Green Safaris’ “Wings and Wheels” Programme Turns Travel Emissions into Community-Led Climate Action
Wings and Wheels: How a Safari Operator is Turning Guest Transfers into Climate Action
In 2023, Green Safaris launched Wings and Wheels, a carbon offset programme that transforms every guest transfer by air or road into a direct investment in community-based climate solutions. This year, as Green Safaris celebrates its 10th anniversary, the programme stands as one of the most tangible expressions of a decade-long commitment to responsible, regenerative tourism.
Every year, travel between Green Safaris’ remote lodges across Zambia and Malawi generates an estimated 400 metric tons of CO₂. Rather than pass this burden on to guests or the environment, Green Safaris fully offsets it through its nonprofit partner, the Green Safaris Conservation Foundation (GSCF).
The foundation does this by distributing locally built, fuel-efficient cookstoves to families in the Mponda Seniority of the Mulendema Chiefdom, bordering Kafue National Park. Each stove reduces wood consumption by two-thirds, improves indoor air quality and cuts household emissions by 2.28 metric tons of CO₂ per year; that’s enough to offset every ton produced by the Wings and Wheels programme.
What is Wings and Wheels?
Wings and Wheels is more than just a carbon offset. It’s an integrated offering: guests staying at Green Safaris lodges receive complimentary road or air transfers as part of their journey. Behind the scenes, every kilometre travelled is tracked, measured and offset by GSCF’s clean energy initiative.
The result is a seamless experience for the guest and a meaningful impact for the communities that live alongside the ecosystems that Green Safaris helps protect.
“Wings and Wheels represents what we believe travel should be: a force for good. Ten years in, the measure of that belief is what’s been built on the ground: communities more resilient, ecosystems more protected, and a programme that has now been recognised at the WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards two years running. It’s not just about offsetting emissions; it’s about rethinking the role tourism plays in the places we love.”
— Lauren Summers, Marketing Director, Green Safaris
Green Safaris and GSCF: A Shared Mission
The Green Safaris Conservation Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Green Safaris, created to drive long-term conservation and community development in the regions where the lodges operate.
Green Safaris funds the foundation through a portion of its tourism revenue, along with support from individual donors, many of whom are past guests inspired to give back. The two organisations work hand in hand to ensure every safari booked also supports real, measurable environmental and social progress.
Climate Action With Local Impact
So far, the programme has delivered:
- 175 clean cookstoves distributed
- Over 400 tons of CO₂ offset annually
- 1,000 people are benefiting from improved air quality
- 405 tons of wood are saved every year
- Improved health and reduced time spent collecting firewood, particularly for women and children
The stoves are built using materials sourced locally and designed in collaboration with the communities who use them. They are easy to maintain and built to last, ensuring long-term benefits without ongoing dependency.
A More Responsible Safari Experience
Wings and Wheels is one part of a larger commitment to responsible travel. Other initiatives include:
- Silent Safaris, Africa’s first electric game drive experience
- 80 per cent solar-powered lodges
- 22,000+ indigenous trees planted annually through reforestation efforts
- 160+ students reached by environmental education programmes in 2024
- Regenerative agriculture projects that boost food security and support local livelihoods
Wings and Wheels has now been recognised at the WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards two years running: in 2025 in the Climate Change category, and in 2026 as One to Watch. For Green Safaris, marking a decade of operation with back-to-back international recognition is a reflection of what the team has built on the ground — not just the programme, but the relationships, communities, and ecosystems behind it.
Press Contact
Lauren Summers
Marketing Director, Green Safaris
