By Rama Gaind.
The ultimate conservation experience for those captivated by Africa’s most majestic creatures and fascinated by Namibia’s nomadic cultures.
The time is right for everyone to contribute to being a ‘sustainable traveller’. The idea of “being green” has trickled through to all of us, and it’s time we all take a serious stand on the issue.
Sustainable travel should minimise the negative impacts of tourism and ideally be beneficial to the area in which it takes place, without harming natural and cultural environments. You now have the chance to leave the world a better place.
Being a sustainable traveller means you are focused on making a positive impact when you travel through a local community, the surroundings you are exploring, as well as, economically supporting the region where you travel. It’s all about minimising your ecological and cultural footprint.
Sydney-based boutique tour operator Crooked Compass is certainly contributing substantially to the cause. It empowers its travellers to change the world, locally and globally, achieving transformative outcomes for themselves and the local communities and initiatives in which they participate.
Founded by globetrotter Lisa Pagotto, Crooked Compass was launched in May 2014.
It aims to uncover the world’s best-kept secrets through small group tours and customised itineraries. It was created to inspire, educate and encourage travellers to ‘understand responsible tourism by providing culturally immersive experiences, supporting local communities and projects. The travellers see their destination through the eyes of a local, uncovering the side of a destination they didn’t know existed’.
Special tours
On the Remarkable Rwanda tour, you’ll be immersed in the daily lives of Rwandans, trying your hand at sisal basket weaving or shopping for ingredients at colourful markets before learning to cook in a local’s home.
In fact, two of its 2019 African tours – ‘Raw Namibia’ and ‘Remarkable Rwanda’ – are designed with sustainability and authenticity in mind. What’s important is you can ‘tailor-make this journey and make it yours’.
Cooking with Rwandan villagers, searching for berries and honey with the Ju’hoan tribe, bonding with baby baboons, and wildlife telemetry tracking are some of the experiences featured this year in Crooked Compass’ signature African tours.
The tour operator specialises in authentic cultural travel with conservation and sustainability at its core, while keeping comfort in mind with predominately ‘luxury lodge’ accommodation.
According Lisa Pagotto, the 10-night ‘Remarkable Rwanda’ (female-only) and 11-night ‘Raw Namibia’ journeys have proven to be life-altering experiences for Crooked Compass travellers.
“Our travellers have the opportunity to travel deeper and uncover the side of a destination they didn’t know existed, while supporting communities and projects they visit,” Lisa said. “They naturally become our ambassadors as their experiences are all they can talk about once they return to ‘normal’ life.”
Leading entrepreneur and Red Balloon founder Naomi Simson is an advocate for Crooked Compass’ products and ethos. She travelled with the company in 2018 on the Reindeer Tribes of Mongolia tour.
“It’s now a few months since I returned from my trip and on so many levels this was a trip of a lifetime,” Naomi said. “I’m not sure if it was just the trip or the special friendship of discovery with my other eight fellow travellers. For all of us it was the first time we had selected an ‘organised’ expedition.”
Raw Namibia
Dates: 8-19 September 2019
Visit Akagera National Park in Rwanda followed by a game drive for the chance to see giraffes, water buffalo, waterbuck, baboons and zebras.
This tour is ideal for anyone with a sense of adventure and a moderate level of fitness, nature lovers, conservationists, animal lovers, and aspiring and professional photographers.
This journey will leave an indelible impression on all travellers. It’s the ultimate conservation experience for those captivated by Africa’s most majestic creatures and are fascinated by Namibia’s nomadic cultures. Cat lovers will rejoice on this tour as they contribute to the preservation efforts for cheetahs and leopards, while being educated and enlightened on their place in the ecosystem. At the Global Leopard Project, you’ll have the opportunity to head out to try to locate one of these magnificent creatures; you may even find yourself downloading data from their GPS collars.
Visit the vast, remote Khaudom National Park and see elephants, giraffes, antelopes, lions and spotted hyenas. In the Erindi Private Game Reserve, travellers can add rhinos and wild dogs to the list – the latter being one of the most endangered species in the world – then spend the afternoon relaxing by a busy waterhole.
Participants will have the option of ‘telemetry tracking’ with a qualified guide, where they’ll observe tagged animals on the ultimate game drive. Walk with tamed caracal cats and be captivated when you get up close and personal with beautiful baby baboons.
Visit Nhoma Safari Camp and participate in daily activities such as traditional games, while enjoying the raw landscape and connecting with nature. Your stay in the camp allows the community to generate income, which in turn buys food and supplies not provided by the surrounding environment.
Spend time with the Ju’hoan tribe and learn about traditional bush medicines, rope making and survival techniques that have been handed down through generations. Cost for this tour is $7,877 per person, twin-share.
Remarkable Rwanda
Dates: 8-18 October 2019
Cat lovers will rejoice on this tour as they contribute to the preservation efforts for cheetahs and leopards, while being educated and enlightened on their place in the ecosystem.
This itinerary is ideal for women-only with a moderate level of fitness, animal lovers and those with an interest in other cultures, conservation and women’s rights.
This women-only tour is one of Crooked Compass’ most inspiring and memorable itineraries, not just for its unique wildlife experiences but because of Rwanda’s remarkable story in resilience and re-building.
Driven by strong female leadership, Rwanda has evolved from ruin to being one of the most progressive countries in East Africa – it has the greatest female representation in national parliament in the world.
On the Remarkable Rwanda tour, you’ll be immersed in the daily lives of Rwandans, trying your hand at sisal basket weaving or shopping for ingredients at colourful markets before learning to cook in a local’s home. Choose from village activities such as traditional construction, cow-dung art, banana juice making, and candle dipping and hive making.
Learn from the inspiring women at co-ops and social enterprises, observing sustainable farming practices and creating local produce such as organic cheese. Visit the Faith Foundation, which has pioneered a sponsorship initiative for children to pursue education and create their own future. Be challenged and inspired by the Gisozi and Ntarama Genocide memorial sites.
See the rare and magnificent mountain gorillas including a behind-the-scenes interaction with Dian Fossey’s Gorilla Doctors and a three-to-five-hour trek. Embark on a boat safari of Lake Ihema and spot the hippos of Akagera, crocodiles and many of the 423 bird species found in the park, followed by a game drive for the chance to see giraffes, water buffalo, waterbuck, baboons and zebras. On top of all this, take a chimpanzee trek to see these playful animals in their natural habitat.
This tour costs $13,427 per person, twin-share.
DETAILS BOX
Crooked Compass
T: 1300 855 790
