Sustainable lodges and trips

An insight in to how we know a lodge is a sustainable travel option

Alex
Alex
Operations & Marketing Development
Published on
25 Sept 2020
Updated on
24 Jun 2025
Solar Panels Star Dune Suite And Beyond Sossusvlei

What makes a safari lodge, camp or a hotel a sustainable property?

There are a myriad of ways in which a safari lodge, camp or hotel can be considered sustainably minded, from reducing the amount of energy utilised on a daily basis, the way in which they source food and other products for their guests to actively working with local community projects.

From a minimum perspective before branching out to numerous types of ways in which a safari lodge, camp or hotel can be considered sustainable, there are generally three aspects to look at.

Solar Panels Star Dune Suite And Beyond Sossusvlei
A lodge in the Sossusvlei, Namibia with each of it's rooms connected to a dedicated solar power network

Environmentally sustainable

A lodge is making efforts to reduce their environmental impact. Whether it is reducing power consumption, utilising renewable energy sources (such as solar power), sourcing locally produced food/drink, obtaining water from a low impact source, reducing the amount of single use plastics, recycling and repurposing initiatives. In essence sustainability is about a world is one in which people enjoy happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the earth’s resources, leaving space for wildlife, wilderness and nature.

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Community projects

Organisations are leveraging their influence in an area to help local communities by providing education and development opportunities, supporting enterprise initiatives and businesses, employment from the surrounding communities and helping them live in harmony with the natural environment.

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Biodiversity protection

This covers all manner of topics from; protecting wildlife from human encroachment, illegal grazing of livestock, illegal hunting and poaching, putting measures in place to minimise human/wildlife conflict, ensuring the integrity of protected ecosystems from invasive species both flora and fauna as well as projects to correctly manage and potentially increase wildlife stability and diversity.

We’re dedicated to promoting people and organisations who are making these efforts and they way in which we gauge whether a property is a sustainable, from their survey results we made a decision that if a property has a lesser carbon footprint score than the regional and national averages for their location.

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Some safari camps are perfectly in tune with the natural world around them
Peponi Hotel
Peoponi Beach Hotel, Kenya is a prime example of a hotel doing great work to be more sustainable

What do we consider to be a responsibly minded holiday?

There’s so many aspects which can be taken in to consideration with a myriad of variabilities, so, we put our heads together with our carbon offsetting partners and carbon scoring experts to have a clearly defined set of criteria which a Far and Wild holiday would need to meet.

  • 50% and over of the accommodation selected for an itinerary includes a sustainable lodge, camp or hotel.
  • Our client (you) has taken the option to offset the carbon footprint of your holiday either through our partners or through a project you wanted to invest in.

A sustainable lodge must meet the following criteria

  • Their environmental impact was less than their country or regional average.
  • They are involved with sustainability projects to help benefit the local environment or surrounding communities.

We work with amazing organisations who do exceptional work to coexist in harmony with the natural world around them. If you’d like to learn more about how to travel more sustainably and which are our favourite sustainable lodges and trips, call us on 01768 603 715.

Would you like to travel more sustainably

Speak with one of our experts

Call 0203 111 1315
or
Our Experts
Ben morison bio pic May18

Ben

Ali 1

Alistair

Shirley Newman

What can I say….my son and myself had the most wonderful time in Kenya thanks to the first-class itinerary that Ben and Louise put together for us. We spoke with Ben many times to ensure he ‘got it right’. This was our 2nd visit to Kenya, and it certainly lived up to our expectations and memories. We stayed in four locations, firstly at the wonderful El Karama Lodge, Laikipia Wildlife Conservancy, where we even had a visit from Ruth from Far and Wild! Then, for a return visit, to Saruni Samburu, which is absolutely stunning and still one of our favourite places in the world. Next came Basecamp Mara Camp, where we saw our first Cheetah, the only animal we didn’t see on our first visit. After that, onto the wonderful Leopards Hill in the Naiboisho Conservancy, what a way to spend the last four days of this trip. Here we finally spent many hours with a beautiful leopard. Throughout our time in Kenya, we saw many lions, giraffes, elephants, ostriches, hyenas, cheetahs, and leopards, to name just a few. Nothing was too much trouble for all the staff; we cannot have been looked after any better. Since our return again Ben phoned to see how it went in addition to emails. I would highly recommend Far and Wild; they are so knowledgeable and have personally visited the lodges and areas. We are already planning another visit, and we cannot wait.

