Senegal tour, coast and delta

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Wherever possible we use environmentally friendly local accommodation. If this is not possible we make every effort to alert the management of the accommodation in question to ways of improving their service with the environment in mind. Many of the hotels and lodges we use are in extremely remote areas and are therefore almost entirely self-sufficient, using local sources of food, labour and construction materials.

If meals are included on the tour, we use local restaurants within the towns and villages that we stop to eat at. All food is locally sourced at these smaller restaurants, and often include meals at family-run guesthouses. Vegetarian and vegan options are always available and we advise our local suppliers in advance to ensure that locally-sourced product is available for our guests.

Where possible, we always try to operate tours, especially in cities and villages, by walking rather than driving from place to place to reduce the use of vehicles.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

On this tour we visit the UNESCO Heritage Site of Djoudi Bird Sanctuary, and take a small motorized boat through the wildlife park. We use the services of a local guide from the park itself, who educates our clients on the conservation of the park, what the local guides are and also explaining the different species of birds and wildlife found here. There is also the opportunity for clients to donate to the Sanctuary upon leaving.

We visit areas of natural beauty, such as Joal Fadiouth and its palm and baobab trees. Our local guides brief clients on the importance of this area to the local villagers, and always stick to designated paths when exploring the area. Clients are also briefed to not leave anything behind, taking all rubbish with them in order to protect and conserve these natural areas.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Our philosophy is to only use small and locally owned suppliers, meaning that the income remains within the country and creates a real economic contribution. We also feel that the passion inherent within such suppliers means that your experience will be enhanced. We also try to engage with our suppliers on an equal basis – getting the lowest possible price usually isn’t the best outcome for local communities and is ultimately unsustainable. We aim to always treat our suppliers fairly and with respect; they are after all part of the key to our success and to us working together is much more than just a business arrangement, but an ongoing relationship that we aim to ensure truly benefits everyone involved.

We visit a number of important historical sites on this tour. The entrance fees that we pay at these sites helps fund their preservation and ensure that this aspect of the region’s cultural heritage remains for others to enjoy in years to come – particularly important in a country where finding resources for this can be difficult. In addition to this some of these sites contain ancient and fragile religious frescoes that are very susceptible to damage. We make a point of advising our travellers not to touch these valuable paintings to ensure that they remain as they are.

We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best. Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. When possible we use local transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops and encourage our clients to interact both financially and socially with the communities that they are passing through. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services. As well as our local guides and tour leaders, we employ guides from the communities and regions that we visit, ensuring that the benefits from tourism are more fairly shared and do not end up always being funnelled towards the capital cities.

We only work with operators who are as committed as we are to putting something back into the communities we visit. This may include giving a percentage of the profits from each tour to a foundation to help street children or local conservation projects.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

We do not send a guide or tour leader from the UK or our company, but instead use local guides who are from the area and country we operate in. We believe the best way to be shown a country is by those who live there, and work with many local guides in different cities and towns so our clients get the best experience and knowledge possible.