We have all witnessed the news reports, the dramatic photographs and the scientists spouting shocking statistics. We are all aware that humans are damaging the planet's environment at a rapid pace with talk of global warming, extinct animals and the decline of local communities. We all make those little changes, visiting the recycle bins and using public transport. But isn't it time that giving something back to the environment became a little more glamorous?
It isn't wrong to crave an enjoyable way to help. Once eco-tourism was either about sleeping in a hut or facing the depressing notion of staying on our own shores for summer. But nowadays eco-resorts are different. They offer luxurious experiences while helping local communities to support their environment. This is exactly what is happening in safari lodges in Kenya and boutique hotels in Kenya and across the world.
Eco-tourism is based on building environmental and cultural awareness and providing the funding for their care. It is easy to imagine the best way for an eco-friendly holiday is to avoid a plane journey. But tourism is a main form of income for millions of people around the world, which in turn contributes to the care of land, animals and communities.
Some safari lodges in Kenya often offer a class of luxury second-to-none. Luxury and sustainable can, however walk hand in hand. These Kenya lodges are often based in stunning designated conservation areas, and come with personal staff who know the local area better than anybody and are more than happy to share their knowledge. There is surely no better way to learn about the world we live in than by talking to the skilled locals who have helped transform the land. And all of this while experiencing an awe-inspiring unspoilt view of Kenya, safe in the knowledge that you are helping it to remain unspoilt.
Some safari lodges have features such as spas, libraries, wi-fi and a whole host of entertainment on hand such as camel riding, quad biking, mountain biking, rock climbing and game drives and walks. If a relaxing holiday suits you better lie back next to your own infinity pool while being served by your personal butler and chef.
Learning about the local culture is a key part of most people's African holidays. The staff hosting guests in Kenya's luxury lodges are often ranchers from the Maasai and other tribes and can take you to visit the local schools and villages. With designated livestock quotas, rotational grazing areas and separate settlement areas to repair previous over-grazing and erosion, paradise takes a lot to maintain. The leopards, zebra, buffalo and hyenas only make Kenyan conservancies their home because of this expert care, funded partly by tourism.
Of course if you cannot stretch to afford a holiday in a luxury you could give a gift to one of the lodges in Kenya help pay for skilled herdsmen, and you can even adopt-an-acre of some conservation areas. But if you are lucky enough to be able to afford an extravagant holiday, then why not try a safari lodge in Kenya for an experience infinitely more colourful and eco-friendly than that of the chains of faceless hotels blotting landscapes around the world.
Ol-Lentille is a stunning holiday location in Kenya, a protected conservancy rife with wildlife and awe-inspiring scenery. The Sanctuary at Ol-Lentille offers the best eco-tourism in the world, with each of its separate houses a haven of luxury within the African wilderness.
Learn more about The Sanctuary
