It is with great pleasure and pride that we inform you that we have won the Responsible Tourism Award for Best Carbon Reduction at the WTM London 2017 event for our work in reducing carbon emissions through our fleet of electric vehicles and boats.
In 2014, a large-scale project was undertaken as the management team at Chobe Game Lodge decided to convert a game drive vehicle and boat to be electric powered. At the time, this was unheard of in Botswana and we were one of the first operators to take the first step in creating electric safaris in Africa. Our fleet grew over the years with more vehicles being converted to electric power and the installation of solar panels on the roofs of our boats being the focus for the teams responsible.
The electric fleet project was in line with a decision made many years before that changed the course of Chobe Game Lodge’s growth strategies. The decision was to make Chobe Game lodge one of the most sustainable lodges in the world. Fast forward to today, and we have gone from strength to strength, gaining wide spread recognition for what is Africa’s first fleet of Electric vehicles and boats.
The reason we are so proud to have won this award is twofold: It is an amazing recognition for the pioneering work being undertaken at Chobe Game Lodge while at the same time setting an example for other operators to follow suit and take the next step toward building their responsible tourism efforts.
The award itself was fiercely competed and all the finalists as well as the winners of the different categories deserved to be at this year’s awards ceremony. It is not only the winners who deserve recognition, not even just the finalists, but every single establishment and destination that is making an effort in developing responsible tourism business practices. Our responsibility to our natural environment as well as the communities in which we operate, is paramount to the success and future of the African tourism industry. We are proud of our pioneering efforts and the success of this project and recognise the importance it has in creating awareness for responsible and sustainable tourism development.
Since the successful introduction of the electric fleet, we have seen several operators seeking to adopt the electric approach and convert their vehicles or boats as we are currently doing. A positive sign for the future of safaris in Africa.
To read more about the awards, its judges and the judging process read the Leaders in Respnsible Tourism document below.
We are proud of this award and of everyone who has made this project a reality. The future for responsible tourism in Africa is bright. The future is green! For more information, visit our Electric Safari page on our website.
