National GeographicJul 10, 2026
Planning a safari? Here’s what you should know before you go.
Asking a few pointed questions will help reveal whether your trip is funding conservation and local communities, or just paying for a view.
20 things in this story
- Maasai Wilderness Conservation TrustPlaceoperates an air safari service and three lodges
- African Leadership UniversityPlaceEmpowering future leaders with world-class Bachelor's degree programs, leadership training, and a global education…
- Ecotourism KenyaPlaceprovides ratings for lodges
- International Union for Conservation of NaturePlaceglobal authority behind the Red List
- Virgin Limited EditionHotelhotel portfolio
- Maji Moto Maasai Cultural CampHoteltourism revenue funds a school and widows' village
- Maasai MaraSightarea with declining lion population density
- Laikipia PlateauSightadjacent conservancies operate at low-density benchmarks
- Lewa Wildlife ConservancyPlaceUNESCO World Heritage Site and IUCN Green List
- Lewa WildernessHotelranch turned into a conservancy in the 1980s
- Ol JogiHotelprivate conservancy with an exclusive-use model
- Borana LodgeHotelallows four vehicles on 32,000 acres
- Borana ConservancyPlaceconservancy with 32,000 acres
- Reverie SafarisPlacecurates safaris across 13 African countries
- B CorpPlaceB Lab is the global nonprofit behind Certified B Corporations, a community of businesses that meet verified social,…
- 1% for the PlanetPlaceJoin a global network of businesses committing 1% of sales to environmental causes.
- The Long RunPlaceJoin The Long Run, a global network for sustainable tourism.
- Nkuringo SafarisPlaceoffers Uganda walking safaris
- Shamwari Private Game ReservePlaceprivate game reserve in South Africa
- Salaton Ole NtutuPlace
