Sun Destinations

Unforgettable adventures and conservation go hand in hand.

Going green stands for more than wearing khaki bush neutrals, sustainable tourism is reshaping the African wilderness experience for the better. Here’s how a safari as well as our lodges and camps play a part in preserving the magnificent wild places of our world.

Lasting Impact That Is Low Impact

A trip to the African wilderness is a journey that stays with you forever. The lasting impact is felt long after you unpack your bags and land back home. It ripples out creating waves of positive change, not only in your own life but in the places that you have visited.

Many people don’t realize the symbiotic relationship that exists between safaris and conservation. Without safaris, there would be no conservation efforts and without conservation efforts, safaris would not exist. It’s a little like the relationship between the oxpecker and the buffalo, they are mutually beneficial and reliant on one another. Safaris play a vital role in the success of conservation efforts.

With the travel boom happening across the world, travelers are becoming more conscious of their environmental footprint. For today’s conscientious traveler, African safaris offer unique opportunities to participate in conservation success stories while enjoying transformative wilderness experiences.

Travelers hold a powerful position – they have the power to choose where they spend their time and money. They can choose accommodation that reinvests profits directly into anti-poaching units, that empowers and supports local communities through projects and provides employment opportunities, that aims to preserve the beautiful, wild places of our world.

Beyond “Eco-Friendly” – Safari Tourism That Makes a Difference

Honestly, we’ve all grown a bit weary of green washing buzzwords like “eco-friendly” and ‘sustainable. But across Africa, innovative safari operators are walking the talk with concrete sustainability practices that go far beyond recycling bins and paper straws.

Within the Greater Kruger region, properties like Africa On Foot Camp, nThambo Tree Camp, and Nyala Safari Lodge are all eco-friendly, solar-run properties. These lodges are designed with sustainability in mind, making them great options for travelers seeking low-impact travel experiences.

For the ultimate low-impact safari, Africa On Foot Wilderness Trails offers 3 day walking safaris. An immersive experience where you get to explore and experience the magic of the African bush, on foot. Leave-no-trace satellite camps are set up in unique locations each evening with gourmet meals cooked on a campfire and served beneath the stars. It is the ultimate minimal impact way to explore the wilderness, not to mention, enticingly adventurous.

The Greater Kruger Success Story

One of the most impressive conservation success stories in Africa is the Greater Kruger. Spanning 344,000 hectares of protected land, it shares unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park. Dropping fences that prevented animal migration was a groundbreaking decision that has allowed wildlife to flourish.

This expansion of protected areas represents a fundamental shift in conservation thinking – recognizing that protecting large, connected landscapes is the best insurance policy for both biodiversity and tourism livelihoods in an uncertain climate future.

From the Klaserie to Balule, Maseke to Sabi Sands, the portfolio of lodges and camps within the Greater Kruger region that Sun Destinations represent are testimony to remarkable conservation success. The removal of barriers has enabled natural wildlife movement, creating corridors that allow animals to adapt to changing environmental conditions and maintain healthy population dynamics.

Not only does it mean there is greater space for animals to roam but it means are less crowded. Experience the magic of African bushveld in lesser-known reserves where habitats and animals remain wild and untamed.

The Greater Kruger Sustainable Development Project (GKSDP), launched in 2020 as a partnership between the South African Government, the private sector, and local communities, further strengthening this collaborative approach to conservation.

Community Connections – Where Tourism Meets Local Empowerment

The most exciting developments in sustainable safari tourism extend beyond wildlife to the communities who share their land with these animals.

Sun Destinations support both wildlife and community initiatives, including Nourish and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). When travellers book with companies that value the significance of connecting communities and conservation, they contribute directly to these vital projects.

One of the greatest threats to wild places are due to rising human populations. Finding ways for humans and wildlife to harmoniously co-exist is vital to the survival of all species including us. Job creation along with education are key to empowering local communities in understanding the immense necessity to preserve these special places they and wildlife call home. Just as nature teaches us of a healthy ecosystem needed for all species to mutually thrive, the intricate and symbiotic relationships that exists between humans and wildlife is no different.

Travel with purpose

As April rolls around in the Southern Hemisphere – that sweet spot between the lush bounty of summer and the concentrated wildlife viewing of the dry winter months – it’s the perfect time to witness sustainable safari tourism in action. The rainy season concludes, herbivores begin shifting toward more established, larger water sources, and predators adjust their territories accordingly. With mild temperatures,, and fewer crowds, it’s an ideal moment to experience the positive impacts of conservation-focused tourism. Visiting one of the lesser known reserves where there is minimal impact, is the perfect way to partake in a sustainable safari.

Whether you’re watching elephants cool themselves in an afternoon mud bath or marvelling at lion cubs pouncing and playing, your safari can contribute to protecting these experiences for generations to come. 

This evolution represents a fundamental shift in how we experience wild places—from passive observation to active participation in their preservation. No longer are we simply traveling to consume; we travel to preserve the remarkable places we are visiting. Sustainable safari tourism works best when it mimics nature, balancing the needs of ecosystems, wildlife, communities, and visitors.

For more information on the portfolio of eco-friendly lodges and camps that Sun Destinations represents, contact our reservations team here.