Climate Positive

We are proud that Chiawa Safaris is Zambia’s fist certified Climate Positive safari operation and each of its 3 camps are certified Climate Positive.

We are also justly proud that not only were Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro Africa’s first carbon positive certified safari camps, but that through our initiative other camps joined in making the Lower Zambezi NP Africa’s first Carbon Neutral national park. This has now spread to the South Luangwa where other camps too are achieving Carbon Neutrality.

More information is available on these achievements here.

So, what does this mean exactly? This means that the carbon emissions of our camps, including all logistical/supply/conservation activities and even domestic flights of our guests and management, have been carefully calculated and that these emissions are more than offset through the purchase of internationally verified Carbon Credits through BioCarbon Partners, leading to our Climate Positive certification in 2023.

Biocarbon Partners operate two forestry conservation programs in Zambia, one on the border of the Lower Zambezi National Park and one on the border of the South Luangwa National Park. Their conservation activities not only protect the forests (which mop up our carbon output) but also protect the boundaries of Zambia’s two prime National Parks from encroachment and poaching – absolutely vital interventions that are worthy of support, even if we were not receiving Carbon Credits paid for with the monies Chiawa Safaris raises from its generous guests.

• Chiawa Camp & Old Mondoro went completely off-grid in 2023 by installing an impressive solar plant at each.
• Chiawa Safaris is one of the strongest voices in Zambia’s tourism industry, constantly advocating at the highest levels for improved conservation, tourism and guiding practices
• camps designed and built to the code of Environmental Council of Zambia and Zambia Wildlife Authority
• strong Reduce/Reuse/Recycle ethos in camp and at our HQ in Lusaka
• use of renewable materials in construction, natural materials locally purchased as much as possible.
• considerate design of the camps which blend in with the environment rather than making a statement to stand out against it
• strict trash in/trash out policy
• 240 volt silent inverter standby power for camps to reduce fossil fuel dependence by 30%
• low energy LED light bulbs throughout to reduce fossil fuel usage
• replacing electric hot water with solar as much as possible
• provision of personal stainless steel water bottles to all guests to reduce consumption of plastic water bottles which resulted in a reduction of waste by approx. 3000 plastic water bottles annually
• replacing of 2 stroke outboard boat motors to 4 stroke, reducing emissions and fossil fuel consumption by 50%
• use of recycled paper in all printing of promotional materials
• sympathetic guiding – minimizing disturbance of wildlife and habitat
• staff sensitized to these issues so not only are they responsible in camp but they are also more environmentally aware and responsible at home

Although by no means perfect, Chiawa Safaris is leading the way in Zambia in responsible tourism and making sure that future generations will inherit a better planet and be able to see the wildlife and scenes that we enjoy today. Join us on safari and become part of this success story.

Conservation & Climate Positive Infographics