Travel broadens our horizons, but it can also leave a heavy footprint. The tourism industry is responsible for nearly 8% of global carbon emissions—from transport and accommodation to the energy needed to run attractions. Beyond environmental impact, conventional tourism can put pressure on local communities, displace culture, and direct money away from the people who need it most.
That’s why sustainable travel matters. It’s about exploring responsibly: minimizing harm, maximizing positive impact, and making conscious choices that protect both people and the planet.
What is Sustainable Travel?
Sustainable travel is a conscientious approach to exploring the world, one that puts the health of our planet and the well-being of local communities first. It goes beyond avoiding plastic or reusing towels; it’s about every decision we make on the road; from the transport we use to the businesses we support.
It might mean choosing a train instead of flying, staying in locally owned guesthouses rather than chain hotels, or sitting down to a meal at a small restaurant that sources its ingredients from nearby farms. It’s also about pausing to consider: who benefits from my visit, and what kind of footprint am I leaving?
At its core, it’s about travelling in a way that respects both the place and the people—finding that balance between discovery and responsibility. That’s what sustainable tourism is about, and it’s the kind of travel we believe in.
Learn more about Africa’s ultra-sustainable form of transport—a model that brings both environmental and cultural value.
Why Sustainable Tourism is Important
At Where It All Began, we create journeys with purpose. Our trips are carefully designed to reduce environmental strain while deepening your connection with South Africa—its wild beauty, its layered cultures, and its local communities.
We choose sustainable travel routes, locally owned stays, and guides who offer personal insight and respect for the land. This isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about moving with intention.
Sustainable Travel Tips for Conscious Explorers
Sustainable travel means:
✅ Supporting local businesses. When you spend your money at a community-run lodge or book an excursion with a local guide, that income stays where it’s needed most. Instead of booking through global platforms, look for direct connections—small, independent providers who reinvest in their region.
✅ Avoiding tourist traps. Overcrowded attractions often contribute to environmental damage and exploitative labour practices. Seek out authentic experiences—like visiting a local craft market instead of a commercial curio shop or exploring lesser-known trails guided by someone who calls the area home.
✅ Reducing your carbon footprint. Opt for lower-emission transport like trains, electric vehicles, or cycling where possible. You can also offset the unavoidable emissions from flights through accredited carbon offset programs, or better yet—choose slow travel and spend more time in fewer places.
✅ Respecting people, culture & the planet. Learn a few words in the local language. Ask before taking photos. Follow signage and local customs when visiting sacred sites or protected environments. Travelling responsibly often starts with small, thoughtful actions.
It’s travel that contributes—not consumes.
Consider destinations that balance fun and sustainability, like Knysna, where eco-adventures meet meaningful community experiences.
Travel Carbon Footprint – Why It Matters
The carbon footprint of tourism can be significant, particularly from long-haul flights, high-emission transport, and energy-hungry accommodations.
Flights are the biggest contributor, especially long-haul, followed by car rentals and high-end hotels that rely heavily on air conditioning, imported goods, and constant water use. It all adds up fast—tourism now accounts for roughly 8% of global carbon emissions.
At Where It All Began, we encourage slower, more thoughtful travel—like self-drive road trips through the Garden Route or exploring Namibia with solar-powered stays.
Our focus on small-scale lodges, locally sourced food, and low-impact itineraries helps cut down emissions while enriching your experience. It’s not just about the distance travelled—it’s about how you travel.
At Where It All Began, we promote routes that cut emissions while enriching your journey—like Kruger National Park safaris that support conservation, or Kei Mouth, where local stays replace luxury resorts.
Sustainable Travel Practices at Where It All Began
At Where It All Began, sustainability isn’t an add-on—it’s built into every itinerary. We work directly with communities, stay in locally owned lodges, and partner with guides who have deep cultural and environmental knowledge.
Each trip is created with intention, respecting the ecosystems and people who make each destination unique.From Okavango Delta safaris to canoeing along the Zambezi in Zimbabwe, our journeys immerse travellers in places worth protecting.
What Our Travellers Are Saying
“It really was a life-changing experience, and not just because of the awesome plants and landscape – the wonderful people we met were also a big part of it.”
— Annie & Jim, September 2024
“We absolutely loved exploring the landscape… I’m so grateful you insisted we take the tour through D6. We were invited to learn about the history and culture of South Africa.”
— Cecilia, Pierre, Elin & Andrea, January 2020
“Just want to say how excited we are about the input Philip and Where It All Began have provided… Their local knowledge and ethical stance really promise to elevate our experience.”
— Gail & Clayton, November 2023
The Future of Sustainable Travel
The future of tourism is conscious, community-driven, and deeply connected to place. Travellers are seeking deeper experiences that leave a lighter footprint—choosing eco-lodges, cultural exchanges, and more meaningful ways to move through the world, all part of a growing movement in sustainable travel trends.
Travellers are moving toward experiences that restore, not just sustain—this is the heart of regenerative tourism. Slow travel is gaining momentum too: fewer flights, longer stays, deeper connections. Voluntourism is being reimagined as community-led collaboration, not charity. And for digital nomads, eco-villages and remote, solar-powered workspaces are becoming the new “office.”
Where It All Began is already embracing these shifts—curating itineraries that support land regeneration, spotlight local storytellers, and invite travellers to walk gently while going deep.Our Namibia trips and Victoria Falls tours are prime examples—blending sustainability, storytelling, and adventure.
Start Your Journey with Purpose
We don’t sell package tours. We create conscious journeys—where every step supports something bigger, and every traveler becomes part of the story.
Follow the footprints of purpose—start your story here.
