Flatdogs Camp is the first tourism business awarded Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) Certification in Zambia.
Positioned on the banks of the Luangwa River, Flatdogs Camp offers a gateway to exploring Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park and takes its responsibility for both conservation and community in this unique ecosystem seriously, according to FTT General Manager, Lisa Scriven.
She explained: “From supporting Conservation South Luangwa and entering into an extended conservation agreement with the local Chief, through to grey water recycling, minimising waste, significant investment into a solar energy installation, and careful consideration of the most sustainable approach to building.”
Scriven added that Flatdogs’ commitment didn’t stop at the camp's boundaries. In addition to offering regular game drives to local schoolchildren so that they can experience the wildlife that travellers come to see, Flatdogs Camp addresses the local challenge of forest clearing for firewood and charcoal by engaging local schools in tree planting for a long-term reforestation solution, as well as making 80% more efficient cooking stoves to reduce the fuelwood demand.
According to her, Flatdogs Camp also helped to establish Project Luangwa in 2010, providing educational and gender support to the communities in and around Mfuwe. Project Luangwa’s programmes include support for women’s rights and independence, expansion of the infrastructure of the local school, and sponsorship of school fees for underprivileged children.
Extensive financial and in-kind support is also provided to Chiyembekezo Preschool, including uniforms and teacher salaries, while local farmers are supported to protect their crops from wildlife, and regular procurement of fresh local produce is consciously managed to maximise economic benefits without distorting local market dynamics such that prices inflate to beyond the reach of local people.
“Businesses like Flatdogs Camp just get it. They understand that the complexity of doing business in remote areas puts them in a unique position to find solutions that make sense for their business and the long-term benefit of the people living alongside them. These aren’t always the easiest options, nor the quickest to implement, but they are always the ones with the greatest chance of sustained success.”
Jess Salmon, one of the owners of Flatdogs Camp, said: “We could not be happier to become part of the FTT family. We hope this certification will lead to more Zambian operators following our lead and working together to protect this beautiful country and the wonderful people here.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Fair Trade Tourism is a not-for-profit company that provides a sustainability management framework, technical support, networking platform, and certification to enable the tourism sector to operate with FTT’s six principles embedded in day-to-day operations – fair wages and working conditions, fair purchasing and operations, equitable distribution of benefits, and respect for human rights, culture, and the environment.
