Responsible Travel: Inspiring Community Connections Off the Tourist Trail

While it may be a famous landmark or attraction that inspires your holiday, we know that it’s often the local encounters and meaningful connections that make a trip truly memorable.

So we want to highlight some of those memorable experiences that take you off the tourist trail and inspire connections with the community.

Through local guides, community groups and hands-on volunteer experiences, travel can play a major role in connecting communities, building empathy and promoting sustainability.

Responsible Travel at One Horizon in Kenya

What does a day out with Kenyan grandmas entail?

Over the course of the day at One Horizon, an organisation that promotes sustainable tourism and supports social causes, you’ll meet inspiring Kenyan women who are working their way out of poverty to gift a brighter future to their orphaned grandchildren. Share stories and laughter as you learn about their fascinating lives and how a simple gift of one piglet or 25 chickens will help one of these grandmothers start her own farm to generate income to support her family.

Get your hands dirty helping out on the farm, then sit down to enjoy a delicious Kenyan lunch together and get to know more about life in rural Kenya. This is a rare chance to really connect with people in a meaningful way, and make a direct positive impact on someone’s life. It will certainly be a day to remember!

“Out of Africa” Experience with Florian Keller

Enjoy a sundowner with Hayes & Jarvis Co-Founder Florian Keller at his home in Nairobi, Kenya.

Not only will you enjoy spectacular views of the Ngong Hills as the sun sets, but the home also has a connection to Hollywood, as it served as the backdrop to the movie “Out of Africa”.

Listen as Florian recounts tales around the fireplace where Meryl Streep used to tell stories to Robert Redford. It’s a truly unique experience only available to Hayes & Jarvis guests and it gives you a glimpse of the place that captured the imagination of countless people.

Trust City Walk in Delhi, India

See India’s biggest city from a new perspective on this unique walking tour through the heart of Delhi. The Salaam Baalak Trust City Walk is helmed by adolescents who were formally street or working children and are now trained tour guides who will show you the world through their eyes.

This incredible experienceempowers adults who were formerly disenfranchised and gives them an opportunity to earn an income and learn a new skill, while guests get the opportunity to learn more about the great work the Salaam Baalak Trust does for street children.

Africa Amini Maasai Lodge in Tanzania

In the foothills of Kilimanjaro near the Ngabobo village in Tanzania, Africa Amini Maasai Lodge was built to empower the local community and generate income for social, educational, conservation and medical initiatives. It is staffed entirely by the Maasai people and guests at the lodge are encouraged to get involved in projects, visit the local community and learn more about the traditions, customs and everyday lives of the Maasai people.

With just seven bungalows designed as traditional Maasai Boma houses, complete with all the modern amenities, you can unwind and enjoy the slow pace of life here as you bask in panoramic views of the landscape.

Responsible travel with Hayes & Jarvis

At Hayes & Jarvis, we love taking you beyond the tourist hotspots to ensure you have a truly memorable and inspiring trip. Chat with us about your dream destination and we’ll show you ways to connect with the local people and travel responsibly. 

Read more about what we are doing to promote sustainable tourism!