Travel with Purpose in Tanzania

Here at Sababu Safaris, our guiding ethos is ‘travel with purpose’. In fact, ‘Sababu’ is a Swahili word meaning ‘purpose/cause’. In our many years working in the Tanzania safari industry, we’ve noticed that the people drawn to Sababu Safaris care about the countries they visit, trying to practice responsible travel however they can. This is why we’ve written this article: we wanted to share some of our thoughts about how travellers can support Tanzania’s economy, people and wildlife, so they can travel with purpose. If anything in this resource inspires you to choose Sababu for your next big adventure, please take a look at our tailor-made Tanzania safari options, and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

But Why Support Tanzania’s Economy on your Next Safari Holiday?

Before we detail five ways you can best support Tanzania’s economy, it’s perhaps important to explain why this is important. The quick answer is that it’s the right thing to do. In the huge world of global travel, often the only control you have as a traveller is over where your money goes. In this way, deciding who gets your money is a vote for a certain kind of tourism industry. If you care about the people and places you visit, making the effort to support the local communities really does make a difference to the country as a whole. It’s also helpful to talk about the importance of responsible travel with fellow travelers; changing minds changes the global travel culture over time — so, finding the right way to convince others (without preaching) can make a big difference.

Not only is responsible tourism a ‘nice’ way to visit other countries, it’s also the best way to visit other countries if you’re looking for the greatest, most rewarding experience. Supporting the local economy ensures that as much of your money as possible stays in Tanzania, as opposed to leaking out to large, international companies.

6) Choose a Local Tour Company that Employs Local Staff

The safari industry in Tanzania is one of the pillars of the country’s economy, and it’s also one of the main sources of employment for the people of Tanzania. That’s why it’s vital to choose a company that hires local guides, drivers and staff. This way, you can be sure that the money you spend is supporting a local person, and therefore a local family. There is also a more self-interested reason for choosing companies who hire local guides and drivers: locals have known the various parks and reserves their entire life and can bring this knowledge to their safaris. The local perspective is, undoubtedly, the best way to enjoy a safari in Tanzania.

5) Stay in Locally Owned Accommodations While in Tanzania

You might assume that any accommodation you stay at in Tanzania is locally owned, but this simply isn’t the case. While all accommodation companies in Tanzania will undoubtedly hire local people, some are owned by international big box companies. Booking with larger chain hotels will make your money leak back to international headquarters instead of staying in the destination. Staying at locally owned places will not only benefit the property itself but will also trickle down to their local staff, and food and other providers. And you will have a better experience because you will be able to learn more about the local culture. This is why it’s always good to double-check who owns a property you’re planning to stay at. If you are paying a company to plan your entire trip, then make sure you stipulate that you preper to only stay in locally-owned accommodations.

4) Meet with Local Communities

Meeting the local people and taking part in local customs can be a very enriching and meaningful experience - if it is done right! That’s exactly what our Sababu Experiences are: authentic experiences with local communities, offering visitors the chance to experience the local way of life while supporting the villages financially or in other ways at the same time. Most experiences are managed by the communities themselves, which bosts direct employment as well.

You can choose from a selection of Sababu experiences:

• Visit the Maasai, learn about their culture and traditions, go on a nature walk with a Maasai warrior

• Give the gift of light to families in remote villages who live without electricity.

• Head out on a morning hunt with the Hadzabe bushmen — one of the world’s only remaining hunter-gatherer tribes

• Meet a Zanzibari family, take part in cooking lessons and learn some Zanzibari cooking secrets

There are many other experiences to choose from. If you would like to add one (or several) of these experiences to your Tanzania safari, please let us know.

3) Eat and Buy Locally

It may seem like a small matter, but you’d be surprised by how much you can support the local economy by opting to eat and drink in local Tanzanian restaurants during your stay. By choosing to eat in local restaurants when possible, you are choosing to contribute money to yet another important part of the country’s economy. But on a smaller scale, you are supporting small businesses and their employees — including the local farmers and fodd producers in the area — all of which support the Tanzanian economy as a whole. The same goes for buying souvernirs. When buying souvenirs locally, you support the local handcrafters and their material providers.

2) Pack for a Purpose and/or Donate to Local Projects

Besides buying locally you can also support the local communities by donating to local projects - either financially or by donating time or materials or other resources. Feel free to Pack for a Purpose, and bring supplies that are urgently needed, for example.

If you are interested in supporting a local project, please ask us, we are happy to make recommendations! There are many projects that are making a significant difference on the ground!

1) Protect Wildlife and their Habitats

Of course, it is important to look after Tanzania’s animals and the conservation areas and national parks they call home. Most people interested in safaris love animals and see the value in sustainable safaris. Simply by going on a safari, you are automatically contributing to conservation by paying your park and concession fees! However, it’s also worth noting that sustainable safari practices also benefit Tanzania’s economy. Mostly, this is because the wilder areas of Tanzania are the country’s biggest resource, drawing in significant numbers of tourists each year. If we all neglect to do our part in looking after Tanzania’s incredible wealth of nature, then we are devaluing the country’s greatest asset. When looking for the right safari company in Tanzania, look for any information about responsible or environmentally friendly activities. If this information isn’t obvious, don’t be afraid to ask!

As traveler you have the power to decide where your money goes. By spending your money locally you make sure the country you are visiting directly benefits form your visit. You will give locals the oportunity to do business, to be more independent and to stimulate economic growth.

There are, of course, many more ways for travelers to support Tanzania’s economy and natural resources, but we’ve covered some of the basics that are most important to the small team here at Sababu Safaris. We are locally based, with local guides, working to benefit the local communities, and we will always do what we can to ensure we are a positive force in Tanzania. If this sounds like the way you’d like to explore Tanzania, please get in touch. And if you’d like a little more reading in the meantime, read about the best time to go to Tanzania and why the Ngorongoro Crater should be on your bucket list!