Responsible Tourism

Responsible & Community Based Tourism

At Eclipse Travel, we envision a world where travel fosters greater understanding and respect for the planet’s diverse ecosystems and communities. We believe that travel should not only be an enriching experience for our travellers but also a force for good. Responsible tourism is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to minimising our environmental impact, supporting local communities, and preserving the unique cultures and wildlife of the destinations we visit. Join us on a journey that respects and sustains our planet.

Environment Preservation

We are committed to minimising environmental impact across all stages of travel. Our initiatives include:

• Designing itineraries that favour low-impact transportation, energy‑efficient lodges and operators with strong sustainability credentials.
• Encouraging travellers to pack light, use refillable water bottles, and minimise waste — small actions that collectively reduce the carbon footprint.
• Supporting conservation-focused organisations that protect fragile ecosystems across Africa, Latin America, the Polar regions and beyond.
• Advocating for responsible behaviour in remote wilderness environments, including staying on designated paths, following Leave No Trace principles and respecting restricted zones.

Community & Local Economy Support

We believe tourism should create lasting benefits for the communities that welcome us, ensuring every journey contributes to a brighter future.

• We prioritise locally owned lodges, community‑run experiences and ethical suppliers, helping to keep tourism revenue within host communities.
• We encourage authentic cultural interactions that respect local customs, traditions and ways of life.
• We support long-term development projects that focus on education, poverty alleviation and financial independence.
• We ensure our on‑ground partners follow fair labour practices and provide safe, inclusive work environments.

Wildlife Conservation Efforts

The protection of wildlife is essential to responsible travel and a top priority for us.

• We promote wildlife experiences that adhere to strict ethical guidelines — including maintaining appropriate viewing distances, limiting visitor numbers and ensuring animals are never baited, chased, touched or distressed.
• We partner with organisations that protect endangered species, restore habitats and combat poaching.
• We avoid and discourage all activities that involve the exploitation of wildlife for entertainment.
• Eclipse Travel is a proud member of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA). IGTOA and its members are actively working to preserve and protect the Galapagos by promoting responsible, well-regulated, low impact Galapagos Islands travel and by supporting critical conservation initiatives and scientific research there.

Eclipse Travel Animal Welfare Policy

We are committed to ensuring that no animal is harmed, exploited or mistreated as a result of the travel experiences we offer. Our policy is based on internationally recognised best practice, adapted for the destinations we operate in. For our Africa trips, we follow the guidelines set out in the SATSA Human–Animal Interactions Framework, which provides an ethical, Africa-specific approach to evaluating wildlife experiences.

Our Key Animal Welfare Commitments

• No direct interaction with wild animals. We do not offer or promote activities that include touching, riding, walking with or posing for photos with wildlife.
  • In Africa, we do not support any activity involving direct interaction with predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, or other carnivores. This includes cub-petting, walking with predators, photographic interactions, or so‑called “voluntourism” programs.
• Ethical sanctuaries only. Any sanctuary, rescue centre or rehabilitation project we work with must prioritise animal welfare, avoid breeding for commercial purposes and not permit close-contact experiences.
• No participation in animal entertainment. We do not support any attraction that uses animals for performances, tricks or circus-style behaviour.
• Responsible wildlife viewing standards. All wildlife encounters must follow strict guidelines, including maintaining safe distances, limiting vehicle numbers and avoiding any disturbance to natural behaviour.
• Support for conservation-led programs. We collaborate with partners that contribute meaningfully to species protection, habitat restoration and anti-poaching efforts.
• Continuous review and improvement. We regularly review our operators, itineraries and experiences to ensure industry-leading welfare standards are upheld.

Charity Support

At Eclipse Travel, we believe responsible tourism extends beyond the journeys we create – it includes giving back to the places, people and ecosystems that make travel so extraordinary. Our charitable focus centres on two core causes:

• Poverty Alleviation – We support organisations that empower communities through education, entrepreneurship, financial independence and long‑term development. These initiatives help create resilient local economies and ensure tourism benefits flow meaningfully to the people who need them most.
• Conservation & Environmental Protection – We partner with charities dedicated to safeguarding fragile ecosystems, protecting endangered species, advancing scientific research and conserving some of the world’s most biodiverse regions.

We are proud to support the 12 exceptional charities below that align with these values. Each month we feature a Charity of the Month, donating a share of our proceeds from that month to help fund their critical work. Keep an eye on our monthly newsletter for which organisation we are spotlighting that month! We encourage you to read about their stellar initiatives and contribute wherever you can.