Philanthropy Travel: Combining Passion and Conservation

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Philanthropy travel combines a passion for travel and conservation. You can make a difference. Partner with Ker & Downey and these worthy projects.

We’ve checked in with the Nets for Africa Campaign and the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show this year, but we thought it was time to update you on some of the other philanthropy projects that we care about. It’s easy to combine a passion for travel with conservation, and these projects are a great place to start if you really want to make an impact through philanthropy travel.

Bana Ba Letsatsi

Bana Ba Letsatsi in Maun, Botswana, supports over 250 at-risk orphaned children and youth with a safe place for education and counseling. It also meets basic needs like providing food, medical attention, clothes, and showers.Our Botswana Family Safari supports Bana Ba Letsatsi and makes a direct impact in the lives of hundreds of children by helping to keeps doors open, lights on, and water running. And if you want to make a bigger impact with your philanthropy travel, consider packing extra clothes and school supplies in your bag. They’ll get distributed among the children at the center.

Grootbos Foundation Future Trees

In 2006 a large fire destroyed Grootbos Forest Lodge and a large portion of the milkwood forest behind it. Ker & Downey made a commitment to assist the Grootbos Foundation Future Trees reforestation project in the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. For each client that visits South Africa, a tree is planted in a section of the Grootbos Forest that has become known as the Ker & Downey Forest.

As of August 2015, 807 trees have been planted in the Ker & Downey Forest. Grootbos collects GPS data for every tree planted, so clients can also see where their tree is located. In addition, clients staying at Grootbos Nature Reserve can also plant their own tree.

Rhinos Without Borders

The project aims to move 100 rhinos from poaching hotspots in South Africa to a safe area in Botswana, which will cost $7 million. Ker & Downey donated $70,000, about the cost to move one rhino, to the project. Earlier this year, the group safely moved the first ten rhinos to Botswana.

Cheetah Conservation Fund

This year marks the 25th year for the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). In October 2013 a fire destroyed the Visitor Center, but after a major rebuilding process, the new visitor center has officially opened. It’s a larger, modern facility that houses a Cheetah Cafe, gift shop and reception area. It is also home to the ‘First National Bank’ Educational Classrooms and Conference center and genetics lab, which allows visitors to see the research being done by CCF.

The Cheetah Conservation Fund has also scaled up its guard dog program by increasing their number of breeding dogs, which has resulted in more puppies that have been born over the last year. The CCF has seen tremendous success in their guard dog program, assisting Namibian farmers in protecting their livestock by keeping cheetahs from preying on the livestock. (This also prevents farmers from shooting the cheetah to protect their livestock, thus helping to protect the cheetah as well.) So far, the CCF has placed close to 600 dogs with local farmers and have sent 10 to Tanzania to protect livestock around Ruaha National Park in partnership with the Ruaha Carnivore Project.

For more information about getting involved with philanthropy travel or any of the philanthropy projects that Ker & Downey supports, please contact your Travel Professional. To stay up to date on all of our online content, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

*Cheetah Fund Conservation Visitor Center and guard dog image courtesy of Cheetah Conservation Fund.

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