Category: Responsible Tourism
The responsibility highlighted in the term “responsible tourism” is a powerful concept. It invites you to continuously think about your actions, consider their immediate and far-reaching implications. In our interpretation we follow the 2022 Responsible Tourism Charter that defines it as:
(1) Recognises global environmental issues that require local action
(2) Sets goals, measures and reports efforts to minimise negative economic, environmental, and social impacts
(3) Generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities
(4) Involves local people in decisions that affect their communities
(5) Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage
(6) Addresses biodiversity loss and is nature-positive
(7) Provides inclusive employment irrespective of ability, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation
(8) Provides more enjoyable experiences for all through more meaningful connections with locals and a greater understanding of context/issues
(9) Offers culturally sensitive experiences engendering respect between tourists and hosts, and building local pride and confidence
To these we add:
(10) Promotes animal welfare
Our Stories:
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Is Tracking Gorillas Ethical?
105mm, f/3.2, 1/400s, ISO1600 Questions like this are tricky, mainly because only one of the parties involved — that would be us, the humans — can truly understand what’s happening and why. Let us explain … Mountain gorillas were almost extinct by the early 1980s, and only a concerted conservation effort brought them back from…
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SABA Episode #15 — Bad Things White People Do in Africa (And How to Repent)
The goal of this episode, according to Kahiri and Miha, was to make the shortest podcast so far, and listening to the action-packed 13 minutes above we certainly managed! But it definitely wasn’t our goal to end up with the most delayed SEE AFRICA BREATHE AFRICA ever. I will take the blame because of —…
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SABA Episode #11 — Eco, Sustainable or Responsible Tourism? It’s Clear (at Least to Harold Goodwin)!
It was a no-brainer whom to invite as our guest for the 11th episode of SEE AFRICA BREATHE AFRICA focused on responsible tourism (we cut it down to 17 minutes only, to be as user-friendly as possible). Who would be your top mark if you were to discuss the Catholic Church? Pope Francis of course!…
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SABA Episode #10 — How to Be Good Partners to Batwa ‘Pygmies’?
For the tenth episode of SEE AFRICA BREATHE AFRICA (we are now in the double digits!) I was sent on a mission to visit the Batwa “Pygmy” people of Echuya Forest on the Uganda-Rwanda border. Miha was attempting to kill two birds with one stone — introducing me to the realities of the Batwa and…
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SABA Episode #8 — How to Change Africa’s Image Worldwide?
On this eighth and final episode of the 2021 SEE AFRICA BREATHE AFRICA podcasts, the discussion revolves around something I have a particular interest in: How to change Africa’s image worldwide? Though I am African through and through, born and raised in Uganda, I don’t believe I had ever had to address the issue of…
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Which Nations are Most Common Among Visitors to Uganda and Rwanda?
Top 10 Countries Among Our Tourists in Uganda and Rwanda To answer the title question we of course tried to obtain national statistics — but ultimately failed to get something comprehensive and fresh enough. As a proxy we dove into the stats of our own trips and accommodation in Uganda and Rwanda in the pre-Covid…
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SABA Episode #6 — Gifts for Kids, Begging & Smart Giving
The sixth episode of our SEE AFRICA BREATHE AFRICA podcast explores one of the trickiest questions we get from travellers: What should I bring for children I will meet? I already contributed some ideas to Miha’s article about the issue (swaying him away from his more ambiguous first draft) but since I couldn’t make it…
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Is It Right to Come with Gifts for Children?
No and yes and no. On the one hand, there is some serious danger that you will contribute to the culture of begging that can be quite annoying. At my Ugandan home, Lake Bunyonyi, it’s almost like children learn “Give me money!” before “Mama”. At my Rwandan home, Musanze, we have a startlingly common problem…
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Why is Akagera National Park So Expensive — And Where Does My Money Go?
OK, let’s talk about money … Safaris are probably not the cheapest holiday option. As well as your flights, accommodation, food and transport, you might also have game drives, park fees, and additional activities to budget for. There is also a whole mixed-bag of options when it comes to planning a safari. Whereas private reserves…
