Six Ways To Travel With Purpose In Tanzania

 Six Ways To Travel With Purpose In Tanzania : Travel with purpose in your Tanzania Safari Tour: At Focus East Africa Tours, we believe that travel has the potential to positively impact the world. But how do you travel with a goal in mind? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite trips with a purpose in Africa, Tanzania. They provide immersive, hands-on experiences that benefit local communities, the environment, and wildlife conservation. Every Tanzania safari booked with us has a positive impact on the continent, but our Trips with a Purpose include an additional financial contribution to specific projects, making you an active contributor while engaging in meaningful travel experiences.

If you are interested in learning about different cultures, empowering African people, or participating in conservation activities aimed at conserving Africa’s wild species for future generations.

BUT WHY SUPPORT TANZANIA’S ECONOMY ON YOUR NEXT SAFARI HOLIDAY?

Before we get into the six best ways to help Tanzania’s economy, it’s worth explaining why this is important. The short answer is that it is the correct thing to do. In the vast world of global travel, your only control as a traveler is often over where your money goes. Choosing who gets your money is, thus, a vote for a specific type of tourism industry. Making an effort to support local communities makes a significant difference to the country as a whole if you care about the people and places you visit. It’s also beneficial to discuss the importance of responsible travel with other travelers; changing minds changes the global travel culture over time, so finding the right way to persuade others (without preaching) can make a big difference.

Responsible tourism is not only a ‘nice’ way to visit other countries; it is also the best way to visit other countries if you want the best, most rewarding experience. Supporting the local economy ensures that as much of your money as possible remains in Tanzania rather than being diverted to large, international corporations. Here are our top six recommendations:

1. Choose a local tour company that employs local staff.

Tanzania’s safari industry is one of the country’s economic pillars as well as one of its primary sources of employment. That is why it is critical to select a company that employs local guides, drivers, and staff such as Focus East Africa Tours. This way, you can be certain that your money is helping a local person and, thus, a local family. There is also a more self-interested reason to choose companies that hire local guides and drivers: locals have spent their entire lives in the various parks and reserves and can bring this knowledge to your safaris. The best way to enjoy a safari in Tanzania is, without a doubt, from the perspective of the locals.

2. Stay in locally owned accommodations while in Tanzania Safari.

You might think that any lodging you stay at in Tanzania is owned by Tanzanians, but this is not the case. While all Tanzanian safari accommodations will undoubtedly employ locals, some are owned by international conglomerates. Booking with larger chain hotels will result in your money being returned to international headquarters rather than staying in the destination. Staying at locally owned properties benefits not only the property itself but also the local staff, food, and other providers. You’ll also have a better time because you’ll be able to learn more about the Tanzania local culture. This is why it’s always a good idea to double-check who owns the property where you intend to stay. If you pay a company to plan your entire trip, make sure you specify that you only stay in locally owned accommodations.

3. Meet with local communities.

Meeting the locals and participating in local customs can be a very enriching and meaningful experience if done correctly! That is exactly what our Focus East Africa Tour Experiences are: authentic interactions with local communities that allow visitors to experience the local way of life while also supporting the villages financially or in other ways. The majority of experiences are managed by communities, which benefits direct employment as well. You can choose from a selection of Focus East Africa Tour Experiences:

• Visit the Maasai, learn about their culture and traditions, and join a Maasai warrior on a nature walk.
• Give the gift of light to families in remote villages that do not have access to electricity.
• Take a morning hunt with the Hadzabe Bushmen, one of the world’s last hunter-gatherer tribes.
• Meet a Zanzibari family, participate in cooking classes, and discover some Zanzibari cooking secrets.

 There are numerous other opportunities available. Please let us know if you want to add one (or more) of these experiences to your Tanzania safari itinerary.

4. Eat and buy locally.

It may seem insignificant, but you’d be surprised how much you can help the local economy by eating and drinking in Tanzanian local restaurants during your stay. By eating at local restaurants whenever possible, you are contributing money to yet another important part of the country’s economy. On a smaller scale, you are supporting small businesses and their employees, as well as local farmers and fodder producers, all of which benefit the Tanzanian economy as a whole. The same is true for purchasing souvenirs. When you buy souvenirs locally, you are supporting local artisans and their suppliers.

5. Pack for a Purpose and/or Donate to Local Projects

Aside from purchasing locally, you can also help your community by donating to local projects, either financially or by donating time, materials, or other resources. Pack for a purpose and bring supplies that are desperately needed, for example. If you want to support a local project, please contact us; we are happy to make recommendations! There are numerous projects making a significant difference on the ground!

