People want to do more than just go on an adventure. They want to make an impact and leave the world in a better place than when they found it. It’s becoming increasingly important for travelers to want to help the communities, environment and wildlife of where they are visiting.
In this article, I will be sharing ways of how you can positively impact lion conservation on your next adventure. These helpful tips can also be applied to other causes too.
Do’s:
1) Book with reputable safari operator
When booking with a safari company, you may feel overwhelmed by dozens of companies to choose from. A lot use generic words like ‘green travel’, ‘responsible’ and ‘fully accredited’. What do those words mean exactly and are they really providing deep rooted information on how they are helping conservation, the environment or communities?
If you really want to make a positive impact to lion conservation on your next trip, it’s advisable to probe the tour company you are thinking about booking with and research how they are supporting lion conservation and if any part of your ticket price is going to a certain cause or project. You are also entitled to ask what percentage goes towards this too.
2) Visit Lion Conservation organizations whilst you are on safari
There should be lots of fantastic lion conservation organizations in the area of your next safari destination, especially in Africa. Most of which will have opportunities for you to visit and learn about how they are impacting lion conservation.
If you are heading to Tanzania, check out Kope Lion and African Wildlife People. If you are heading to Kenya, Lion Landscapes are amazing! Ask your chosen organization if they offer visitors days and talks on the work they do.
3) Learn about Lions on your Safari
When you are on Safari, there are plenty of great opportunities to learn about lions and lion conservation. Your safari guide should have lots of information living within the region, living alongside lions and their own experiences with lions.
When you live in an African region that has lions, there isn’t much that separates you from human habitat and wild animals. It is expected that people who live in these regions have their own opinions on lion conservation as well as the obstacles it brings for them and the lions. It’s a great way to learn about the species from the people who live alongside them.
4) Book with companies that support lion conservation
Booking with lodges, camps, hotels and adventure companies that give back to lion conservation is a great way to ensure that your money is going towards helping these species.
There are some great adventure companies that help lion conservation too. BornWild Adventures has created a groundbreaking African Lion Safari which has bridged Lion Conservation with Adventure travel. Their Lion Safari travels across Tanzania focusing on lions and lion conservation.
5) Donate to registered Lion Conservation organizations
If you feel inspired to help lions, donating to a good local organization is a great way to make an impact for lion conservation. Ensure that you donate to a registered organization that has a registered charity number or registered 501c3 badge on their website.
Dont’s:
1) Partake in any ‘walk with’ experiences
It’s extremely advisable not to take part in any ‘walk with’ lion experiences. Walking with Lions and using lions as entertainment is not supporting lion conservation in any way. Lions are a wild animal and those organizations supporting lion conservation do not use lions as a way to make money from human / lion interaction.
2) Don’t drive too close to the animals on safari
There are many safari companies to travel with and it’s really important to differentiate the good from the bad. Having traveled with both a reputable organization and a more affordable safari company – the differences are huge.
Even though it’s really tempting to ask your safari guide to drive closer to the animals, it’s really important to remember there are severe restrictions in place to adhere to the parks guidelines on giving the animals enough space away from the vehicles. No wild animals should feel hounded by safari vehicles.
3) Don’t buy into wildlife trade
Wildlife trade is on the rise and it’s crucial not to buy into it. Be aware of buying anything that has Lion hide, bones or body parts in them. This could range from medicine to ornaments. Stick to natural sourced items and materials on your safari and steer clear of items that will increase the demand for wildlife trade. If you are unsure of what is within an item, ask to get clarification.
4) Trophy hunting is not helping lion conservation
There are conflicting opinions about whether trophy hunting is a way to support lion conservation as the high amounts of money it brings into Africa. There are also lots of conflicting opinions to say that trophy hunting decreases lion numbers as well as effect the pride dynamics. There are various ways of supporting lion conservation and making a positive impact without having to kill a lion. For the welfare of lion conservation, dig deep into conservation organizations and pick an organization that you feel best impacts lions.
This article was written by Kate, founder of BornWild Escapes. Kate started BornWild through her love for unconventional adventures, globetrotting and passions to help wild animals. Her mission is to be a voice for the voiceless and being able to change the future for wild animals.
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