Increasingly people are choosing a long-haul destination for their holidays, with some African countries, in particular, becoming new tourist magnets.
Tanzania has an established reputation as a popular place for those who dream of going on safari or visiting some of the country’s prime attractions such as Dar es Salaam, Mount Kilimanjaro and the great lakes; Victoria and Tanganyika. The world famous Serengeti National Park and the Selous Game Reserve are among the most famous of their kind in the world.
Yet, with this desire to travel to far flung places comes a very modern feeling of guilt driven by the knowledge of how long flights can damage the environment. Would we not be better advised to holiday within our own country?
One imaginative charity, however, offers a splendidly angst-free way for travellers to enjoy the best of Africa whilst also helping its population.
Pack For a Purpose invites visitors to Tanzania to dedicate no more than 2.27kg of their luggage to educational and medical supplies. “That weight can mean that a visitor can bring 400 pencils or five deflated soccer balls with an inflation device or a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff and 500 plasters,” revealed Pack For a Purpose’s Chairman, Rebecca Rothney.
The process is simple. All you have to do is to visit the charity’s website, select your destination and accommodation, and the supplies that you would like to take. Then, when you arrive at your camp, you can deliver them to the camp manager before focusing on your holiday.
Daniel Draisey, General Manager of The Selous Safari Company, says: “The school supplies have benefited a large number of children here in Tanzania, as they seek an education to move forward and improve not only their own lives but also further the local community.”
Rather than have a negative impact on the country that they plan to visit, tourists now have the ability to be a force for good.