6. Protect wildlife and their habitats.

Of course, it is critical to protect Tanzania’s animals as well as the conservation areas and national parks where they live. Most safari enthusiasts adore animals and recognize the value of environmentally friendly safaris. Simply by going on a Tanzania wildlife safari, you are contributing to conservation by paying park and concession fees! It is also important to note that sustainable safari practices benefit Tanzania’s economy. This is primarily due to the fact that Tanzania’s wilder areas are the country’s most valuable resource, attracting large numbers of tourists each year. If we all fail to do our part to protect Tanzania’s incredible natural wealth, we are undervaluing the country’s most valuable asset. Look for any information about responsible or environmentally friendly activities when looking for the right safari company in Tanzania.

TANZANIA TRIPS WITH A PURPOSE ITINERARY

Tanzania’s Hands-On Conservation Safari

This hands-on conservation safari lasts nine days in Tanzania. You will visit Nyerere National Park and Ruaha National Park, two of Tanzania’s largest and most pristine reserves. This is Africa at its most wild, remote, and exclusive; visitors to this remote part of Africa frequently comment on how they felt as if they had the parks all to themselves.

Tanzania’s immersive travel begins in Nyerere, where you will be amazed by nature: imagine giraffes wandering past your room, walking safaris, game drives, and even boating safaris. The journey continues to Ruaha National Park, where you will stay at Usangu Expedition Camp. You will be actively involved in conservation initiatives, such as positioning camera traps and tracking collared wildlife using telemetry, and will be able to flex your conservation muscle. Highlights of this safari:

• Help researchers track collared lions and position camera traps at the Douglas Bell Eco Research Station.
• Stay in opulent and exclusive safari lodges.
• Fly-in destinations for more safari time.
• Game drives, guided walks, and river safaris are all available.

Tanzania’s Culture and Wildlife

You will spend 11 days exploring some of Tanzania’s most famous northern safari circuit routes, along with some purposeful travel in Tanzania. You begin in Arusha, on a working coffee plantation, to ease into your safari adventure. The journey continues to Tarangire National Park, then Lake Manyara home to tree-climbing lions and a well-kept secret destination far from the crowds. The game viewing is nothing short of spectacular, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet the Barabaig tribe, who have lived on these plains for over 150 years.

 Then it’s on to Tanzania’s flagship reserve, the Serengeti National Park. This safari icon offers incredible game viewing and is best known for providing front-row seats to nature’s most spectacular spectacle, the Great Migration. Highlights of this safari:

• A strong emphasis is placed on community interactions with ancient tribes that have been virtually untouched by western civilization.
• Throughout your journey, you will stay in luxury lodges and camps.
• Visit Tarangire and Lake Manyara to see tree-climbing lions and the Serengeti to witness the Great Migration.
• Safari activities include hot-air balloon rides and guided nature walks.
• Visiting Tanzania’s top safari destinations
• Support community projects to make a difference.

Tanzania’s Conservation and Community Safari

This conservation and community-focused adventure brings together three of Tanzania’s heavy hitters: Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the Serengeti—one of our best trips with a purpose in Tanzania. You begin in Tarangire, a protected area known for its massive baobab trees, grassy plains, and large elephant herds. This national park sees a fraction of the visitors that the Serengeti does, which means more space and exclusivity. You will have the opportunity to learn about important lion conservation efforts while you are here.

Then it’s on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a luxurious stay at the Highlands, which is perched on the rim of a mountain that borders the Olmoti Volcano. You will spend time with one of the most well-known tribes on the continent, the Maasai. The final leg of your journey takes you into the Serengeti, where you can expect to see some of East Africa’s best predators, including the fastest land mammal, the cheetah. Highlights of this safari:

• Private game reserves offer luxurious safari accommodations.
• The Tarangire Lion Research Initiative provides information on lion conservation efforts.
• Spend some time with the Serengeti Cheetah Project for some outstanding big game viewing.
• Interact with the renowned Maasai and learn about their fascinating traditions.

READY TO START PLANNING YOUR TANZANIA SAFARI TRIP WITH A PURPOSE?

As a traveler, you have the ability to direct where your money goes. By spending your money locally, you ensure that the country you are visiting benefits directly from your visit. You will provide locals with the opportunity to do business, become more self-sufficient, and stimulate economic growth.

 There are many more ways for visitors to contribute to Tanzania’s economy and natural resources, but we’ve covered some of the basics that are most important to the small team here at Focus East Africa Tours. We are a locally based Tanzania tour Company with local guides that works to benefit local communities, and we will always do everything we can to ensure that we are a positive force in Tanzania. Please contact us if this sounds like the way you’d like to explore Tanzania.