A lodge might have outstanding reviews on trip-advisor yet have a horrible conservation status. Great rooms, food, and service while they have open dump sites, burn tons of plastic, neglect, mismanage and or abuse animals. Would it not be great to have an enviromental or animal ethics rating too?
Why are safari companies and game lodges not rated according to their enviromental and conservation ethics and why are they not inspected by conservation regulatory bodies to ensure ethical conduct towards the animals? After all, the attraction is the wild animals, right? “Trip- advisor” which deals with service, food, rooms etc., is a great concept and well done to the inventors but unfortunately does not include ratings regarding animal ethics and how places affect Nature. It favors the visitors and is rated by the visitors who do not see the entire operation.
We are calling for the formation of a government-authorised entity to inspect and rate game-lodges and safari operaters on enviromental and conservation ethics. Imagine having top scores on a type of “green-rating sytem.” Now that would really impress visitors! It would also encourage certain establishments to get their house in order
- Would guests book at a game lodge where the wild animals drink the sewerage water?
- Where wild animals feed on rotten open garbage dumps infested with millions of flies.
- Where wild animals don’t have adequate water and food and left to die without helping them.
- Where animals like Monkeys and Baboons are wounded and maimed because people are too lazy to dispose properly of their garbage.
- Where incompetent people deal with wildlife inhumanely.
Innocent guests book at places where the above takes place because the facts are omitted by the advertisers. Visitors are unaware of the reality and trust that their destinations, having top ratings and being inside game reserves, are ethical and responsible conservationists.
Bookings advise:
If you are serious about the wellbeing of wild animals it is advisable to enquire about ethics before booking Safaris. The reservations department might not know all the answers but it is a starting point and will bring awareness which will ultimately lead to better treatment of animals and visitors.
Enquire about the below
(see details on relevant pages).
Animal Ethics
- Are there open sewerage drains where wild animals drink from?
- Are there open refuse dumps where wild animals have access to?
- Are Monkeys and Baboons being shot around the lodge?
- Are animal populations regulated by culling? Oops!
- Are Lion, Elephant and Cheetah populations controlled by the use of contraceptives and what type?
- Is the property too small to be self-regulating?
- Is there adequite water for the animals?
- How often do guests see the fences?
- How often are animals viewed along fences during game drives?
- Which animals are collared and for what reasons?
Safari Guides
- Are the guides legally qualified to drive with paying guests?
- Are the guides legally compliant to walk with guests?
- Are the guides ethical with spotlights and how they approach the animals?
- Are the guides passionate or simply doing a job?
- Are the guides responsible or trying to scare the guests?
- Do the guides solicit tipping?
How commercial?
- What is the exact size of the area drivable, apart from the overall reserve size?
- How many vehicles traverse on the same area where your safari takes place?
- How many vehicles are allowed to to view the same animals at once?
- What is the time-limit you have on high-profile sightings like Leopards, Lions and Cheetahs.
- How many guests are seated on a single game viewing vehicle? If its more than 6 it means 3 people will sit next to each other on a row of seats, making it restricting for the middel person.
- Do they put small children together with other guests on the same vehicle?
Accommodation
- Are the guest units hot and uncomfortable during hot temperatures?
- Is the water coming from filthy open reservoirs?
- Are there open toilet drains close to the guest units?
- Are the guest units private? Some are so close to each other that the guests and staff from a neighbouring lodge can see the guests inside their unit. No privacy around your “private unit”
- Can other lodges staff, or even dogs, be heard from your unit.
- How many lodges are in close proximity? See Google Earth.
The Reserve
- Is off-roading allowed?
- Are the game-viewing vehicles in good condition?
- Are the game-viewing vehicles open or enclosed?
- How many of the iconic species can be viewed? (avoid serious dissapointment)
- How often do guests really see Leopards? Oops!
- What is the chance factor of seeing the animal you really want to see?
- Are there disruptive public roads running through the reserve?
- How often will you see animals walking along fences?
More to follow…