Top 5 Sustainable Travel Hacks
Written by Marrian Haileselassie
At this point, you’ve spent most of quarantine thinking about your next big vacation. Now more than ever, you’ll have to travel more consciously and carefully. From hygiene to social responsibility, planning a complete green trip can be a bit challenging without a few hacks up your sleeve. Look no further. In this short and sweet blog, you’ll find the top 5 hacks for more sustainable travel. Let’s get green, shall we?
1. Pick a destination that values & encourages sustainability
First and foremost, you have to think really carefully about where you’re going. Does it already have a lot of tourists? Do they have policies that protect the environment and animals on the land? These questions need quite a bit of digging on the internet to find but are super important. Some great destinations that fit this criterion are Namibia, South Africa, Rwanda and Botswana!
2. Check if your accommodation makes an effort to be sustainable before booking
When on vacation, you definitely want to be pampered – that’s a given. But who does the pampering? That’s a different story. Hotels and accommodation are major sources of income for the country you visit. They have the power and muscle to support conservation causes and give back to the community all thanks to your visit! That’s why choosing an accommodation that integrates sustainable practices and policies is a green traveller’s must. Hence, at Viatu, all the accommodations we offer are vetted against this standard.
3. Eat consciously
One of the best experiences of travelling is tasting new and unique cuisine. This could be anything from a pie from a street van to a local delicacy at a fancy restaurant. The authentic flavour is what adds richness to the entire dish. To enjoy such original deliciousness, we encourage you to go for local foods more than processed or foreign ones. Not only is it tastier, but it’s also greener! Local produce travels less and it ensures local farmers get their fair share - “Local is lekker'' meaning ‘local is delicious’ as the South Africans would say. Check out our blog to find out more about fantastic South African delicacies.
4. Visit protected areas for wildlife
Seeing a wild animal in front of you is life-changing. It really is. So many different animals roaming the same area and going about their daily lives in harmony with one another – it’s magical. But not all animal viewing experiences are ethical. Meaning, some animals may be mistreated or malnourished just for visitors to see them (often caged!). Please try your best to avoid such encounters.
5. Don’t rush
Whenever anyone travels, there’s always an urge to cram in as many sites and visits into the trip as possible often sprinting between one hotspot to the next. You’re not alone, it happens. However, travel is all about absorbing the foreign country, taking a minute to understand its daily life and appreciate its culture. It should never be about ticking off a checklist. That’s why we strongly believe that slow travel is awesome travel.
With these 5 hacks, we’re sure you’re ready to put on your green traveller glasses for your next trip. Although these hacks can be a bit time-consuming, they’re important and impactful to the world around us. At Viatu, we are passionate about sustainable travel and that’s why we offer instantly bookable green trips from the comfort of your phone.
Excited to book your next sustainable holiday with us? Hop on over to our website to learn more and check out our Instagram for plenty of incredible destinations, amazing wildlife and unforgettable experiences!
