Responsible Tourism
Travel that respects wildlife, landscapes and communities, planned by a local guide who calls Southern Africa home.
Our mission
Our mission is to design meaningful travel experiences across Southern Africa that are responsibly planned, locally informed, and tailored to each travelerās interests, time and budget.
Through honest advice and ethical travel choices, we create journeys that respect wildlife, landscapes and communities, while giving you authentic and memorable experiences.
Brightpath Travel is a small, locally owned company based in Livingstone, Zambia. For us, responsible tourism is not a policy on a shelf. It is how we plan every trip, because these parks, rivers and communities are our home.
How we put it into practice
Local knowledge, local peopleYour trip is planned and guided by people who live here. We work with local guides, drivers and chefs, and pay them fairly.
Supporting local businessesWe choose locally owned lodges, community campsites and small family-run camps where we can, and buy supplies for mobile safaris from local markets and shops.
Honest adviceWe tell you the right season for what you want to see, realistic drive times and what a place is really like. We never promise sightings that nature cannot guarantee.
Respecting wildlifeWe follow park rules, keep a respectful distance, never feed or bait animals and never chase a sighting. An animalās wellbeing always comes before a photograph.
Traveling lightlyPrivate, small groups, careful route planning to avoid unnecessary driving and flights, and leave-no-trace camping on mobile safaris.
Less plasticWe encourage refillable water bottles, carry filtered water on our safaris and take all our rubbish out of the bush.
Our wildlife ethics
Seeing animals in the wild, living naturally, is the greatest privilege of a safari. That is why we only offer wildlife experiences that keep animals wild.
What we do
- Game drives, walking safaris, boat and canoe trips with licensed guides
- Seeing white rhino with park rangers in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
- Birding and photography at a respectful distance
- Supporting parks run with communities and conservation partners
What we donāt do
- Elephant rides or walking with captive lions
- Touching, feeding or baiting wild animals
- Off-road driving where park rules forbid it
- Crowding a sighting or pushing animals for a better photo
Where your money goes
When you travel with us, your money supports the people and places that make a safari possible:
- Park and conservation fees fund rangers, anti-poaching patrols and the protection of the parks you visit.
- Community-run parks and conservancies, such as Kasanka in Zambia and the communal conservancies of Namibia, share tourism income with the people who live alongside wildlife.
- Local guides, drivers, chefs and camp staff earn a fair living from tourism, and every tip you give goes directly to them.
- Local lodges, shops and markets benefit when we buy food, fuel and supplies along the route.
How you can help
Responsible travel is a partnership. A few simple things make a real difference:
Respect local peopleAsk before you photograph anyone, dress modestly in towns and villages, and learn a few words of greeting.
Keep wildlife wildNever feed animals, stay quiet at sightings and follow your guideās instructions.
Buy localChoose crafts from local markets and community projects, and eat at locally owned restaurants.
Leave no traceBring a refillable water bottle, avoid single-use plastic and take your litter home.
No drones without permissionDrones are banned in most national parks and need permits. Talk to us before you bring one.
Tip fairlyTips are an important part of income for guides and camp staff. Ask us what is typical for your trip.
Planning your trip? See our safari packing list and how to travel to Zambia guide for visas, health, money and what to wear.
Always learning
We are a young, growing company, and we know responsible tourism is a journey, not a badge. We keep learning from our guests, our partners and the communities we work with, and we welcome your ideas.
If you see something on one of our trips that we could do better, please tell us. We will listen.