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Community YYouthouth OutreachOutreach inin TelTel AvivAviv Going ““II ffeeleel rreallyeally sshantihanti hhere,”ere,” a hhomelessomeless ggirlirl ssaidaid ttoo tthehe f founderounder o off a Tel Aviv shelter for at-risk youth, and so Shanti House took Full its name from the Sanskrit word for peace and tranquility. The shelter nurtures these young people with the help of the Gazelle 555-room InterContinental David Tel Aviv, which provides Shanti’s residents with opportunities to work with the hotel On Tanzania’s vast Serengeti plain, as part of their rehabilitation. The hotel also partners with a site of the world’s largest terrestrial local special-needs school, offering students an eight-month animal migration, is the 350,000- professional culinary-training program. One of the program’s acre Singita Grumeti reserve. graduates is then hired to work in the hotel kitchen – another There, Singita has created “low- shanti opportunity. Doubles from $375, including breakfast Cruise daily and a $100 dining credit. density tourism with high-density game” at its Sabora Tented Camp. This October, the exclusive bush WASTE NOT experience gives wildlife viewers The Great Pacifi c Garbage Patch a chance to weave a humanitarian is a graphic example of what element into their safari: During happens when plastic waste ends the camp’s six-day Serengeti Girls up in the ocean. To help combat Run, travelers explore this untamed the spread of this swirling mess, region on foot, with optional runs of Regent Seven Seas Cruises is up to 13 miles per day over three days introducing Vero Water purifi ca- (with Grumeti Fund anti-poaching scouts and a support vehicle), as tion systems to its fl eet, thereby well as a 4K fun run with local girls. eliminating 2 million plastic water The goal is to raise $250,000 for bottles annually. Regent is on programs that empower girls and track to become the fi rst luxury women, including scholarships ocean-cruise line to nix single-use at various schools, mentorship plastic bottles and has already projects, internships, environmen- done away with plastic straws. tal education, and life-skills and It’s all part of parent company enterprise-development training. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ And each evening, on a guided game Sail & Sustain program, which drive, participants explore the is implementing the no-plastic- Hotel with heart: teeming Serengeti, where rhinos, el- The InterContinen- ephants, leopards, and hyenas roam. straws initiative across 26 ships tal David Tel Aviv. Singita Girls Run safari begins October and two island destinations – Above: Doing away with plastic. 25; from $25,000 (includes a $16,500 avoiding more than 50 million

donation to the Grumeti Fund). straws each year. (DOLPHIN) JOÃO VIANNA/GETTY IMAGES

ASK THE ADVISORS

What can travelers do to go more sustainably? “Tell your advisor you value sustainability. We can connect you with local tour We tapped advisors on the judging panel of Virtuoso’s operators and hotels that have sustainable practices.” Sustainable Tourism Leadership Awards for their tips. – Margarita Fedorova, Chicago

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THEIR HOSTS

WILDERNESS SAFARIS Owns and operates more than 50 camps throughout Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Founded in 1983.

SINGITA Owns 15 lodges and camps in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda. Founded in 1993.

MICATO SAFARIS Respected family-run safari operator in southern and East Africa. Founded in 1966.

ME TO WE A social enterprise founded in 2009 to provide domes- tic and international economic opportunities to WE Charity. WE Char- ity empowers communities to lift themselves DayDay 1 wilderness and wildlife. Since “At Wilderness Safaris, we out of poverty through a the late 1980s, the company has believe that purpose is the most holistic, sustainable in- SOUTH AFRICA operated the Wilderness Wildlife important element of today’s ternational development Arrive in Johannesburg. Trust, an organization dedicated safari experiences. Superb local model called WE Villages in Africa, Asia, and to animal conservation, com- hospitality, delicious food with a Latin America. DayDay 2 munity empowerment, and anti- local ﬂ air, and beautiful camps poaching efforts. Wilderness built with a light eco-footprint BOTSWANA Safaris also supports the non- in extraordinary wilderness Transfer to Wilderness Safaris’ proﬁ t Children in the Wilderness, locations are a given; what we Little Vumbura Camp, located which educates African children believe in is offering life-chang- on an island in the lush Oka- about caring for their environ- ing journeys with a purpose – vango Delta. Wilderness Safaris, ment. Last year the company journeys that inspire our guests The Upchurch family with Micato Safaris’ a bellwether of sustainable contributed an estimated $14.7 and help drive positive change in Anna Pinto (at left) and tourism, is deeply invested in million to conservation through the world.” – Keith Vincent, CEO, ME to WE staff in Kenya. conserving and restoring African its various projects. Wilderness Safaris

