The Future of Travel: Bozeman Group Returns From Conservation Safari In Zimbabwe

On a sunny afternoon in mid-May, six Bozeman residents and three fellow travelers gathered around a drill rig in the tiny rural village of Nkoba, Zimbabwe, just outside the gates of Hwange National Park. The sounds of children playing and cow bells tinkling echoed through the air as the visitors watched the drill pound deeper and deeper into the Kalahari sand, steadily tunneling down into the Earth in search of water.

The well-drilling operation, which will provide water to an impoverished community that hasn’t had a working water source in nearly two years, was a pinnacle experience on a ten-day conservation safari sponsored by Bozeman-based Moraway Adventures, a pioneering new travel company that is redefining ecotourism.

“You can’t take care of Africa’s wildlife if you don’t also take care of its people,” said Chris Moriarty, founder and CEO of Moraway Adventures. “When local communities see direct benefits from the conservation of wildlife, they help to protect that wildlife. Small donations from our guests can make big impacts on rural communities, providing water, education, jobs and other basic needs.” This means less poaching, improved health, and more opportunities for locals.

The May conservation safari not only allowed the guests to experience the typical highlights of an African safari, like getting up close to elephants, cheetahs, lions, and giraffes; it also allowed them to immerse in the local culture and make a meaningful impact by contributing funds for a new community well. The guests got the added benefit of actually visiting the project and meeting the local people who would benefit from the well, who thanked them with offerings of food, singing, dancing, and poems.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to help this community and make a difference in their lives. This trip made a lasting impression on me,” said Cathy, who participated in the safari.

Moraway Adventures is at the forefront of a new movement within travel known as regenerative tourism, a type of responsible travel that provides visitors with the means to contribute to the places they visit. A fundamental component of this is working with responsible local safari operators who also give back. In addition to funding a new water well in Nkoba village, Moraway travelers have contributed to a wide array of community development and conservation projects

across Africa, including sea turtle conservation in Kenya, women’s education in South Africa, and community rhino protection in Namibia.

As international travelers demand more responsible ways to experience the world while leaving a lighter footprint, Moraway Adventures hopes to be a part of the solution. Moriarty attributes his values of giving back to his time as a Peace Corps volunteer teacher in Africa 20 years ago.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to create amazing, once-in-a-lifetime trips for my guests that also positively contribute to community development and wildlife conservation around the world,” says Moriarty.