Written by the Paramount Gorilla Expeditions team, based in Uganda, as a practical guide to responsible safari travel and choosing operators who give back.
Tourism is one of the strongest arguments for wildlife conservation in this region. Park fees, conservancy lease payments to local communities and gorilla permit revenue help fund anti-poaching, habitat protection and community projects. A well-chosen safari supports conservation as well as observing it.
Responsible safari travel: what to check in an operator
- Transparent community benefits: look for clear, published revenue-sharing, not vague sustainability wording.
- Local staff and guides, not mostly imported labour.
- Respectful wildlife viewing: keeping minimum distances and not crowding sightings, especially around predators with young and habituated gorilla families.
- Good waste and water practices at camps, especially in sensitive places such as Zanzibar's coast or the Seychelles' outer islands.
Experiences to avoid
Be wary of anything offering hands-on contact with wild predator cubs, or "walking with lions". These are widely regarded as red flags for unethical captive-breeding operations, however they are marketed.
Be a responsible guest on safari
- Follow your guide's instructions and the distance rules.
- Use community-run cultural visits. See Maasai cultural visits.
- Take less plastic, and follow local rules on plastic bags.
Responsible choices built into our trips
- Private conservancies bordering the Maasai Mara pay lease fees to local landowners, and our Kenya Private Conservancy Safari stays in them.
- Gorilla permit fees help fund the protection of the parks. See our gorilla permit cost guide.
- Dolphin trips off Zanzibar use operators that limit boat numbers and keep their distance.
How we work
We work with camps and conservancies we have vetted, and can explain how any property on your itinerary supports its community and ecosystem. See questions to ask a safari operator and Kenya luxury conservancy safaris.
Plan responsible safari travel with us
Official park fees are set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Kenya Wildlife Service, TANAPA and the Rwanda Development Board. We confirm the current fees for your dates in every quote.
Respectful behaviour starts with a greeting; see our Swahili phrases for travellers guide.
For how to visit a community respectfully, see our guide to the Hadzabe at Lake Eyasi.
For how Rwanda shares tourism income with its communities, see our Kwita Izina guide.
Hiring porters and walking with local guides supports communities: see our Buhoma to Nkuringo trek guide.
For ethical birding and local guides, see our birding in Bwindi guide.
For community-run wildlife tourism at Mabamba, see our shoebill and Mabamba Swamp guide.
For what mzungu means and how to respond with respect, see our mzungu guide.