90 VIRTUOSO LIFE DaysDays 3-53-5 From top: Zebras at Kruger National Park, Singita Sweni BOTSWANA Lodge, and Benji Upchurch at Singita Sweni. Game drives and exploration at Little Vumbura Camp. DaysDays 6-86-8 “Most people, of course, want to do the ‘big five,’ but Benji was ZIMBABWE adamant about seeing the ter- Game drives and local com- mite mounds. We have so many munity experiences at Linkwa- pictures of him with termite sha Camp. mounds! We came to find out, the termites are critical to the “It was really powerful going into ecosystems of this area. Seeing the village and seeing how Wilder- them brought us back to the idea ness Safaris serves its actual of the big and the small. The big needs. They've built a real rapport things – the elephants and the with the local villages and they rhinos – all matter, but so do have been able to bring young the termites and the insects. In people into tourism.” – Jessica sustainability too, all of our small actions add up to a big impact.” DaysDays 8-118-11 – Jessica Upchurch SOUTH AFRICA “Even being little, you can make Singita Sweni, Kruger Na- a big impact.” – Benji Upchurch tional Park. Singita was founded expressly for the purpose of con- DayDay 5 serving wildlife. Today, the group helps protect more than 1 million ZIMBABWE acres throughout Africa and Transfer to Wilderness Safaris’ gives back to local communities Linkwasha Camp, on a private through education, enterprise concession at the southeastern development, and environmental corner of Hwange National Park. training designed to minimize poaching by providing locals with “One of our favorite guides here, economic opportunities. Sam, told us his father was ashamed he wanted to be a guide. “Our guests have exclusive But when he arrived home as access to some of the most the first owner of a vehicle in his pristine wilderness areas on the village, his father was immensely continent – a direct result of proud. Seeing Sam tear up tell- our 100-year purpose to protect ing us his story was a moving and preserve Africa’s wilderness reminder of the positive impact for future generations. Joining of travel on the smallest of local hands with our conservation economies.” – Matthew Upchurch partners in the various regions where we operate, we’re able to achieve extraordinary successes in wildlife conservation and community partnerships, which in turn benefits our guests, who experience the wildlife in all its natural glory when they visit our lodges.” – Luke Bailes, founder and chairman, Singita (ZEBRAS) FOTO4440/GETTY IMAGES

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DaysDays 11-1511-15 SOUTH AFRICA Singita Boulders Lodge on the banks of the Sand River in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Leopards, lions, rhinos, elephants, and many other species make appearances during game drives from this lodge in the country’s northern reaches.

“Every aspect of how we design, build, and operate our lodges is guided by the One Planet Living sustainability framework set out by the UK-based charity and social enterprise Bioregional. This commitment encompasses a range of measures that ensure we tread lightly on the earth and is woven into everything from our staff culture to carefully designed guest experiences, as well as our farm-to-table food, solar power plants, and sustainable supply chains. It’s a culture that seeps into every aspect of our opera- tions – from general managers to housekeepers – and goes largely unseen by guests.” – Luke Bailes

“A big initiative for Singita is their culinary school. Matthew and I are now supporting a student through this school. Philanthropically, we made contributions all along the way on this trip. Our philosphy is that the companies we work with are doing great things that make huge impacts, so we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We can work with people who are already doing the right things to fulﬁ ll true needs in the world.” – Jessica

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