Background
Above Safaris is a responsible travel company that curates unique and impactful adventures in Tanzania. We do this by relying on a deep understanding of the places you travel to, sharing our strong relationships with local partners and local people, and ensuring every traveler’s adventure has a positive impact on the community.
Travelers Code of Conduct
To help our travelers understand what it means to travel responsibly, we’ve prepared a Code of Conduct that should guide our travelers on their adventure. As a traveler booking with Above Safaris, you agree to the following:
Respect the local cultures, practices, and viewpoints. While you may not agree with everything, we ask that you respect people’s views even if they are different than yours and what you are used to in your home country.
Seek out opportunities to learn from and connect with local people. Learn a few local greetings, approach people with a smile, and don’t shy away from putting yourself out there on your adventure.
Don’t treat people as if they are part of the landscape. Always ask for permission before taking photos and treat people with the dignity and respect you would expect. If you do get permission to photograph someone it’s always nice to show them their photo. Think twice before posting people’s photos on social media after your trip, especially children.
Do not make promises to people you meet on your trip unless you can follow though.
Ensure that you are having zero impact on the natural environment. Littering, picking flowers or plant life, leaving designated trails or roads, entering protected areas, and purchasing souvenirs made from animals are to be avoided.
Keep in mind that wildlife is wild and cannot be fully predicted. We work as hard as possible to give you the best chance of spotting wildlife but do not make any guarantees.
Support the local economy on your trip. Buy locally made products and eat and drink local beverages and foods, rather than imported consumer goods. Bargaining is expected but keep in mind that getting a lower price means less money in the pocket of local people. Pay what you think the item is worth not what you think you can get for it.
If you intend to bring gifts or donations check to make sure that they are culturally appropriate. The Above Safaris team can always make recommendations.
Economic Impact
Good jobs are a path out of poverty. We hire local tour guides for every client’s adventure, creating good jobs with fair labor practices and wages that are +20% above Tanzania’s industry average.
We buy local, working with local vendors to provide the services and products we need - from hotel operators, to small-scale farmers, local artisans, to local restaurants. We support the local economy and ensure that tourism dollars are not leaving the country.
We support local projects that are seeking to help the community. From hosting client fundraisers, to showcasing innovative schools to visitors, to building the first coworking entrepreneurship hub in Arusha. We want to see our local economy thrive.
Environmental Impact
We build each of our experiences with environmental conservation in mind, especially through our supplier partners. We only partner with suppliers that are making efforts to conserve energy and water and leverage renewable resources like solar or wind power. As we continue to grow and build as a company we will utilize the same responsible environmental practices that we expect of our partners. In addition, we are currently investigating ways to introduce policies to reduce plastic and mitigate our carbon footprint.
Our wildlife excursions support the protection of wildlife across the country. We only utilize protected wildlife areas - National Parks and Conservation Areas that are overseen and managed by park rangers and conservationists. This allows us to support the conservation of these natural habitats, ensuring that animals can live the way they are meant to. We never curate animal experiences like travelers might experience with "animal sanctuaries" or setup "safari and wildlife parks" in other places around the world. A safari in Tanzania gives travelers an opportunity to be a passive observer experiencing the real wild where animals have lived for thousands of years.
Social Impact
Tourism always affects local people. We allow travelers to engage in authentic experiences with local communities throughout Tanzania. One example is through our excursions to the Maasai people. Known for their vibrant clothing and rich tradition, the Maasai are renowned for their expertise with cattle—with a day or overnight trip, clients can experience Maasai culture and life, led by a Maasai guide from that community. Additionally, we support local artisans and craftsmen across Tanzania, supporting community innovation and providing the opportunity for local people to share their work with international travelers.
Clients are always provided with pre-trip information on the areas they are traveling to in Tanzania, including cultural norms, travel expectations and essential information to be aware of in communities throughout Tanzania. We urge travelers to respect the local culture, practices, and viewpoints. We ask that clients respect people’s views even if they are different than theirs and what they are used to in their home countries, and provide advice on important norms like how to dress.
We always utilize local guides on every client’s trip—from an excursion to Maasai villages to protected National Parks. This ensures the protection of local environments, as well as minimizes the impact of outsiders and visitors on local communities and areas.