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Tanzania not only has it all ' it has it with style - a uniquely African style. Tanzania is a full on assault on all your senses; Tanzania is an adventure. Responsible tourism should be an obligation for everyone including the humble tourist. Whilst you are on safari and in the towns and villages you can impact in a negative or positive way ' your safari will make an impact it is a question of what kind of impact. Tourism and Tourists have a responsibility to the environment and just as important to the people whose country you visit.

It is possible and in fact should be the case that Responsible Tourism requires you to simply relax and enjoy your safari. You don't actually have to do anything while on your safari. So what can a responsible tourist do to make the difference...?

A small percentage of the money you part with and hand over to a tour operator should be used help the communities in Tanzania; the communities that the success of your safari rests upon. Take time when booking a safari to make sure the companies you use are genuinely helping the people and the places you are visiting. Some play lip service to helping the community, some simply lie and others help individuals. Responsible tourism should help the whole community.

Charities are increasingly looking to become self finding, this means becoming leaner and becoming more responsible, they must become a business. Some charities and businesses such as Afriko Club, Naipenda Safaris and maybe Hoopoe for example, are three charities or businesses that use tourism to fund community projects in a responsible way. Funds raised by tourism go toward building schools, eco friendly lodges, clinics and caring for young children who would otherwise be left to fend for themselves.

Whilst on safari I encourage you to take an hour or two, even a day or two if you have time and are just slightly interested in responsible tourism and to village life of Tanzania. You will be richly rewarded and your safari will gain a deeper, a more lasting memories.

Maybe visit a Community Initiatives and spend time to see what is being achieved. I do not recommend the artificial over-orchestrated 'cultural addition'. A genuine experience of village life either in the peripheries of town or in the Tanzanian Bush is both easy to arrange and encouraged. If not by your tour operator a good safari driver/guide will organize this for you. If you are not interested do not worry just use a safari company that will help a Tanzanian Community and sit back and enjoy your safari and know you are making a difference.

Try to choose a company whose profits will remain in Tanzania - not a South African company, not an American or European company - use a Tanzanian Company. The indigenous safari operators in Tanzania are more than 80 percent of the licensed tour companies in the country, their figures in tourism arrivals add up to less than 20 percent of all the tourists visiting Tanzania.

Many foreign travel agents use ground operators based in Tanzania - ask when you book a safari which ground operator will be used and check out the web site for any signs that they are involved in Responsible Tourism and that they are Tanzania owned. If the profits remain in Tanzania somehow the communities as a whole will benefit.

I encourage you to come to Tanzania and explore, the culture which is just as rich and exciting as the scenery and dramatic wildlife - Safari means 'journey' in Swahili - let your safari be a journey to discover a different culture and to discover more about yourself. Make difference when you visit Tanzania and take care to use a company that is committed to building a stronger community.