— Written primarily based on inputs from Adrian Kaplan, Executive Head of Marketing at Singita

In the world of luxury travel, a profound evolution is underway—one that transcends the conventional safari experience, inviting you to forge a deeper connection with the natural world. Truly, there is so much more to embarking on a safari than just wildlife sightings. If you’ve been following our newsletter series, you would know with each story our aim is to help make your travels better and more enriching. In our previous issues, we explored diverse safari and conservation narratives featuring Groot Bos and The Great Plains.

This time around, we’re taking a deep dive into Singita’s 100-year conservation purpose and understanding the intricate relationship between tourism and conservation. Singita is seamlessly blending luxury with a fervent commitment to wildlife conservation and sustainable practices. In an enlightening interview with Adrian Kaplan, Executive Head of Marketing at Singita, we delve into the strategies employed to enlighten and inspire luxury travellers on the paramount importance of preserving our planet's biodiversity. As Singitaembarks on its 100-year purpose, we explore the remarkable success stories and achievements in wildlife conservation, offering a glimpse into the tangible impact achieved through strategic partnerships and visionary initiatives, as it celebrates 30 years. 

Beyond the captivating safari scenes, we unravel the behind-the-scenes conservation efforts awaiting travellers, inviting them to actively contribute to the ongoing legacy of conservation. Discover the exclusive, off-the-beaten-path treasures within Singita's protected wilderness, providing a sense of discovery and exclusivity for those seeking an unparalleled adventure. Lastly, we quantify the positive impact travellers have made, shedding light on how their contributions become a powerful motivator for future conservation endeavours.

On Raising Awareness about the Importance of Wildlife conservation and sustainable practices amongst Travellers

Adrian Kaplan: High-end tourism reaches individuals who have influence and who can play a significant role in drawing attention to the funding needs for conservation challenges in Africa. Ultimately, many of our guests become ambassadors for conservation—reflecting on climate change and loss of biodiversity. 

Low-volume tourism ensures that the vulnerable areas in which we operate have the best chance of survival with a thriving ecosystem. Singita has a 100-year purpose to protect and preserve large parts of African wilderness for future generations.

Singita aims to create a legacy for the continent by ensuring that Africa’s natural beauty and abundance survive and thrive. Singita connects purpose-driven travellers who share its vision to join our journey as we work towards a sustainable future for precious species, fragile habitats, and vulnerable communities through long-term conservation projects that make a meaningful impact.

At Singita, conservation encapsulates an interdependent relationship between three critical components: Biodiversity, Community and Sustainability (and we are adding Climate Change as a fourth). They are all integral to our model.

It is our life’s work to share these awe-inspiring wilderness areas with guests who appreciate and yearn for pristine wide-open spaces while preserving the natural environment and challenging accepted norms in luxury travel to raise the bar on sustainability.

On the impact of Guests' Contributions to Wildlife Conservation through Singita's Initiatives

Adrian Kaplan: Singita guests have a far-reaching impact, as they contribute to numerous conservation initiatives and community empowerment programmes. Modern conservation requires a keen focus on keeping tourism, communities, and wildlife in a constructive balance – and the survival of each is crucial to the survival of the whole.

Alongside our partner conservation funds and trusts, we are the guardians of large areas of pristine wilderness. They implement community partnership projects that make a tangible difference in the lives of people living and working in and around our lodges. Looking towards the future, these initiatives remain at the heart of Singita’s story.

Guests can support a large variety of meaningful projects that have long-lasting results. These are only some examples below. A number of Singita guests have generously supported the following (either partially or in total):

• Students of the Singita Community Culinary Schools (SCCS). Guest donations helped establish the third SCCS in Rwanda in 2021. 

• Black rhino relocation in Tanzania 

• Supporting the costs of the anti-poaching canine units in South Africa and Tanzania, including critical equipment. 

• Resourcing 17 Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs) in communities in near the Kruger Park in South Africa. 

• Women who run in the Serengeti Girls Run help support women’s empowerment projects in communities in Tanzania for a year. 

On Opportunities for Travellers to Engage and Contribute to Conservation 

Adrian Kaplan: As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and playing an active part in helping to mitigate climate change, we have added a guest carbon offset levy to reduce the carbon footprint, with the revenue generated used to purchase verified carbon credits from accredited service providers in each of our region where we operate.

• Guests can visit the Solar power plants at 50% of Singita’s lodges. 

• Singita Community Culinary Schools (SCCS) – book and pay for cooking lessons with the students, which helps support the programme. 

• Discussions with the resident Ecologists 

• Visit The Grumeti Fund’s RISE Centre and learn about all the research projects and women in conservation programmes. 

