Sustainability

Driven by our passion to preserve Africa’s unspoiled natural spaces, we prioritise sustainability in order to help protect and nurture them for generations to enjoy it as we do.

Our love for Africa has led us to develop technologies that give our guests the opportunity to experience unique and ecologically conscious Silent Safaris.

Many of our lodges are entirely run off solar farms, we utilise water reticulation and biogas systems, and we have banned zero-use plastics, among other interventions.

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Silent
Safaris

Southern Africa is fortunate to enjoy plentiful sunshine throughout the year. And, it is this infinite natural resource that allows us to run our Silent Safaris, which channel sunshine power through ‘green’ technology.

After developing the very first electric game drive vehicle in Zambia (our e-Cruiser), Ila Safari Lodge became the first lodge in Zambia to run silent solar-powered safaris on both land and water. And we are still the only operator in Zambia to do so.

Electric mountain bikes are used to explore the Busanga Plains from Chisa Busanga Camp and Kaya Mawa on Likoma Island. Also on Likoma Island, even our quadbikes will soon harness the sun’s energy for a quiet adventure. At Shawa Luangwa Camp, we bring our signature e-Cruiser and Silent Safari experience to the South Luangwa National Park for the first time.

Most excitingly, Tongabezi Lodge has just launched the first ever electric Dhow in the world for Silent Safari cruising on the Zambezi in a hand-crafted wooden boat.

Silent safari Electric boat Boating
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Chisa Busanga camp Solar power Community development school

Green
Building

The cornerstone of Green Safaris’ philosophy has been to develop lodges and camps in areas where eco-tourism is most needed to preserve them. All our properties have been designed and built in the most sustainable way, and to ensure they blend seamlessly into their specific habitat.

Green Safaris’ first property, Ila Safari Lodge, was built using the environmentally-friendly sandbag method. It results in longevity and natural insulation, and the earth excavated during levelling was reused in the actual construction. The only cement used at the camp is in the lime render for plastering.

These building principles were used again during construction of Shawa Luangwa and Chisa Busanga, with each camp’s clever design maximising natural airflow, sunlight and shade. Like Ila, the tents are mounted on wooden decks built from locally sourced timber and fitted around existing trees in order to minimise environmental impact.

Eco
Operations

In Zambia, Sindabezi Island Camp, Ila, Chisa Busanga and Shawa Luangwa all run completely off-grid; in fact, Sindabezi Island is on Fodor’s list of top 10 eco-lodges in Africa. On remote Likoma Island, Kaya Mawa was Malawi’s first lodge to use solar for its total electricity needs.

Sindabezi Island operates a grey-water system to minimise water wastage, and water is bottled at the lodge in metal flasks instead of plastic bottles. Wood for building and burning is sustainably sourced, and any leftover organic food is used to make nutrient-rich compost.

The gardens at Sindabezi Island’s sister lodge, Tongabezi, are glorious. The harvested fruit, vegetable and herbs are used in most meals created in our kitchen. It gets better – they are entirely organic as we make a natural insecticide and recycle leftover food into compost.