16 Aug 2025
Elizabeth Spells

I have just returned from the most amazing trip to Tanzania, booked with Far & Wild. Everything went so smoothly from the first time I spoke with them. The planning was great, the itinerary was perfect for us, and the lodges were amazing. We spent 10 nights with an amazing guide, travelling through Northern Tanzania and even got to see the migration, which was a lifetime ambition of mine. This wasn't our first safari, so we were nervous as to how it would compare, but it was spot on. We're particularly grateful that she suggested a private 'bush lunch' in the Ngorongoro Crater as the public picnic spot was very busy! I will certainly be using them again to book our next trip....we're thinking of a relaxing beach stay next time to get over the excitement of safari!

17 Sept 2025
Orla Rhodes

Just back from another amazing F&W organised trip to Namibia with the family (8 adults). Having been there before, Alistair tailored our trip to include our favourite locations and added a new one for us, Okonjima Plains camp, which we loved.The quality of accommodation and guiding, activities, food and drinks was exceptional throughout. Although not inexpensive I felt it was good value for the level of luxury we had. Kwessi Dunes, Shipwreck lodge, Ongava, Okonjima with pit stops Windhoek (city tour recommended ), Swakopmund (Sandwich Harbour and Walvis Bay tour) and Grootberg lodge (best sundowner drive )

31 Jul 2024
Arnhild Schia

We had a wonderful trip to São Tomé and Príncipe - a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea with paradise (almost empty) beaches and jungle forest. It was all well organised by Far and Wild and we stayed at Omali lodge at Sao Tome, then on Roca Sundy, and Sunday Praia at Principe - a great combination of different types of resorts/hotels. Omali is close to Sao Tome town with its colonial buildings, markets, hustle and bustle. Roca Sunday gives an old plantation experience and Sundy Praia a luxury beach experience. Very friendly (from time to time a bit slow) service, great fresh food, specifically if you like fish/seafood, vegetables and fruits (almost all sourced locally). Nice temperature between 23 and 30 degrees Celsius, nice swimming conditions. We really recommend this for those who want to experience a pristine destination with few other tourists and friendly and welcoming people. The islands also feel (and I believe are) very safe. At Principe, there are no dangerous animals, snakes or whatever, and it was great to be able to hike in the jungle without being very conscious of where to put your hands and feet. Go before everyone else does!

3 Jul 2024
Henri Papenfus

Back home again, basking in the joys of a superb safari. Every aspect you arranged for us, including linking up with Mack Air and Wild Horizons locally to transport us. The choice of camps, Camp Hwange in Zimbabwe and Muchenenje Safari Lodge in Botswana, was spot on and exactly what we had hoped for - ideally situated, comfortable, in good surroundings, and with excellent wildlife on the doorstep and throughout the wider country. The service staff in each looked after us very well, catering was excellent, and the game guides were professional, knowledgeable and helpful. The weather was, as usual for that part of the world, also good at the time of our visit. Blue skies and stunning sunsets. Warm but not too hot during the day, although quite cold at sunrise when viewing game. The viewing started. You made us happy, and we recommend you to similar safari enthusiasts with confidence.

28 Jun 2024
AC

Far and Wild went above and beyond to make sure my trip to Zambia was special. I would definitely recommend them and their services to anyone wanting to travel to Africa.

5 Jun 2024
Tiny

Lovely holiday at the amazing Almanara on Galu beach, a beach like no other. Far and Wild excelled themselves from beginning to end of our holiday in beautiful Kenya.... What a country!,

5 Jun 2024
Stodge

Wow! These guys are amazing. Can’t recommend them highly enough. Friendly AND efficient! Sorted out our trip (last minute and lots of different family member needs, sorry!) in record time and everything worked like clockwork. Trip of a lifetime to the Masai Mara. Will be back (and use F&W again!)!

5 Jun 2024
Fiona C

It was a dreamy holiday on the Kenyan Coast - Far and Wild, their efficiency and professionalism allowed us to relax and be the happiest family alive !! We cannot fault them, their care and understanding of what we wanted from a holiday ensured we had the most memorable trip. We will be booking with them again for sure!

5 Jun 2024