| BEST
F O R C O N S E RVAT I O N O F E N D A N G E R E D S P E C I E S OR PROTECTED AREA
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SPONSORED BY: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION
The South Australian Tourism Commission is the official tourism organisation for the state
WHAT THE JUDGES SAY:
of South Australia. We actively promote our
regeneration of vegetation. At Selenkay,
‘THIS AWARD is for demonstrating that
destination in the UK and around the world,
elephants returned after a 20-year absence
a high-revenue, low-impact tourism
and endeavour to encourage environmentally
and in the Mara conservancies breeding
development approach can benefit the
responsible tourism experiences. South
cheetah took up residence.
local Maasai, enabling them, through
Australia is a premier wildlife destination,
developing conservancies and tourism
where you can see and experience wildlife
in Swahili), situated inside the conservancies,
in partnership with safari companies,
in the wild. Destinations such as Kangaroo
are exclusive, small eco-friendly tented
to create employment and community
Island, the Eyre Peninsula and the Flinders
affairs, comfortably furnished, lit with solar
income and conserve land for wildlife.’
Ranges, including Wilpena Pound, are some
Porini Camps (Porini means ‘into the wilds’
power, with water-saving safari showers and
of the key areas of South Australia that have
flush toilets. Their proud boast is that the entire camp could be completely dismantled,
an abundance of wildlife unique to Australia. ‘We believe that this can serve as a model
The protection of South Australia’s
and within a few hours you’d hardly know
to be adapted in other parts of Kenya and
flora and fauna is a key focus of the state
it had existed.
throughout Africa. Our years of success have
government with strategies such as ‘No
produced a track record that others in the
Species Loss’. This is a ten-year nature
manage and improve the conservancies,
industry have now taken note of and there
conservation strategy, which began in 2007,
pay the lease and tourist entry fees and pay
is a real momentum towards more operators
and at its core is the concept of biodiversity
salaries of the camp staff and the conservancy
setting up conservancies along similar lines.
and maintaining South Australia’s land,
rangers and workers. The camps and
We are involved in helping several others to
fresh water and marine ecosystems through
conservancies currently employ more than
set up similar conservancies and camps.’
community ownership and stewardship ,
The income from the camps is used to
100 members from the communities with
So is it the end of the mass-market safari?
ecological knowledge for decision makers and
take-home wages significantly higher than
Jake doubts it. ‘The existing mass safaris will
public, and understanding and adapting to
the national average. More than 500 Maasai
continue to attract those visitors who wish
the impacts of climate change.
families are directly benefiting as a result.
to have lower prices and who are happy
‘Our partnership with the local communities has made a significant contribution to improving conservation
is delighted to have this opportunity to
restaurants and swimming pools.
sponsor the Award for Best Conservation of
‘But it is encouraging that our guests
of the wildlife and habitat of these areas,’
contrast us favourably with the bigger
says Jake. ‘The members see the wildlife as
mass-market tourist facilities. They enjoy
a resource which belongs to them and are
seeing the wildlife without the presence of
enthusiastic about encouraging wildlife to
other tourist vehicles, and appreciate the
move into their conservancy. And because
quality of our Maasai guides. It’s altogether a
they are no longer dependent on livestock
more intimate contact with nature.’
to support their families, the vegetation and
www.porini.com
grass cover has recovered.
www.porinisafaricamps.com
44 | r:travel
The South Australian Tourism Commission
with hotel-style accommodation, bars and
Endangered Species or Protected Area. www.southaustralia.com