• Visit Environmental Education Centres in Singita Grumeti 

• Book and pay for a visit with the canine anti-poaching unit, which helps support. 

On Exploring Singita's Hidden Gems and Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures in Protected Wilderness

Adrian Kaplan:

• Singita Pamushana Lodge is set in Zimbabwe’s remote southeast, within the 130,000-acre Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve.

• At Pamushana, guests have exclusive access to this untouched wilderness and can immerse themselves in nature on twice-daily game drives, bush walks, sundowner boat cruises, excursions to rock art sites and more.

• Visiting over 100 ancient rock art sites. The San people are one of the earth’s oldest continuous cultures on earth, the original hunter-gatherers, their way of life is a mirror of our past. Take an educational tour to view San people's rock art dating back hundreds of years and learn about their remarkable way of life. 

• Water is a source of life and beauty, and no place is this more apparent than in the remote tranquillity of the African bush. Fishing at the dam below the lodge is the ideal way to experience this wonder firsthand. Drop in a lure and see what bounty the day will bring, while your guide and tracker show you how the locals catch fish using plants found in the area. Singita Pamushana boasts excellent game fishing throughout the year including Tiger Fish, Bass, Bream (tilapia), and Catfish.

• Walking safaris are an incredible way to experience the bush. Your expert guide and tracker will accompany you as you track animals on foot through the wilderness and explore the magnificent plants and landscapes around you, perhaps try a silent walk. Only for 16 years and older. 

On Noteworthy Achievements on the Path to a 100-Year Purpose

Adrian Kaplan: At Singita, conservation is our passion and purpose. Over the past three decades, our far-reaching commitment to safeguarding the continent’s wildlife populations and wilderness areas – as well as creating economic independence within communities living alongside them – has seen us implement strategic partnerships with non-profit Funds and Trusts in each of the regions in which we operate.

Our conservation partners strive to restore, enhance and protect the biodiversity of the ecosystems. This is done to ensure they are functioning as close as possible to their natural, undisturbed state.

• Partnerships with three conservation NGOs in regions in which we operate – The Grumeti Fund in Tanzania: The Malilangwe Trust in Zimbabwe and Singita Lowveld Trust in SA. 

• The Grumeti Fund pioneered a black rhino reintroduction in Tanzania. Nine critically endangered black rhinos were relocated from South Africa to Singita Grumeti in 2019. The nine rhinos join two eastern black rhinos previously relocated to Singita Grumeti in an ambitious effort to save the species from extinction. The Malilangwe Trust also helped relocate black rhinos to Gonarezhou National Park in 2022, returning rhinos to the park for the first time in 27 years. 

https://singita.com/2021/08/critically-endangered-black-rhino-returned-to-gonarezhou-after-27-years/

• In Tanzania - Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation by The Grumeti Fund: A study commissioned by the Grumeti Fund found that from 2012-2014, the annual number of elephant-related crop damage incidents in nearby villages increased by 750%. This led to the establishment of the specialist Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Unit, which consists of specially trained Grumeti Fund and government scouts who are constantly on standby to respond to – and mitigate – conflict incidents reported via a dedicated hotline.

• In Tanzania - Environmental Education Centre: Ensuring the youth in communities understand and benefit from the existence of the reserve is an important element of this relationship. Despite living in such proximity to Grumeti, many community members have never had the opportunity to view and appreciate the wildlife that we work so tirelessly to protect. The Environmental Education Centre (EEC) was established by the Grumeti Fund in response to this great need to educate the youth from these communities and to demonstrate the critical role each individual plays in minimizing their impact on the earth’s limited resources.

Please refer to Singita’s conservation brochure for details on all conservation projects and how you can donate to support its 100-year purpose to preserve and protect biodiversity and African landscapes for future generations. Or on our website here: https://singita.com/conservation/

On How Travelers Can Contribute to Singita's 100-Year Purpose and Shape the Ongoing Conservation Legacy

Adrian Kaplan: At Singita Pamushana and Singita Kwitonda, we have built conservation rooms, where conservation projects are exhibited visually, and staff are available to discuss in more detail, including facilitating support. These will be rolled out to other lodges soon. 

If you wish to donate to active projects, visit https://singita.com/donate/.

Experience the thrill of wildlife safari and feel the bliss of being part of a bigger and grander vision that is crucial for not only our planet but future generations. Our unique partnership with Singita not only ensures you witness the endless wonders of the wild but also enjoy exclusive benefits. From better deals to enhanced experiences, get access to exclusive benefits when you book your stay with us.

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All Photo Credits: Singita