Many who have gone to Africa on safaris have returned home with the growing desire to support the continent’s diverse and bio-essential wildlife. This is good news, especially considering how the largest global crisis of the century has crippled Africa’s billion dollar tourism industry, which funds many of the existing wildlife conservation programs in the region. If you have the desire to help these efforts and programs, what can you do to make a considerable and positive impact?
Africa Adventure Consultants has vetted four different partner charities which you can directly support. The Lion Recovery Fund, which was launched in partnership with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, is all about regaining the lions that have been lost over the last quarter century, with the goal of doubling the number of lions in Africa. Grevy’s Zebra Trust was founded in 2007 for the protection of the Grevy’s zebras, now one of Africa’s most endangered large mammals.
Meanwhile, Uthando is an organization that creates and develops links between the international tourism industry and the local community development projects in Africa, aimed at empowering a broad spectrum of local sectors. And Musana empowers communities to “be the change” by creating sustainable enterprises that break the cycle of dependency and build pathways out of poverty.
We also recommend supporting organizations like AfricAid, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Protection Solutions and African Wildlife Foundation. These are some of the charities which we’ve partnered with in the past, and they are all well-respected in the field for the work that they’ve done and continue to do. Directly supporting or promoting any of these organizations will greatly contribute to the ongoing efforts to save African wildlife.
Social media can be a very powerful tool for mass communication. In fact, 75% of all national advertisers in the U.S. use influencer marketing for promoting their products, services or messages. Likewise, you can also use your own social media accounts in order to spread the crucial call to support African wildlife conservation. There are different ways in which you can do this.
If the strength of your social media presence relies on your photography, you can tell your message through pictures. Posting your best snaps and selfies from Africa is a good way to directly show people that they too can visit and provide support in their own ways. If you’re a writer or someone who has a knack for organizing people, you can also use your social media accounts to create and promote petitions or groups that can provide people with more ways to express support. Overall, social media can be a very effective way of making wildlife conservation extremely doable for those who haven’t been to Africa.
The more you know about the current and future state of African wildlife, the better you can support and promote its conservation. Keep yourself updated on the latest wildlife news, know the different organizations fighting for the causes you believe in and read more about the role of wildlife in natural biodiversity. By continuing to educate yourself on these topics, you may also figure out more creative and innovative ways to support ongoing efforts.
Originally written for adventuresinafrica.com by Jennifer Birch. Updated March 2022.
Photos courtesy of AAC Journey Specialist Anisha Barrientos, AAC Journey Specialist Angie Voigt and AAC clients the Raben family