Etiquette for tourist visiting savannaland.

This information seeks to help maximize your experiences visiting Savannaland, while minimizing any negative impacts that your visit may have on local people, its environment and its culture.

Plan well

• Plan your trip well with the use of information tools, such as this website. In all the sites mentioned in this website you can find useful information to plan your trip and useful links like Frequently Asked Questions.
• Weather conditions in Savannaland can be extreme, so prepare well. Look for information in the ‘plan your trip’ section of this website.

Show respect

• For a fulfilling, up-close and personal experience, please respect the way of life of the communities you interact with, the natural environment, as well as other tourists. It pays off to be polite and friendly. Seek advice from your local guide and information centres closer to you on local customs and values.
• Respect people’s privacy. Ask permission before entering sacred places, homes, palaces or private land.
• Be sensitive to when and where you take photos/videos of people.
  Always ask for permission first or ask your local guide or hosts for advice

Support the local economy

• Seek for information at only designated sources as much as possible like local information and reception centres. You can find these centres at all CBT sites.  
• Hire licensed or recognized local guides only. You will enrich your experience and support the local economy.
• Try to buy locally made crafts and support local skills.  Your money will contribute to the local economy.
• You are encouraged to try local food and drinks. This is another way to contribute to the local economy and enrich your tourist experience
• Ensure you take authorised receipts for all payments made in the communities

Help to preserve Savannaland

• Enjoy the beauty of the Savannaland landscape. We urge you to take care not to damage, destroy or remove natural objects such as plants, seeds, etc. They are important for the livelihood of the people and wildlife of the Savanna, and contribute to the beauty of the Savanna landscape.
• Help to preserve the culture and history of Savannaland. Please do not temper with cultural, religious and historic monuments and artifacts.
• Wildlife in savannaland are not tamed, so do not encourage your local guide to get closer, it is not safe.
• Do not feed animals. Feeding wildlife alters natural behaviours, and exposes them to other dangers.
• Litter and leftover food  not only spoils the beauty of Savannaland, it can be dangerous to wildlife and farm animals and can spread disease - so try to reduce your litter as much as possible, dispose it in the right places, and take the most you can back home with you or recycle it. Moreover, littering is strictly prohibited in protected areas.
• Do not buy souvenirs or crafts made from wholly protected species

Help to preserve scarce natural resources

• Minimize your use of scarce and precious resources in the Savanna like water, and take care not to contaminate natural water sources with litter or any other pollutants.
• Reduce your use of energy as much as possible, especially in the rural areas and when it is not provided by renewable sources. Always switch off air conditioning, lights and electrical appliances like TV or radio when they are not required.

Understand the needs before giving

• Your donations or volunteer work in Savannaland are welcome but make sure they are properly channelled to suitable organizations. Do not create dependency with your donations or volunteer work. Take into account the real local needs, involve the community in the decision and do not just impose your own will.
• Volunteer programs require specific skills. Please make sure that your skills and background matches the local needs. In this website we provide you with some information that will allow you to know the skills that are required from the volunteers in some of the sites.