Ten Conservation Holidays Around the World
Travel with a company that puts conservation front and centre, and you'll be giving back while getting so much more from your next adventure. By Lauren Jarvis
This is a feature from Issue 17 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.
Whether you’re looking for a hands-on holiday rewilding depleted landscapes, an island adventure protecting endangered turtles, or a relaxing stay immersed in nature, a conservation-focused escape is an exciting way to have a positive impact on the planet. Not only will you get a sense of satisfaction knowing your time has been put to good use, but you’ll also gain the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in the wild, and have the chance to meet like-minded people, too. From Scotland to Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and beyond, here are ten ideas for making your travels matter, and they can all be booked with Charitable Travel!
Protect Marine Life in the Maldives
While over-tourism has left a hefty footprint on coastal and marine environments around the world, Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives is turning the tide. Working in partnership with NGOs the Blue Marine Foundation, Manta Trust and Olive Ridley Project, the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) educates locals and guests on ocean conservation. MUI has also helped to secure the designation of six Marine Protected Areas in Laami Atoll, safeguarding precious turtle nesting beaches, coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows. Guests can help with ongoing coral, seagrass, manta ray and turtle conservation projects, and the resort’s 10-strong team of marine biologists also lead Junior Marine Biology programmes.
Be a tracker in South Africa
Powered by its Community Conservation Fund Africa, Mantis supports conservation, sustainability and community development projects from their resorts in Africa and Costa Rica. Mantis Founders Lodge near Gqeberha in South Africa offers guests the opportunity to get out in the field with expert guides on an interactive Wildlife Tracks and Signs Experience, recording data used in conservation efforts. With daily game drives to spot the Big Five, the lodge also offers a Bear Grylls Survival Academy experience to inspire the eco-explorers of tomorrow.
Monitor Manta Rays in Fiji
Targeted by fisheries for their plankton-filtering gill plates, which are used in traditional Asian medicine, reef manta rays are now globally threatened, and these gentle ocean giants need our help. Kokomo Private Island’s luxury villas and residences overlook Fiji’s pristine sands and the Great Astrolabe Reed, where guests can join responsible-led manta snorkel and dive expeditions, following the guidelines of conservation organisation, the Manta Trust. Visitors can also help marine biologists from the Manta Project Fiji to photograph and identify the rays, learn about manta tagging and adopt a manta, continuing their support for the species long after they’ve returned home.
Support Wildlife Rangers in Africa
Stay at one of the Great Plains Conservation’s luxury safari camps and you’ll be helping to protect critical wildlife habitat and support the rangers working on the frontline to defend some of the world’s most endangered animals. A Conservation and Community Levy is added to each stay, funding initiatives including Project Ranger, which equips rangers with essential training and resources, and the Big Cats Initiative, which preserves land for Africa’s big cats and works with communities to reduce human-wildlife conflict. With properties in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Botswana, Sitatunga Private Island in the latter is its newest camp, offering eco-friendly adventures in the heart of of the Okvango Delta.
Learn how to be a Naturalist in Sri Lanka
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in nature, Sri Lanka’s beautiful Gal Oya Lodge is the perfect place to stay. The lodge’s nine traditional wooden bungalows and family villa are surrounded by 20 acres of private forest bordering Gal Oya National Park, home to elephants, leopards, sloth bears and fishing cats. Naturalists lead walking and jeep safaris in the park or boat tours on the country’s largest lake, while an on-site research centre welcomes guests to get involved with wildlife research and camera trap data collection, and forest forays with the Chief of the local indigenous Vedda tribe offer the chance to learn about native medicines and foods.
Restore a reef in Thailand
Climate change, pollution and harmful fishing practices are impacting coral reefs and marine life around the world, but through its Coral Conservation Project, the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui is on a mission to save Thailand’s reefs, which have long been a magnet for divers and snorkellers. When they’re not soaking up the sun on the palm-fringed beach overlooking the Gulf of Siam, or enjoying a traditional Thai massage in the Secret Garden Spa, guests can play their part by joining the resort’s marine biologists for conservation workshops, responsible snorkelling tours, beach clean-ups and coral restoration.
Bird life in Belize
Known for its incredible biodiversity, rich tropical forests and spectacular coastline and islands, Belize is a magnet for eco-conscious travellers. The one-week Journeys With Purpose Unknown Belize trip, which runs in February 2024, allows guests to get involved with a broad range of local and community-led environmental projects, tackling everything from climate change to habitat loss, jaguar conservation and coral reef restoration. The immersive expedition is led by Paul Lister, founder of The European Nature Trust, and naturalist guide Roni Martinez.
Explore with an eco-ranger in Mauritius
The natural beauty of Mauritius is legendary, with its lush forested peaks, plunging waterfalls, precious coral reefs and dreamy stretches of sand. The island’s luxe resorts are pretty heavenly, too, and at the One&Only Le Saint Géran, you’ll have 60 acres of a private peninsula to explore. Beyond the resort, guests can enjoy a personalised Walk The Wild experience with a Mauritian Wildlife Foundation eco-ranger, helping to fund the conservation efforts of, among others, giant Aldabra tortoises, rare pink pigeons and echo parakeets.
Rewild the Highlands in Scotland
We may perceive the Scottish Highlands as wonderfully wild, but it was once covered with the ancient Caledonian Forest and today, just 1% of this native rainforest remains; the rest lost to human development, overgrazing and climate change. Wilderness Scotland’s Low Carbon Adventure minimises travellers’ impact on the environment with travel by electric luxury vehicle, e-bike, train, and on foot. Guests can explore the Cairngorms National Park, join conservation charity Trees for Life in rewilding activities, and stay in a range of eco-friendly accommodations, from a remote bunkhouse on the shores of Loch Ossian to a high-end sustainable hotel at Loch Ness.
Helping Nature Thrive in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is known for its forward-thinking approach to conservation and eco-tourism, and the Costa Rica Footprints tour with Latin Routes has sustainability at its core, ensuring your own travel footprint is kept to a minimum. Staying in some of the country’s best eco-lodges, guests have the opportunity to explore the natural wonders of the Osa Peninsula from the Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, plant trees at a reforestation project at Selva Bananito Lodge, and lend a hand with the rehabilitation of injured and mistreated animals at the Proyecto ASIS Wildlife Rescue Center.
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