This article was originally published in The Green Travel Guide.
For many, the idea of going on an African safari is a bucket-list travel experience. Watching a lion pride at dawn, following the rumble of elephants across the savanna, or witnessing the great wildebeest migration—these are moments that linger in memory for a lifetime. Yet behind the romance of the safari lies a much more complex reality. Safaris can be a force for conservation and local livelihoods, but they can also put pressure on fragile ecosystems if not done thoughtfully.
Let’s break it down—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and then explore how to travel sustainably on safari.
The Good
Conservation through tourism revenue: Many of Africa’s national parks and private conservancies rely on income from safari tourism to fund anti-poaching units, habitat protection, and wildlife research.
Community benefit: When well-managed, safaris provide local jobs – guides, trackers, lodge staff – helping communities see wildlife as an asset rather than a threat.
Education and awareness: Safaris inspire travellers to care deeply about conservation, often sparking donations or advocacy for wildlife causes back home.
The Bad
Over-tourism hotspots: Popular destinations like the Maasai Mara or Serengeti sometimes see too many vehicles crowding a single predator sighting, stressing wildlife and degrading the visitor experience.
Leakage of revenue: In some cases, large international operators capture the majority of profits, with limited benefit trickling down to local people.
Carbon footprint: Long-haul flights, internal bush flights, and fuel-hungry game drives can add up to a heavy environmental cost.
The Ugly
Exploitative practices: Substandard operators may cut corners with waste management, pay unfair wages, or even tolerate unethical practices like baiting animals for close encounters.
Habitat disruption: Poorly planned lodges or infrastructure can fragment ecosystems and encroach on migration routes. Thoughtless visitors flying drones disturbing animals (often without permissions, or even worse — requiring tour guides to go in search of lost drones).
“Greenwashing”: Some lodges promote eco-credentials that don’t stand up to scrutiny, misleading well-intentioned travellers.
How to Do Safaris the Green & Regenerative Way
- Choose conservation-first operators
- Look for lodges and tour companies that invest directly into conservation and community projects. Trustworthy certifications (such as Fair Trade Tourism or eco-labels vetted by independent bodies) are worth checking.
- Support community-owned conservancies
Destinations like the Maasai-owned conservancies in Kenya or Namibia’s community conservancies give local people a stake in protecting wildlife, while limiting visitor numbers for a more exclusive experience.
Travel in the off-season
Avoid peak months to reduce strain on popular parks and enjoy a richer, less crowded experience.
Opt for low-impact accommodations
Seek solar-powered lodges, plastic-free policies, and those using greywater recycling or composting systems. Tented camps, when managed well, often leave a lighter footprint than permanent resorts.
Offset—and reduce—your carbon footprint
Combine offsets with smarter choices: take fewer bush flights, consider overland travel between parks, and extend your stay in one area rather than hopping between many.
Engage respectfully with local cultures
Buy directly from local craftspeople and artists, attend community-led experiences, and listen more than you photograph. Cultural tourism can be deeply enriching when done with respect.
Choose destinations leading in regenerative tourism
Namibia – A global leader in community-based conservation.
Botswana’s Okavango Delta – High-value, low-volume tourism model that protects one of Africa’s richest ecosystems.
Kenya’s Conservancies – Such as Ol Pejeta or Mara North, blending conservation with community livelihoods.
Zambia – Pioneering walking safaris with an emphasis on minimal impact and deep connection.
Safaris can be extractive—or they can be transformative. By traveling thoughtfully, choosing ethical operators, and supporting regenerative practices, you not only experience Africa’s wildlife and incredible landscapes but you contribute to protecting that land and legacy.
Reading List
Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe (Nigeria)
A powerful novel exploring tradition, colonial disruption, and resilience.
The Old Drift – Namwali Serpell (Zambia)
A sweeping family saga that blends history, science, and myth, rooted in the Zambezi.
Dust – Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (Kenya)
A lyrical novel mapping grief, memory, and Kenya’s postcolonial struggles.
We Need New Names – NoViolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe)
A powerful coming-of-age novel about childhood, migration, and fractured homelands.
So Long a Letter – Mariama Bâ (Senegal)
A poetic meditation on womanhood, tradition, and modern life.
Song of Lawino – Okot p’Bitek (Uganda)
Fierce, witty poetry challenging colonial and Western cultural dominance.
Born a Crime – Trevor Noah (South Africa)
A sharp, funny, and poignant memoir of growing up mixed-race under apartheid.
A Human Being Died That Night – Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela (South Africa)
Deep reflections on forgiveness and reconciliation after apartheid.
Africa is Not a Country – Dipo Faloyin (Nigeria/UK)
A witty, insightful dismantling of stereotypes, celebrating Africa’s diversity.
Conservation
The Last Elephants – Don Pinnock & Colin Bell (eds.)
Stunning photography and essays on the urgent need to protect elephants.
When the Last Lion Roars – Sara Evans
The story of lions’ decline and what it means for people and ecosystems.
Love, Life, and Elephants – Daphne Sheldrick (Kenya)
Memoir of pioneering work with orphaned elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Cry of the Kalahari – Mark & Delia Owens
Riveting field research and life among wildlife in Botswana’s Kalahari Desert.
The New Wild – Fred Pearce
A provocative rethinking of conservation, ecosystems, and resilience.
Histories & Context
Africa: A Biography of the Continent – John Reader
A sweeping, accessible history of Africa’s land, people, and past.
The Scramble for Africa – Thomas Pakenham
A powerful history of colonisation and its enduring impact.
Imperial Reckoning – Caroline Elkins
Pulitzer-winning exposé of colonial violence in Kenya.
Travel Writing & Safari Tales
The Tree Where Man Was Born – Peter Matthiessen
Beautiful naturalist writing on East Africa’s landscapes and people.
Whatever You Do, Don’t Run – Peter Allison (Botswana)
Funny, raw stories from a safari guide’s life.
Tanzania Green Travel Destination Guide
Tanzania, known for its iconic wildlife, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, is also becoming a leader in eco-tourism and sustainable travel. From the world-renowned Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro to the Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania offers a range of eco-friendly experiences that allow travellers to immerse themselves in its natural beauty while contributing to conservation and sustainable development.
Here’s the Green Travel Destination Guide to Tanzania, showcasing sustainable transportation, eco-friendly accommodations, activities, and tips for minimising your environmental footprint while exploring the country’s spectacular wildlife and culture.
Bear in mind that Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro can face over-tourism. Travel out-of-season and book with sustainable providers for a better, greener travel experience and one that benefits the local communities. Consider night safaris, walking safaris — think low impact where possible.
Laura McVeigh is a Northern Irish novelist and travel writer. Climate issues are at the heart of her latest novel, LENNY (told between the desert sands of Libya and the Bayou in Louisiana). Her writing has been translated widely. She has authored books for Lonely Planet and DK Travel, bylines in national newspapers, featured in BBC, Newsweek, New Internationalist and many other publications. She is founder of Travel-Writing.Com and Green Travel Guides – a platform for sustainable, regenerative and slow travel content and community. Laura writes on storytelling, travel writing, and green travel issues on Substack.