The Environmental Dilemmas On Safari

If you are considering safari holidays, you already have a proven interest in nature and the environment in general. Safari is truly one of the most fantastic holiday opportunities out there and it brings significant amounts of money to developing African economies. However, on the flip side it is undeniable that the the African ecosystem is being damaged by human activity linked to safari excursions. Everyone owes themselves at least one safari experience in a lifetime. But Africa is owed a debt of gratitude for putting on this show, so enjoy your safari responsibly.

When you’re privileged enough to be on Mozambique holidays, one of the most environmentally responsible things you can do is to simply not insist on ‘seeing the big five’. In Africa the ‘big five’ are the African Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo, Lion and Rhino. Having marketed safaris on the appeal of the ‘big five’ for decade, operators or over obsessed with these animals (which are ultimately a list derived from hunting, which tells you a lot in itself). The obsession seems particularly daft given the proliferation of the animals in local zoos. Were you to see just one of the big five, to observe them at length in your natural habitat, you’d get a better experience than having to constantly speed across the plains looking for the next tick box. Consider also what isn’t included in the ‘big five’. What about hippos? Giraffes? Zebras? There’s so much more in Africa, would you really want to speed past these to say a buffalo?.

If you tour guide chases tips as favours to more demanding passengers, try to look elsewhere if you can. Try to find a group in general that understand the need to keep to the rules governing the safari experience. If you’re on South Africa holidays you have to be wary of going off road. Even though this gives you unprecedented access to the nature of Africa, you’ll be destroying habitats and maybe even running over small animals. In the major parks, off-road driving is prohibited. Besides, the whole obsession with ticking animals off the list is patently nothing to do with the Safari experience. In a sense, the pursuit of intimate snaps up close with the ‘big five’ is no better than poaching. Environmental damage could just be the thing that lets these marvelous beasts become extinct after all.