Highlights of Zimbabwe and Botswana, tailor made

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint the operator behind Chobe Game Lodge, Desert & Delta Safaris, has introduced Africa’s first fleet of electric powered CO2 emission-free vehicles and safari boats to the Chobe region. Offering a quieter and superior safari experience for travellers, the vehicles and boats have dramatically reduced their usage of fuel and significantly lowered their carbon emissions at their largest property.

To reduce the amount of flying on this trip, a road transfer is included between Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Kasane in Botswana. Furthermore, the cost of this trip is based on a shared road transfer, thus reducing the carbon impact further.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Ilala Lodge Hotel has signed up to be a part of the Victoria Falls Recycling Project which has been the initiative of African Albida Tourism. The company will start making efforts to sort our waste following the three main principles of recycling:

REDUCE – Where possible we will reduce the amounts of single-use plastic, water, plastic bottles and aluminium cans. We have installed a new Natura water machine installed that guests can fill up their own water bottles with still and sparkling water, or enjoy a break and a glass at our bar.

REUSE – We encourage our members of staff to find innovative and creative ways to reuse our waste – this is a new project where we are trying to identify artists who can help craft from waste.

RECYCLE – Plastics, aluminium, paper and glass are to be sorted into the correct waste bins and sent to Victoria Falls Recycling Project to be processed for re-use in their original form.

Desert and Delta reuse their primary waste-water because it flows into a series of above-ground, sealed water-treatment tanks. The end product is potable water that is used to irrigate their lawns and market gardens. This water is tested on a regular basis.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Desert & Delta Safaris, the operator behind Chobe Game Lodge and Camp More is a Botswana owned and registered company. Equality in the workplace is of fundamental importance to Desert & Delta Safaris. The Botswana safari industry is one of the country’s biggest contributors to GDP but has historically offered limited opportunities for Botswana citizens in senior positions within the industry.

Citizen Development Program: Through an annual training schedule, the Desert & Delta Safaris Citizen Development Program educates, trains and mentors Botswana citizens to help them acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to attain employment as camp managers. Owing to the ongoing success of the program, the Desert & Delta Safaris camps have been managed exclusively by Botswana citizens since 2014. An achievement which has had a profoundly positive impact on our business by creating career goals and growth for our staff.

Empowerment of Women in the Workplace: Further to creating more employment opportunities for Botswana citizens, Desert & Delta Safaris is committed to promoting gender equality by actively addressing the gender divide that exists within the travel sector. With this in mind, the current camp management group has a 50% female representation, highlighting the important role women play in management positions. Female empowerment is also brought to the forefront with Africa’s first all-female safari guiding team at Chobe Game Lodge.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Desert and Delta employ approximately 320 staff members within eight safari lodges. Owing to the remote location of the properties and the amount of time staff members spend living and working in the camps, access to medical care is a challenge. In light of this and in an effort to better support their staff members medical challenges, Desert & Delta Safaris employs a full time company doctor.

Run as a family practice, the company doctor conducts regular visits to each of the properties within the circuit allowing him to get to know the staff members individually to understand their specific medical needs, not only administering a GP service but ensuring that the best medical advice and mentoring for all our staff is freely available.

Offering HIV/AIDS testing, ensuring anti-retroviral treatment is effectively administered as well psychological support are critical functions of the doctor, all done with complete confidentiality to ensure job security. All medical treatment supplied by the company doctor is funded by Desert & Delta Safaris.

As a Botswana owned and registered company, equality in the workplace is of fundamental importance to Desert & Delta Safaris. The Botswana safari industry is one of the country’s biggest contributors to GDP but has historically offered limited opportunities for Botswana citizens in senior positions within the industry.

Citizen Development Program: Through an annual training schedule, the Desert & Delta Safaris Citizen Development Program educates, trains and mentors Botswana citizens to help them acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to attain employment as camp managers. Owing to the ongoing success of the program, the Desert & Delta Safaris camps have been managed exclusively by Botswana citizens since 2014. An achievement which has had a profoundly positive impact on our business by creating career goals and growth for our staff.

Empowerment of Women in the Workplace: Further to creating more employment opportunities for Botswana citizens, Desert & Delta Safaris is committed to promoting gender equality by actively addressing the gender divide that exists within the travel sector. With this in mind, the current camp management group has a 50% female representation, highlighting the important role women play in management positions. Female empowerment is also brought to the forefront with Africa’s first all-female safari guiding team at Chobe Game Lodge.