Sustainable Excursion Policy

At Where It All Began, we are committed to providing exceptional travel experiences while prioritizing sustainability and environmental stewardship. Our excursions are designed to minimize our ecological footprint and promote responsible tourism practices. Below is our Sustainable Excursion Policy, outlining our approach to environmental impact, transportation, and collaboration with our local partners.

1. Eco-Friendly Transportation

Our adventures are predominantly powered by zero emissions methods, including:

• Surfboards: Embracing the power of the waves for eco-conscious exploration. 

• Sailboats: Utilizing wind power to navigate coastal and river routes. 

• Bicycles: Promoting sustainable travel through pedal-powered journeys. 

• Legs: Encouraging hiking and walking as primary modes of exploration. 
• Horses: Supporting traditional, low-impact travel methods in rural areas.

Some of our adventures are less eco-friendly, in the sense that they are self-drive adventures, either by car or 4×4. In these cases, we aim to offer the lowest emission vehicles we can reasonably offer considering the terrain of the journey and in this regard, we trust our partners Around About Cars and Bushlore to assist and advise us.

In regions where security necessitates the use of support vehicles (e.g. for road cycling) we prioritize modern and low-emission options. While fully electric vehicles are not yet viable in some rural areas due to limited charging infrastructure, we ensure that our support vehicles are as environmentally friendly as possible.

We are committed to:

• Low Emission Vehicles: Choosing the most recent models our suppliers can afford with the lowest emissions. 
• Hybrid Transition: Transitioning to hybrid vehicles as soon as they become available and suitable for our operational needs.

 

2. Partner Collaboration

We work with local tour operators who share our dedication to sustainability. Our partners include:

• Hannival’s Tours (Western Cape) 
• iMonti Tours (Eastern Cape) 
• Shelldon Wells (KwaZulu-Natal) 
• Emthunzini Tours (Mpumalanga and Gauteng)

Each of these suppliers has provided us with their vehicle procurement policies, which detail their commitment to:

• Low Emission Vehicles: Purchasing vehicles with the lowest emissions their operations can support. 
• Ecological Driving: Adopting driving practices that minimize environmental impact. 
• Hybrid Transition: Moving towards hybrid vehicles as technology and infrastructure allow.

 

3. Environmental Impact and Practices

• Resource Efficiency: We encourage the efficient use of resources during our tours, including water and energy conservation practices. This also applies to using non-potable water for washing vehicles and biodegradable soap. 

• Waste Management: We implement waste reduction strategies and promote recycling and responsible waste disposal as well as encouraging our partners to tell us how they manage waste from tours. 

• Local Ecosystems: Our excursions are designed to respect and preserve local ecosystems, avoiding disruption to wildlife and natural habitats, in particular for our 4×4 adventures when we use local guides in particularly ecologically sensitive areas. 
• Cultural Sensitivity: We ensure that all tours are conducted with respect for local cultures and traditions, supporting community-based conservation and cultural preservation efforts. This is particularly the case with Uthando SA and !Khwa ttu.

4. Continuous Improvement

We are dedicated to continuously improving our sustainability practices. We regularly review and update our policies in collaboration with our partners to adapt to new technologies and best practices in environmental stewardship. At Where It All Began, our goal is to offer unforgettable travel experiences while preserving the natural beauty and cultural richness of the regions we visit. We believe that sustainable tourism not only benefits the environment but also enriches the experiences of our travellers and the communities we engage with.