Members Practising Sustainable Tourism

Cedarberg set up a small rural pre-school in South Africa in 2001. We know how important a good early education can be, especially for children from poor or previously disadvantaged backgrounds, so that they are not already behind at age 7.

• 2 classrooms with 2 properly qualified teachers and a teacher’s assistant.
• Every year there are about 50+ children.
• We follow the set pre-school curriculum
• Regular funding drives to get extra money for school outings
• New - breakfast!

Our local team is working together with two young tourism professionals originating from Kalaw. They decided to set up a project there that is focused on protecting nature, elephants and the traditions of local people.

• The project includes creating a natural environment for Myanmar elephants and helping the local population to use education and micro finance to emerge from poverty.
• It is not encouraged to ride the elephants.

In Guyana, we stay at Karanambu Ranch home of Diane McTurk, well known for her work in rehabilitating orphaned Giant River Otters to the wild.

• Diane has started the Karanambu Trust in an attempt to create a private protected area at Karanambu. The primary purpose of the protected area will be the protection of the habitat for the otters and ensuring their survival.

This is a special project in Laos offering young people free English courses, taught by a native speaker.

• Meeting foreigners (with different accents!) to practice English is a special event for students and helps to overcome their shyness of speaking in public. LBF encourages their students to continue to study for careers.

Sailing is inherently sustainable. Using wind to travel from island to island is the most environmentally friendly way to travel around the Greek Islands. There is no noise pollution or engine emissions whilst sailing!

• Customers are encouraged to use the wind wherever possible
• This limits diesel emissions & noise pollution

We work with the Ionian Dolphin Project. Our clients are actively encouraged to get in touch with the project when they spot a dolphin or school of dolphins!

• The crew on our flotillas carry information for clients
• Customers learn to identify the different species of dolphins
• Sightings are mentioned on social media
• We actively promote customers reporting their sightings

Initiated by Mountain Kingdoms MD, Steve Berry, this unique project is building a rare Zanskari bridge of interwoven twigs, helping to keep ancient Zanskari traditions and culture alive. Email steve@mountainkingdoms.com for further info.

• Zanskar is a Tibetan Buddhist kingdom, just north of the main Himalayan range, in Ladakh, India.
• Traditionally Ladakhi people depended on incredible woven twig bridges in order to cross the icy rivers.
• 1st bridge has now been built

In 2009 we started a programme of regular donations to Conservation Lower Zambezi – an NGO which aims to reduce poaching and misuse of resources in Zambia's Lower Zambezi. These are ongoing, and to date have included:

• 8 GPS devices for anti-poaching patrols.
• 2 digital SLR cameras, for assisting CLZ's environmental education work.
• An air-to-ground radio for use on anti-poaching patrols.