The Ivory Coast holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION:

Travelling in West Africa offers very few public transport options, so our focus on carbon reduction on this trip is around encouraging the usage of solar energy at hotels we use. One commodity in ample supply in this part of the world is solar energy, it will take time to transition as there are very few hotel options in the north of the country and those available don't currently use solar power however hotels in the south are making greater use of solar energy. We have also designed the itinerary as a circular loop which cuts down the amount of driving. Finally in the Ivory Coast it is normal that the food served in restaurants is local-sourced and seasonal.

As a travel company we're acutely aware of our impact on the environment. Each one of our tours displays a carbon footprint, and we're working to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our itineraries and embracing lower-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which aren't just better for the planet, but we believe offer a more enjoyable and authentic travel experience too. We're a Certified B Corp that's committed to creating unforgettable adventures while protecting our planet for future generations.

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth. In addition to this our local partner company plants three indigenous forest tree species for every person that travels with us. In addition, when we are in Odienne, we spend time with the Dozo hunters who will teach us about their way of life, hunting in the bush and talk about the plants and their importance for traditional medicine. There is the opportunity to take a short walk accompanied by the Dozo hunters to learn more about the forest and the money from the visit helps go towards preserving the forest for future generations.

We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day, we supply a large water dispenser on the bus to help with this. Where tap water isn't safe to drink we recommend Water-to-Go bottles, a filtration bottle allowing you to drink water from any source.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

We use a combination of guest houses and small hotels on this trip. With the exception of the joining hotel in Abidjan, all of the hotels we use are locally owned and operated thereby ensuring that the money generated from our stay contributes to the local economy. In every place we visit we use a local guide who arranges the tribal encounters and elaborate dances. Our local guide will coordinate with the village chief what commodities the village needs, this could be items such as soap or food staples. This is then provided in advance of our visit, in addition to a financial contribution; to be shared amongst the community.

Our leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travellers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY & DIVERSITY

This trip is packed full of experiences and opportunities to directly benefit the communities we visit. On day four we go to a Kapele village, where we will meet traditional clay bead makers who produce beautiful beads using natural materials and ancient techniques. During our time here we will participate in a workshop to create our own single large clay bead learning the ancient process, and there is a wide selection of stunning beads is on sale in the small market. On day six in Boundiali we'll make a stop at a local shea butter cooperative to meet local women producing organic shea butter. We will also visit the village of Gbomi to see the local women making the Ivorian National dish of attieke. Nearby, we will also find traditional palm wine tappers as we meet a local family to take us through the process. This community are famous for producing traditional kente for generations. We'll will meet one of the weavers to take us through the process and then we get to try our hands at weaving and purchase the colourful cloth.

We believe that diversity is to be celebrated and as a Certified B Corp we're committed to championing equity and inclusion throughout our entire supply chain. We believe that an inclusive approach is essential, and that the best results occur when contributors have different opinions, experiences and backgrounds to bring to the table.