern Africa, giving us first-hand knowledge of local opportunities and enabling us to keep on top of the work which our programmes are performing.
Our dedicated team, based across Southern Africa, work hard to ensure that all our projects are sustainable, meaningful and fun for volunteers. Our partners are reputable, internationally renowned individuals, charities and conservation organisations. Through our network for programme partners, we have access to some of Africa’s most incredible wildlife areas and most experienced conservation professionals.
We do not work with programmes who do not have their own strict animal welfare standards and are proud of our wildlife credentials. We do not work with projects which exploit animals for tourism, and work with international organisations to fight against this practice. Specifically, we do not offer programmes which support captive lion breeding, lions walks or cub petting.
What projects do we offer?
We have a rigorous vetting criteria for our programmes, and only send volunteers to projects which really need their help. We are mindful that volunteering is a two-way street, so, in return for your input, you will get to experience some of Africa’s most breathtaking scenery, witness amazing animal interactions and have a truly life-changing experience.
Where do we work?
We offer projects across Southern Africa; in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique. Our specialism is Zimbabwe, as this is where our founders were born, but we are very proud of all our project partners.
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