SUSTAINABLE TRAVELLER:

Responsible tourism in Uganda

HOW OUR VISITORS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO UGANDA’S SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL?

Responsible tourism in Uganda is based on three factors: society, economy, and environment. Each element may be individually sustainable yet unquestionably influence the others. If the economy grows, culture will change. When culture changes, the environmental practices will shift. If the environmental practices shift, the economy will transform. It’s a little like running a three-person relay race—each person has individual autonomy, but is surely only one part of the team. To win, you must work together.

In this sense, our Responsible tourism in Uganda seeks to do three things:

1) Protect the environment and restore Uganda’s ecosystems;

2) Allow businesses and local economies to operate profitably now and in the future;

3) Support social improvement and protect cultural identity.

Put simply, you do not travel in a vacuum—your choices as a consumer have a direct impact on the areas that you visit. Every step you take and every penny you spend has real and lasting power.

It is very easy to become a responsible tourist and we all can do it.

The following tips will help you be a better tourist:

• Don’t throw garbage in the streets, roads, rivers, beaches and other places. Always identify the correct places to deposit the garbage or other residues.
• Try to recycle and reuse as much as you can.
• Try to use organic and environmentally friendly products.
• Try to save water and energy. Follow the conservation policies of the hotels and other service providers.
• Enjoy the natural and cultural wonders. Don’t damage or mark them so that others can appreciate them.
• Only take pictures, don’t take plants or animals as a souvenir.
• If you can, try to learn some words of the local language and about the culture and traditions of the destinations you visit.
• Don’t buy products related to endangered species, like rhino horns, elephant tusks, animal furs or bird feathers. If you see or notice anyone selling this kind of product report it to the authorities.
• Follow the trails and signed roads and always listen to the directions of the guides and park rangers.
• Try to choose itineraries that generate the most benefit for the small populations.
• If you find a wild animal during a journey, don’t bother it, the surest thing is that it will run away. Don’t try to feed it either.
• The sexual exploitation of children and the use of prohibited substances is a crime.
• Choose tourist destinations whose service providers are responsible for the use of water, power, biodiversity, beaches and forests. They should also have a good waste management program.
• Buy and use products and services offered by rural or indigenous communities. You will help to preserve the natural areas and contribute to improving the life quality of its inhabitants.
• For a better experience try to do the tours with a local naturalistic guide. Don’t use flashy clothes, strong fragrances or perfumes, keep quiet, watch well where you walk and most important be respectful of nature.
• Make contributions to help a cause.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO TAKE CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT?

With our little daily decisions, we can contribute to preserving the environment and the well-being of future generations.

The following tips will help you start a firm commitment to the environment and to help Uganda’s sustainable travel :

• Use only the necessary water and don’t pollute it. Water is life and we all depend on it.
• Try to generate as less garbage as possible, reuse everything that you can and recycle as much as possible
• Save energy. Take advantage of natural light, change your light bulbs from regular to fluorescent or even LED and use less hot water.
• Take care of the plants; they give us oxygen, shadow, food, medicines and a lot of benefits.
• Take care of the animals; remember that wild species are not pets.
• Preserve the air, don’t burn garbage and don’t use polluting vehicles in excess.
• Protect the natural areas, especially the virgin zones; don’t pollute and don’t kill animals.
• Preserve the soils; avoid the use of insecticides, toxic waste and polluting oils.
• Don’t make annoying noises; keep the volume of the music at normal levels that don’t disturb your friends, family or neighbours.
• Plant a tree. Avoid the use of products that damages the environment and give priority to organic products. Recycling, avoiding polluting and don’t use sprays are a few things that we should do to preserve the environment.

Together we can ensure that our current travel needs are met without compromising a good future for the next generations in Uganda.

Use this link to see more about us.