Doreen Rheinstein
“Just because something is legal doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right.”
A powerful statement from Cathrine S. Nyquist, co-founder of big cat sanctuary Panthera Africa, during the “Fire the Responsibility” panel discussion at WTM Africa, highlighted the urgent need to prioritize animal welfare and conservation over profit-driven practices.
South Africa recently took important steps to end the controversial practice of breeding lions and rhinos. South Africa's cabinet has approved policies to close breeding facilities, end canned lion hunting, phase out intensive breeding of rhinos and restrict exports of live elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos. These changes represent an important step, but industry experts emphasize that more needs to be done.
Today, travelers are becoming increasingly aware of the darker side of animal tourism. As a result, there is a growing demand for ethical and meaningful wildlife experiences. But Weeva co-founder Julie Cheetham put it bluntly: “It can be difficult for travelers to know whether their interactions with animals are unethical.”
And this is where the travel industry plays an important role.
So how can tour operators ensure they are choosing the right operators and activities?
“The most important question is whether wildlife practices benefit the animals or whether human interests are considered superior,” said Louise de of Blood Lions, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the captive wildlife tourism industry. Waal said. She suggested avoiding activities that involve direct interaction, such as using animals as photo props, feeding them to visitors, handling animals by staff, and constantly rotating young animals. Because these activities can be red flags.
Harry Gavin Reynolds, co-founder of WildChoices, agrees that every captive situation increases ethical complexity. “In an ideal world, animals would never be kept in captivity for human entertainment,” he said.
Establishing guidelines
To help address these complexities, Satsa (the organization representing inbound tourism in South Africa) created Captive Wildlife Attractions and Activities Guide and Decision Tool in 2019. The guidelines have had a positive impact in reducing the number of unethical organizations, but Reynolds and De Waal believe more can and should be done. Reynolds points out that five years after the guidelines were published, 63% of captive wildlife tourism facilities in South Africa are still considered problematic.
At South Africa's Tswalu Kalahari, guests can spend time with researchers, scientists and conservationists working in the field. Photo credit: Tswalu Kalahari
All interactions with wildlife, even seemingly innocuous activities such as night game drives, must be scrutinized. De Waal pointed out that if these activities are not carried out correctly, “they can interfere with the hunting of predators, affecting their well-being and breeding habits.”
She added that this does not mean that driving at night is no longer permitted. “We need to recognize that everything we do as tourists or everything we offer as a tourism business has an impact on the environment and wildlife. It's unavoidable,” she said.
The focus is on implementing strong guidelines, according to Mike Kirkinis, director of conservation at Legendary Expeditions. His suggestions are:
• Limit the number of vehicles during sightings.
• Prioritize observation over interference.
• Implement strict protocols for vehicle location, lighting and noise levels.
“If wildlife observations follow strict protocols for aspects like this, our presence can have minimal impact,” he said.
Francois Barnard, chief conservation officer at African Bush Camps, agreed with Kirkinis.
“We recognize that we are simply visitors who come here to see, appreciate and learn about the fascinating rhythms of nature,” Barnard said. Their safaris focus on low-impact activities such as guided walks and 4×4 game drives that prioritize observation rather than disruption.
For those seeking a more immersive experience that gives back, a new wave of innovative products allows travelers to directly engage with important research and conservation initiatives. However, finding the right balance remains an ongoing challenge that can only be achieved with the help of the travel industry and travelers. According to Barnard, by choosing a safari operator with strong ethics and high-value, low-impact experience, you can directly contribute to the wellbeing of wildlife.
Customers also have responsibilities
According to Blood Lions' de Waal, it is important to encourage visitors to speak out against unethical guides and report unethical behavior to management. For example, if a guide keeps the spotlight on a hunting cat or intentionally shines it in the animal's eyes for too long, problems such as getting too close to the slaughter area or herding the wild animal with too many vehicles can occur.
“It is important to strike a delicate balance. Our presence in wild spaces will always leave a footprint, no matter how small. But when wildlife experiences are run ethically and sustainably, the benefits are undeniable. They provide invaluable conservation support. “If done correctly, wildlife tourism is a win-win for everyone.” said Rinse Wassenaar, marketing manager at accommodation company Morukuru Family.
Suppliers who do it right
Here are some of the best options for ethical and unique wildlife experiences, according to several sustainable tourism stakeholders I interviewed to gain this insight:
Researcher expedition to Tswalu Kalahari (South Africa)
At Tswalu Kalahari, guests can spend time with researchers, scientists and conservationists working in the field. None of the activities are pre-arranged, so you can get whatever you want on a specific day. It offers an engaging and authentic experience.
Turtle Safari with HBD Principe (Principe Island)
HBD Principe's facility allows guests to observe endangered green turtles, olive ridleys, hawksbills and leatherback turtles laying their eggs from a safe distance and under strict guidelines to ensure they are not disturbed. Then, a few months later, guests can watch tiny hatchlings travel from their sandy cocoons to the ocean. These conservation-based trips are led by local non-profit partner organization Fundacao Principe, with donations going to partner foundations.
Entomological Expedition at Grootbos (Western Cape, South Africa)
At Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in Cape Floral Kingdom, guests can meet the conservation team and even go out with the reserve's entomologist to check out motion-detecting camera footage of a variety of species. , record sightings, and more.
Whale shark monitoring on Tanda Island (Tanzania)
Swim in search of whale sharks with marine biologists from the Marine Megafauna Foundation. Customized safaris on the island typically begin with a brief lecture detailing the important research efforts of marine biologist Rianne Laan. During the boat trip, guests look for whale sharks in the waters near Mafia Island. The crew is well-equipped with versatile GoPro cameras and other gear to capture the inevitable excitement of a sighting in images. This video is used to help conservation efforts.
Penguin Rehabilitation Center at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (Gansbaai, South Africa)
The sanctuary is dedicated to the rehabilitation of endangered African penguins. It provides educational and viewing opportunities and is funded through tourism.
Notching activities (Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa)
At Madikwe Game Reserve, the Morukuru family are involved in a variety of wildlife projects supporting the Park Board through work such as dartting, collaring, relocation activities and helping to prevent rhino poaching. Under the supervision of veterinarians and conservation officials, you can take part in rhino notching and specialized projects with lions, wild dogs and cheetahs.
