Ivory Coast wildlife vacation, pygmy hippo expedition

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Whilst this tour does make use of scheduled flights between Abidjan and San-Pedro, due to very poor road conditions, we do ensure we drive between San-Pedro and Tai rather than chartering a flight. The accommodation options used are designed to fit seamlessly into the natural environment - solar panels are used in both Ecotel Turaco and Camp Chimpanzee, with rainwater also collected. We do not use local transport during this tour, but all game-viewing is conducted on foot or using an electric motor on the Hana River. Kayaking is also a method sometimes used on the main river.

We recommend clients take steps to reduce the carbon impact of their vacation, including opting for flights with lower levels of carbon emissions. Vegetarian and vegan food is available throughout, although these options may become repetitive throughout the course of the tour. All food is locally sourced and seasonal - there are no other options in the depths of the West African rainforest!

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

The accommodation throughout this tour is specifically designed to have negligible environmental impact. All power is provided by solar panels, with rainwater harvested. The structures are made out of timber sourced from outside the national park, and waste is collected in septic tanks and packed out of the park.

This trip includes fees and taxes paid to local park management and a local conservation NGO, Ecotourisme Tai. These fees go directly towards funding anti-poaching patrols and community engagement initiatives, including a local theatre troop who teach villagers about the famed chimpanzees of Tai. As the leading tour operator in Tai, our visits play a crucial role in restoring Tai and its wildlife to its previous glories. Specifically, our efforts ensure the continued protection of the endangered inhabitants of Tai, notably pygmy hippo.

All clients are provided with information on how to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impacts across the tour. This tour is led by an expert nature guide and tour leader from the west, who supports local guides by providing specialist knowledge. However, we stress that local guides take the lead role in assisting clients, to improve their confidence when it comes to managing clients and to deepen and breadthen their skillsets.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

All accommodation used during this tour, from Abidjan to San-Pedro to Tai, are all owned locally. Local guides are employed throughout our stay in Tai, as well as cooks, porters, boatmen, drivers and housekeeping staff - our visits represent a hugely important financial boost to the community of Djoroutou in particular. We are able to facilitate visits to local communities on requests.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

100% of the individuals employed during this tour are Ivorian. In Tai, all guides, porters, cooks, boatmen, drivers and housekeeping staff are from villages around the park. Whilst traditional attitudes in Tai dictate that guides and boatmen are men, we insist that employment opportunities in Ecotel Turaco and Camp Chimpanzee are afforded to women from local villages, and now over 50% of employees in these camps are women. We insist that the local minimum wage is always honoured.

We are deeply committed to inclusivity in our own workplace. This tour is safe for LGBTQ+ travelers, but please note that conservative attitudes mean that public displays of affection can attract unwanted attention. Due to the remote nature of the tour, and wild nature of Tai, this tour is not suitable for those with mobility issues, cognitive impairment or limited vision or hearing.