RESPONSIBLE TOURISM POLICY - EXCLUSIVE CAMPS AND LODGES, UGANDA

Exclusive Camps and Lodges has evolved where we offer quality accommodation with a focus on nature, local fauna, flora and cultures in the area. We aim to conserve Uganda’s heritage with low impact tourism exclusive camps and lodges operating in an eco friendly manner and benefiting the local communities of the areas in which we operate as far as possible.

We ensure that we operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner and encourage our guests to also act in a responsible way with insight and understanding whilst in Uganda.

We are a registered Ugandan company adhering to international environmental conventions, local rules, regulations and taxation policies
We employ local Ugandan guides and staff within all levels and areas of our operations and actively train and encourage their development
We incorporate local community interaction / visits and tourism products within our tours as much as possible
We conduct our tours in an environmentally sensitive manner. Our tours are mainly viewing and photographing wildlife - but with as little impact on the wildlife and environment as possible.
We aim to be as efficient as possible with our use of natural resources eg solar lighting in the camps/lodges, fuel efficient vehicles, utilisation of rain water and gravity fed water systems where ever possible.

Our Lodges / camps

Our policy is to be as environmentally friendly as possible and in keeping with this our camps and lodges are small establishments catering for a maximum of 20 guests and with an ecological footprint as small as possible whilst at the same time ensuring that international standards and visitor expectations are met.

We construct from local materials, for example commercially farmed wood, with designs that do not require huge foundations and thick brick walls or use canvas tents that can be easily removed at the end of the term of occupation.
We support local industry by buying as many products manufactured within Uganda as possible when designing and building the lodge or camp – woven bed spreads, local furniture, matting, baskets and local art for décor.
We employ local Ugandan staff in our lodges and camps including in management positions. We also actively encourage their growth and advancement within the organisation often with internal training to assist in this process. Our first source of staff is always from the local communities around the area where the lodge / camp is based and only if skills required are not available do we search elsewhere.
Supplies of fresh food are done locally when ever possible. Menus are tailored to utilise the best of the fresh fruit and vegetables currently available – this is generally a seasonal thing as within Uganda there is a large range of suitable fresh produce available. Amagara vegetable project in Bwindi is one of the regular local suppliers used.
Dry goods and manufactured goods are also purchased locally with the emphasis on Ugandan products – tea, coffee, honey, flour, and sugar to name a few. We avoid using products of manufacturing companies known to not be eco friendly eg recently there was a sugar company involved in a dispute over use of primary forest land and we no longer purchase their brand of sugar.
Our power sources are predominately solar which is used for lighting and limited power supply for charging of computers and cameras. We do not generally offer facilities for hair dryers and other items needing large amounts of power.
Water heating is done with efficient kerosene burners or wood fired stoves that use shavings and off cuts from the local saw mills. No indigenous trees or supplies from within National Park areas are used.
Water supplies are rainfall and gravity fed when ever possible, but where pumps are used they are small independent ones that are linked to storage facilities where it can be efficiently monitored. Use of water is strictly controlled with “bush showers” being used as opposed to piped in water in our tented camps.
Low flush toilet systems are installed at all the camps /lodges and all the linen, towels and other washing is done by hand and sun dried rather than commercial washing machines and dryers.
Guests are encouraged to not have fresh linen / towels each and every day as an added way to also saving on water usage.
Waste disposal systems are designed and implemented in line with Ugandan environmental laws and international practices.

The above seeks to give an overview of our responsible tourism practices developed within our Uganda operations and should you have any specific questions or require further information or clarification we would be happy to assist you – please contact us.