What qualifies a safari establishment to call itself eco-friendly? Can it just be one thing or should it be an ethos that runs to all aspects of the facility, including:

         recycling of waste

         conservation

         touching the earth lightly

         using local build materials

         sourcing local food

         enviro-friendly sewerage treatment

         a benefits to the local community

         an element of community ownership

Any true eco-friendly safari lodge will be able to tick most of these boxes and will be working towards the others.  The fantastic Africa Geographic Safari online magazine has identified 10 Authentic African Eco Lodges:

• Chumbe Island, Tanzania
•  Il Ngwesi Lodge, Laikipia, Kenya
•  Adrere Amellal, Siwa Oasis, Egypt
• Kaya Mawa, Likoma Island, Malawi
•  Campi ya Kanzi, Chyulu Hills, Kenya
•  Damaraland Camp, Namibia
•  Guludo Beach Lodge, Quirmbas National Park, Mozambique
• Mosetlha Bush Camp, Madikwe, South Africa
• Phinda Forest Lodge, South Africa
• Kasbah du Toubkal, Imlil, Morocco

And this website can add to that list (see blog post about eco-friendly safaris):

• Garonga Safari Camp, nr Kruger, South Africa
•  Jaci’s Tree Lodge & Jaci’s Safari Lodge, Madikwe, South Africa
•  Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill, Waterberg, South Africa
• Motswari Safari Lodge, Timbavati, nr Kruger
• Mumbo Island, Lake Malawi 
• Grootbos, nr Cape Town, South Africa
• Singita Lebomo, Kruger National Park, South Africa
• Lady Jacqueline Houseboat, Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe
•  Plains Camp, Kruger National Park, South Africa
• Macatoo Tented Camp, African Horseback Safaris, Okavango Delta, Botswana

The CNN Travel & Tourism survey says that 80% of people want to experience as much of the local life and culture as possible. And a typical quote from a female UK respondent said she wanted the place to “Be more environmentally friendly…more charitable too.”

What safaris have you been on that you consider to have the qualities to be included in this list of African eco-safaris?