“This ongoing endorsement from BTO affirms our core commitment to our 4Cs sustainability ethos of Commerce, Community, Culture and Conservation. It is really rewarding to work together with BTO to help minimise our environmental impact, while applying these learnings in all our regions of operation to maintain our high standards of excellence across the Group”, says Segametsi Monnamorwa, Wilderness Safaris Botswana Environmental Department Manager.

The Botswana Ecotourism Certification System is designed to encourage and support responsible environmental, social and cultural behaviour by tourism businesses, to make sure they provide quality eco-friendly products to consumers. It is drawn from international best practice, highlighting the Government’s commitment to sustainable ecotourism. The scheme is monitored by a Quality Assurance Committee that only awards certification to camps that conform to stringent criteria.

The internationally recognised system has three-tiers: an entry-level “Green” certification, mid-level “Green+” certification and the highest “Eco” level of certification. This grading recognises the full spectrum of ecotourism, which includes involvement with local communities in tourism development, nature conservation, environmental management and interpretation of the surrounding environment to guests.

Wilderness Safaris naturally aspires to the highest of the tiers – the “Eco” level of certification. Continued investment in solar power, such as the recent installation at Jao Camp, which works on one of the biggest Victron inverter systems in the world, in combination with rigorous environmental management standards and a number of conservation initiatives, have contributed to 19 Wilderness Safaris camps achieving “Eco” certification.

“As a company proudly born and bred in Botswana over 35 years, it remains extremely important to us to pioneer authentic ecotourism in the region in order to effect change and inspire positive action. We are dedicated to conserving and restoring Africa’s wilderness and wildlife, using a sustainable and responsible ecotourism model, and look forward to continuing to work with BTO to ensure our camps have the lightest eco-footprint possible”, concludes Segametsi.

The following Wilderness Safaris camps are “Eco" Certified:
Abu; DumaTau; Chitabe; Chitabe Lediba; Jacana; Jao; Kalahari Plains Camp; King’s Pool Camp; Kwetsani; Linyanti Tented Camp; Mombo and Little Mombo; Pelo; Savuti; Seba; Tubu Tree and Little Tubu Camp; Vumbura Plains Camp and Little Vumbura

About Wilderness Safaris:
www.wilderness-safaris.com

Since 1983, Wilderness Safaris has been dedicated to conserving and restoring Africa’s wilderness and wildlife by creating life-changing journeys and inspiring positive action.
As Africa’s leading authentic and sustainable ecotourism operator, Wilderness Safaris operates camps and safaris in some of Africa’s best wildlife and wilderness areas across seven countries: Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In this way it offers its guests private access to almost 2.5 million hectares (over six million acres) of Africa’s most remote and pristine wildlife areas, while remaining fiercely committed to protecting our planet’s precious natural and cultural resources.
Wilderness Safaris is deeply committed to its 4Cs sustainability ethos of Commerce, Community, Culture and Conservation. It firmly believes that its single most important achievement to date is to have built a sustainable business model that does not compromise environmental principles and that provides jobs, training, skills, careers, adjusted horizons, hope and a realistic alternative to less sustainable development.
Recognising that conservation is as much about people as about the environment, the company has pursued important goals through its two non-profit partners, Children in the Wilderness and the Wilderness Wildlife Trust, both of which have helped change the face of nature-based tourism in Africa.
Wilderness Safaris is part of Wilderness Holdings, a group of ecotourism companies that together use responsible tourism to build sustainable conservation economies in Africa.