Kusamalira: An African Conservation Story

Kusamalira is the title of a 30-minute documentary about African conservation filmed by the Green Safaris Foundation, which was recently released on YouTube and that will be streamed on Netflix.

It tells the story of the massive challenges facing Africa’s natural habitats and how by working closely with dedicated conservationists and the government to engage local communities, Green Safaris has become part of something bigger than just tourism. The teams at our lodges in Zambia and Malawi, and the guests that visit them, are helping to build sustainable livelihoods that allow people to thrive and protect the wildlife and natural environments that are on our doorstep.

‘Kusamalira’ is the Zambian word for ‘to be caring’. Together with local communities, NGOs and governments, we have turned our deep love and respect for Africa into positive action for the protection and empowerment of the people, wildlife and natural environments where we operate. Our goal is to make it economically viable for pristine wild spaces, and the captivating wildlife within them, to remain protected. This is made possible by our guests, but also by our communities. Because true conservation is only possible if you focus on empowering people as much as you do on directly protecting wildlife.

More than half of the once biodiverse wild habitats in Zambia and Malawi have gone. The major drivers are human encroachment, deforestation, poaching and anthropogenic climate change. Dedicated conservationists in mainly local and some international organisations are fighting to protect, preserve and rehabilitate the remaining wilderness areas left in these and other countries across the African continent.

For many years, tourism has contributed significantly to employment and revenue for people in Zambia and Malawi, and importance of this sector has been made ever more clear during and following the Covid-19 pandemic. Tourism that is centered around empowering community and conservation projects gives back to and adds to a richer guest experience.

Our goal is to make it economically viable for pristine wild spaces, and the captivating wildlife within them, to remain protected. This is made possible by our guests, but also by our communities. True conservation is only possible if you focus on empowering people as much as you do on directly protecting wildlife.

The Green Safaris Conservation Foundation supports community and conservation projects where we operate. The Foundation forms part of the journey you join us on when you stay at one of our properties, which then enables us to continue and expand our mission of eco tourism in Africa.