Ethical Tourism

Wild Horizons at a Glance

Wild Horizons is an eco-tourism operator devoted to conserving and celebrating the pristine natural wilderness in which we operate. From the Zambezi River to the National Park, we are wholeheartedly invested in Africa’s pristine and unique natural beauty. We work tirelessly to preserve and protect the environment in every dimension of the business, sharing ecotourism’s benefits with the communities that we work alongside. Behind every Wild Horizons venture is a purpose aimed at creating an enriching travel experience for our guests while conserving Africa’s wilderness and wildlife for the local communities and future generations.

Mission Statement

Our social responsibility philosophy symbolises the moral compass that we use as a guiding framework for all decision-making within the organisation.

Wildlife Ambassadors

The elephant herds that live in the sanctuary act as wildlife ambassadors for their species to champion a message of coexistence with their rural and urban neighbours. Wildlife ambassadors are animals that can not be successfully rehabilitated, and by sharing their rescue stories, these animals act as ambassadors for their species to increase awareness of their plight in the wild. Research shows that wildlife ambassadors provide compelling experiences needed for people to gain personal connections and relationships with nature.

Conservation Education Program

We believe that education is the pillar that will uphold and support sustainable conservation, and the Trust is actively involved with the next generation of conservationists and environmental leaders. Annually, over a thousand school children are transported to the Trust, where they have the opportunity to observe the wildlife ambassadors and learn from a team of passionate conservationists, who become their role models and mentors. By addressing the next generation of decision-makers, we hope to inspire them to care for their natural heritage and to become the guardians of these areas in the future.

The Elephant Camp And Old Drift Lodge

Our lodges are built and managed in the most eco-friendly way possible so that our presence in the wilderness enhances the quality of conservation in the area and minimises the negative impact. The lodges are built with environmentally friendly decking that is Forest Stewardship Council certified and consists of 60% bamboo fibres and 40% recycled plastic that would otherwise have entered landfills. The Elephant Camp was awarded Green Tourism Silver grading in 2016.
Our latest adventure is taking place on the banks of the Zambezi River, where we have built Old Drift Lodge. Our purpose has always been to conserve and celebrate Africa’s natural wilderness and wildlife by creating opportunities for people to journey into some of the world’s unique and exquisite areas such as the Zambezi National Park. Our mission is to protect these areas by enabling people to visit the Park, and by paying a conservation levy for every guest that stays with us, which contributes to the protection and maintenance of the wilderness and wildlife.

Soccer Kit Donations

Sport has the power to bring people together through a shared sense of community and purpose, and we believe that this alignment is incremental to fostering a relationship with local communities. Wild Horizons donated two soccer balls and soccer kit for 18 players in the Sizinda community soccer team, Cremora FC. Our support and involvement with their team have opened the door to future collaboration, be this in the realm of sport or conservation. We believe that this company is not a sole entity, but a member of the greater Victoria Falls community.

Chogm Garden

In collaboration with the Victoria Falls Municipality, Wild Horizons monitors the upkeep of the CHOGM garden at the entrance to the town. We have installed the irrigation system and will continue to care for and maintain the garden.

Chinotimba Vegetable Garden

Nestled within the Chinotimba township area, a community of people living with HIV/AIDS has cultivated a vegetable garden, and Wild Horizons supplies them with gardening implements, seeds and fertiliser to support this empowering and uplifting initiative.

Donations To The Old Age Home

In collaboration with the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe, Wild Horizons contributes to the salaries of employees at the local Old Age Home. Once a year, we donate gas for their stove and host a meal for the people residing there.

School Fee Payment

Wild Horizons is a community-oriented organisation, and our dedication to the next generation’s future extends beyond conservation into the realm of school education. To this end, we pay the school fees of 67 children at eight rural schools in the region.

Clean Up Team

Once a month, Wild Horizons, together with other tourism entities in the area, embark on a litter sweep throughout the town, helping to keep Victoria Falls clean.

Home-Hosted Meals

The tourism industry is a vessel for cultural exchange, and at Wild Horizons, we celebrate the ethnic and cultural diversity of our staff and communities. We pioneered home-hosted meals, allowing our team to share their heritage with visitors. Nineteen staff members from tribes like Shona, Ndebele, Nambya, and Nyanja participate. We provide transport, water, and soft drinks, while the host family prepares a meal. This initiative offers extra income for families and enriches guests’ travel experiences by promoting appreciation of local cultures.

Rainforest Raincoat Project

This project provides jobs and income at a grassroots level. We source and donate raincoats to an association of vendors who hire them out to guests visiting the Victoria Falls rainforest. This provides an ongoing income to more than 30 vendors and their families.

Support for VFAPU

The Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit has been instrumental in reducing instances of poaching, and we applaud their momentous success. Wild Horizons sponsors three officers employed by VFAPU to assist with anti-poaching activities in and around Victoria Falls.

Support for Game Scouts

We believe that sustainability relies on the combined effort of our Victoria Falls community. The National Parks Game Scouts are invaluable in protecting our wilderness and wildlife. We provide support to the Katombora scouts in the form of food and fuel to assist in the National Parks anti-poaching efforts in Kazungula and the Matetsti areas of Zimbabwe.

Wildlife Research Projects

The seeds for long-term environmental protection are planted in the Trust’s wildlife research projects. By investigating what may cause a species to flourish or flounder, they are in a stronger position to evaluate the factors and find sustainable solutions. Their ultimate research objective is to promote a sustainable harmonic existence between humans and the wilderness. For more information about their on-going projects and plans, please visit https://vicfallswildlifetrust.org/projects/

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

The ‘Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre’ provides veterinary care to wildlife that has been injured, orphaned or abandoned due to snaring, human conflict, poisoning or vehicle-wildlife collisions. It is the goal of the Trust to release every injured animal back into the wild. One of the highlights of 2018 was the day that they successfully released Aardy the aardwolf back into his natural habitat. Aardy was temporarily paralysed after a vehicle hit him, and while the road to recovery was long, the collaborative effort between the private sector and governmental wildlife agencies ensured his successful rehabilitation.

