The African elephant in the room: Is there such a thing as guilt-free safari?, Caitlin Connell

Reading about "guilt-free safaris" feels like a breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively. As someone who has had a safari trip on her bucket list for years but worries about tourism's impact on fragile ecosystems, this movement feels especially meaningful.

The article highlights the hidden pitfalls of traditional safaris: unverified "carbon-neutral" claims, off-road drives that damage sensitive habitats, and emissions that often go uncounted. Yet, there is hope. Travellers can still enjoy those incredible wildlife encounters, like seeing lions at sunrise or elephants by a watering hole, without harming the environment or local communities.

It is not just about offsetting flights. It involves seeking out lodges with credible certifications, renewable energy use, and strong community partnerships. Places like Segera, with their 4Cs model focused on community, conservation, culture, and commerce, show how tourism can support both nature and livelihoods.

What excites me most is the rise of regenerative safaris. These trips allow travellers to take part in conservation efforts, such as protecting elephant migration routes in Samburu or supporting rhino preservation in Northern Kenya. This approach turns visitors into active stewards of the places they explore.

The African elephant in the room: is there such a thing as a true carbon-neutral safari? "I suppose that in a spreadsheet it might be possible," says Lisa Scriven, general manager of Fair Trade Tourism and Africa Coordinator of Green Destinations. Data manipulation, loopholes and even differing opinions of what defines a "carbon-neutral" camp make it difficult to know how strict safari operators are being when they tout the label. For example, Scriven says that some lodges claim to be carbon neutral yet decline to calculate their Scope 3 emissions, which include everything they don't produce. In remote Africa, where every supply, guest, employee and bottle of imported Champagne must travel long distances to reach a private concession in the middle of the Serengeti or Okavango Delta, this cost can quickly skyrocket.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250306-why-travellers-are-seeking-out-guilt-free-safaris

Elephant herd at sunset. After a day of eating on islands in the Chobe River, the elephants cross the water again to spend the night in the forests of the Chobe National Park in Botswana.

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