Spend a day in the life of a slum dweller in Mumbai or a week on the frontline of wildlife protection in Kenya.
We love the ethos behind Reality Tours & Travel, a Delhi and Mumbai tour company that promises responsible, authentic experiences and which puts 80 per cent of its profits back into local development projects via its own NGO, Reality Gives.
Among the company's offerings are its Slum Tours of Dharavi, Mumbai, which promise to open up opportunities for the local people. Guides from underprivileged areas host the tours, guests are invited to have lunch with a local family and encouraged to donate items such as school supplies, English dictionaries and encyclopedias, and technology such as mobiles, tablets and laptops. Taking photographs is not permitted.
Eco-tourism updates
bull; Sydney's Opera House is now carbon neutral, having met its target to reduce emissions five years ahead of schedule. The iconic venue has made efficiencies in the way it manages its energy and waste, and lit its sails green to celebrate the achievement.
sydneyoperahouse.com/sustainability
bull; As of January 1, next year, California and Jamaica will be plastic-free when it comes to straws in all restaurants (California) and styrofoam, single-use plastic bags and straws (Jamaica).
bull; The Mexican municipality of Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula will become the country's sustainable tourism development zone by October 15 due to "high but disorderly growth and inadequate services". The move aims to stop unsustainable tourism growth and make sure the local environment, communities and values are respected.
Into the wild
Intrepid Travel has launched a trip to give guests a close-up look at the work of African rangers in a bid to raise awareness of the dangers they face and the important work they do. The eight-day Wildlife Rangers Expedition in Kenya takes travellers on foot patrols and game drives in the area between the Amboseli, Chyulu Hills and Kilimanjaro national parks. The expedition is being run in partnership with the non-profit Thin Green Line Foundation, which helps look after those on the conservation frontline. A couple of highlights include a visit to Chyulu Hills' rhino sector, which is home to just eight wild black rhino, and some time at the ranger training academy. Prices start from $4485pp excluding flights, and start from mid-July 2019.
