Lesotho and Eswatini holiday, Southern Africa

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
Lesotho has made notable efforts toward carbon reduction, though it faces challenges due to limited resources and infrastructure. They are working toward low-carbon development by focusing on energy, forests, farming, and waste. Efforts include using more renewable energy, planting trees, improving farming methods, and better waste management. Eswatini is also actively working to reduce carbon emissions, aiming to cut 2.24 million tonnes by 2035. The country focuses on climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, better waste and water management, and green finance. Even with limited resources, Lesotho & Eswatini are getting support from international partners like the Green Climate Fund to help reach their climate goals.

We understand the value of sustainable development and balancing economic growth with environmental care. To minimise car emissions, we opt to explore sites on foot whenever possible.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
When visiting Tsehlanyane National Park, we encourage sustainable travel practices, such as respecting the land, avoiding littering, and supporting local businesses. As a conservation area, the park is dedicated to protecting unique montane ecosystems and biodiversity.
 
At Mkhaya Game Reserve, we ask travellers not to feed small animals like monkeys and birds, as this can encourage ongoing interaction with humans, putting the wildlife at risk and potentially posing danger to tourists.

People

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
Lesotho and Eswatini both face high unemployment and social challenges, but are working to improve inclusivity and diversity. In Lesotho, many people work in informal jobs, and the government is the biggest employer. In Eswatini, men and women have similar education levels, but women still face barriers to paid work. There’s strong public support for equal opportunities, and both countries are making efforts to create safer, fairer workplaces.

We make sure that we work with local guides and drivers for our tours to provide employment opportunities and support the local economy. By working with people from the region, we help to preserve traditional knowledge, ensuring visitors gain a deeper and more authentic understanding of the destination. This approach offers more meaningful connections between travellers and the communities visited, promoting sustainable tourism that benefits everyone involved.

You may well come across beggars. There’s no hard and fast answer on this and everyone has a different view – some feel that giving simply encourages begging while others see it as helping someone in need. Some guidebooks will tell you that you should only give if you see a local person also giving, to determine whether the beggar is genuine. The issue is particularly difficult when it comes to children, but we’d ask that you don’t give to children as in poor communities this can often act as a discouragement to going to school.