WHY TRAVEL WITH US?

At Simple Planet Travel and Tours Ltd, we advocate for responsible travel and our programmes are tailored to benefit the host community and minimise our impact on the environment. We train and employ local staff, engage local suppliers and assist in the development of sustainable local businesses. To further promote responsible travel, we have also tailored our programmes to help the United Nations address global issues and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

About the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)

The UN SDGs aim to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address global issues, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation and more. They are interconnected and they ensure we leave no one behind. The United Nations aims to achieve all 17 goals by 2030.

Supporting the UN SDGs

Simple Planet Travel and Tours Ltd community projects are catered for students and are designed to address these UN goals. Students will learn about the different UN SDGs during one of the projects while having the opportunity to help the community they are in. Having a hands-on experience will further reinforce what they have learnt. On top of that, students will get to experience another culture and, in that way, build on their cultural awareness.

Available Programmes

At our company you can choose from numerous service-learning programmes – these can also be customised to suit your school’s learning objectives. If you want to find out more about this, please do send us an email or reach out by phone to +26(0)976 290304. Each service-learning programme addresses a few UN SDGs and can include an element of physical activity, as well as time spent to help a community in need. We aim to achieve all UN SDGs through our programmes.

Promote animal-friendly travel to your students

Under the guidance of World Animal Protection, we have developed an Animal Welfare in Tourism Code of Conduct, which we are proud to support, advocating for cruelty free animal encounters and encouraging travellers to follow the 10 steps outlined below.

10 Steps to Being an Animal-Friendly Student Traveller

The best animal encounter is a wild one. View animals in their natural habitat exhibiting natural behaviours and do not initiate contact with them.

Do not ride on the back of an elephant. To ‘train’ an elephant to accept riders, they are taken from their mothers at an early age and physically and psychologically abused.

Avoid aquariums or marine parks where large mammals like dolphins or whales are kept in captivity. These environments are very unnatural and cause stress to these intelligent and far-ranging animals.

Do not purchase souvenirs made from wild animals such as fur, ivory, shells, seahorses, teeth, rhino horns and turtle shells.

Never participate in lion cub petting and lion walking experiences, many of them breed the lions for the ‘Canned Lion Hunting’ industry, to be shot in captivity.

Do not attend festivals or attractions that subject animals to cruelty for entertainment such as animal circuses, dancing bears, dog or cockerel fights, running of the bulls and any festival that causes suffering to animals.

Do not feed stray or community owned dogs and cats because it could take them away from their longer-term food source.

Before riding on the back of a horse, mule or donkey, match your size to that of the animal and ensure that your weight is evenly balanced when riding.

Only visit and support animal sanctuaries and shelters involving wild animals in captivity if the objectives of the organization are in the animals’ best interests (e.g., re-homing, rehabilitation or release into the wild).

Speak up! If you see an animal in distress, please tell your guide. Make a note of the date, time and location as well as the type and number of animals involved. Take photos and/or videos as proof. Alternatively, if you see an animal that is well looked after offer praise to the owner and tell him/her why you have chosen to give them your business.

Be a child safe travel school

Children working and living in tourist areas are especially vulnerable to physical, emotional and sexual abuse. When your school travels we encourage your students and staff to take the following actions that have been put forward by World Vision in order to help create a safer tourism environment for children.

If you are concerned about the welfare of any child, tell your tour guide immediately.

Instead of giving money directly to children who are begging or selling food or souvenirs, support their families and communities or donate to reputable children’s charities.

Treat children like you would at home. Before taking photos of children, always ask for their permission.

Never take a child anywhere without the supervision and permission of their parents or guardian.

Before visiting or volunteering with vulnerable children, research the organisation to ensure they have standards and procedures that protect children’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Please do not support ‘orphanage tourism’.

Spread the word about child safe tourism. Share this information with your friends and family while you travel and when you return home.

View World Vision’s ‘Be A Child Safe Traveller’ and visit childsafetourism.org for more information on how you can protect vulnerable children.

Our Child Protection Code of Conduct

Modelled after World Vision’s ‘Child Protection and Trafficking Best Practice’ protocol, our Child Protection Code of Conduct is in place for itineraries where adult travellers are volunteering at a school for more than 24 hours.