Lodges

Living Alongside Wildlife

Across southern Africa, communities and wildlife share the same landscapes. Finding a sustainable balance between the needs of local people and the protection of wildlife is essential—and it is not always easy.

For decades, tourism operators, conservation organizations, and local communities have worked together to build relationships that recognize the importance of both people and wildlife. When communities benefit from tourism and conservation, there is greater opportunity to create a future where wildlife and people can thrive alongside one another.

This is a relationship that is personal to Marula African Adventures. Chris has spent more than 12 years traveling throughout southern Africa and has developed a deep connection to the people, wildlife, and conservation efforts of the region. Her long-standing relationship with Imvelo Safari Lodges and the Hwange area has given her an opportunity to see firsthand how responsible tourism can connect visitors with local communities while supporting conservation.

Through the lodges and safari operators we work with, tourism can contribute through local employment, community outreach, education, and development initiatives. These efforts help create meaningful connections between tourism, conservation, and the communities living alongside some of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife.

Chris’s journey began with a simple encounter at a village school in 2015, when she saw firsthand how travel could make a difference in a local community. That experience continues to shape the way Marula approaches travel today: with a belief that where you travel matters—and so does how your travel benefits the people, wildlife, and places you visit.

When you choose to travel with Marula, you are not simply experiencing Africa’s wilderness. You are becoming part of a journey rooted in meaningful relationships, responsible tourism, and a genuine commitment to the communities and conservation landscapes of southern Africa.