Wildlife Veterinary Lab & Clinic

The Trust Veterinary Laboratory and Clinic is a field station from which researchers, veterinarians, and graduate students can study zoonotic diseases that are transmitted across species and boundaries. Transmission of these diseases can cause epidemic crashes of keystone wildlife species, and to prevent the ensuing socio-economic and public health catastrophes, they take samples from domestic and wild animals to understand and prohibit disease prevalence.

Community Outreach & training Program

The health of Africa’s ecosystems depends on local community support. The Trust’s ‘Community Outreach and Training’ program aims to inspire appreciation for sustainability and conservation. They work closely with communities to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, offer conservation education, and support self-sustainability projects. These include vegetable and crop growing, erecting fences to protect against wildlife, and providing machinery and transport for thatching homes. This initiative empowers local communities while promoting environmental stewardship.

The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust

Wild Horizons established the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, a non-profit entity and dedicated vehicle for promoting conservation awareness, education and the empowerment of local communities, through the sustainable use of endemic resources. The Trust is situated within the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary, adjacent to The Elephant Camp, and works in collaboration with authorities, local communities, and other stakeholders to protect the area’s indigenous fauna and flora. From humble beginnings in 2008, the Trust is now world renown for unprecedented success in research, outreach, rescue and rehabilitation.

Lodge Eco Initiatives

Organic Gardens

Our organic vegetable garden provides fresh seasonal ingredients and herbs free from pesticides and with zero food miles.

Worm Farm

Any organic waste from the kitchen is recycled by the worm farm to provide chemical free compost for the vegetable garden and tree nursery.

Solar Heating

All geysers at The Elephant Camp West are solar powered, and we have begun the process of installing solar geysers throughout The Elephant Camp Main, where the kitchen and laundry already operate on solar power. All 24 geysers at Old Drift Lodge are solar powered and our investment in renewable energy supplies has drastically reduced our carbon footprint and emission of harmful greenhouse gases.

Grey Water Use

We are committed to ensuring that any negative impact from our operations is minimised and all positive impact is maximised. In line with our minimal waste philosophy, we use grey water for irrigation in all of our lodges, notably on our indigenous tree nursery. The sewage systems in our camps are “Bio Plants”, designed by Water Africa. The “Bio Plant” uses bacteria and ozone gas extracted from the environment to treat the sewage and produce grey water, which is pumped onto natural vegetation for dispersal. By using greywater for our tree nursery, we reduce the camps need for fresh water, which benefits the broader community by reducing the demands on public water supplies. It further saves expenses on water bills, and this revenue can be channelled into other environmental initiatives, such as the instalment of solar geysers.

Biological Monitoring And Soil Erosion Control

Our operations unfold in spectacular natural environments, and we believe that we must ensure that our presence enhances the conservation status in these areas. To help us to fulfil this responsibility successfully, Wild Horizons employs the services of a qualified Environmental Officer whose sole purpose is to monitor the biology of the Wild Horizon’s Wildlife Sanctuary. Quarterly biological surveys are conducted to monitor the impact of both the habituated elephant herd and the naturally occurring wildlife on the property. Alien vegetation species are eradicated, and soil erosion is carefully managed, both within the reserve and in neighbouring communal areas.

Indigenous Tree Nursery

To rehabilitate areas previously depleted by uncontrolled wood harvesting, The Elephant Camp created an indigenous tree nursery. Only local tree species are planted from seed and transplanted once established. Sticks coated in chili oil deter wildlife from damaging saplings. According to our Environmental Officer, this method has improved tree survival and enhanced vegetation. Recently, 155 trees were planted around the Wallow, the Sanctuary, the Wildlife Trust, and the Masuwe River wetlands, including species like Faidherbia albida, Kigelia africana, and Acacia tortilis.

Waste-Free Wild Horizons

Plastic pollution is a global issue harming ecosystems and wildlife. Wild Horizons aims to lead by example in sustainable tourism by eliminating single-use plastics. We banned plastic straws in all camps, river cruises, and The Lookout Café, and eliminated plastic water bottles in all lodges. Guests receive reusable water bottles, refillable at our camps' water purification stations, significantly reducing plastic waste. We've also established recycling stations in all offices, promoting a culture of sustainability through reduced, reused, and recycled materials in all aspects of our operations.

Our People

We believe that our employees are our most valuable assets and we strive to ensure that they feel fulfilled, rewarded and valued as ambassadors of Wild Horizons. Our operations have created employment opportunities within the region, and 80.04% of our staff is from the immediate vicinity.

Our Lodges

Our lodges are designed to enhance conservation and minimize environmental impact. The Elephant Camp's recent refurbishment replaced 1600 square meters of decking with eco-friendly material made of 60% bamboo and 40% recycled plastic, recycling 400,000 plastic bottles. Bamboo, the fastest-growing grass, is highly sustainable. Similarly, Old Drift Lodge's construction used 3000 square meters of composite decking, recycling 750,000 plastic bottles. Our commitment ensures our presence in the wilderness supports and enriches the environment.

Bio Plants

The sewage systems in our camps are “Bio Plants”. The “Bio Plant” uses bacteria and ozone gas extracted from the environment to treat the sewage and produce grey water, which is pumped onto natural vegetation for dispersal.