1. We respect the local communities that we visit.
● We aim to respect the local customs and culture and abide by the laws and etiquette of each area we visit.
● We encourage our crew and customers to act in a socially responsible way.
● We provide our customers with guidelines on how to respect the environment, culture, societies and religions of the communities and areas that we visit.
● We aim not to overload the local infrastructure and ensure that our presence is appropriate to the local conditions.
● We take into account the local cultural issues when reviewing existing destinations and looking at new ones.
● We try to operate our trips in a way that encourages positive cultural exchanges.

2. We work to support the local economy.
● We use a Local Payment system that is unique to overlanding. This is a cash fund which covers everything that the group does together on the ground including accommodation, meals and included activities. This puts money directly back into the local community.
● We try to use small locally owned campsites, hotels, guest houses and homestays to provide accommodation and local businesses to provide activities, where possible, thus ensuring money is put directly back into the communities we visit.
● We aim to develop long term relationships with our local suppliers to ensure that the economic benefit is ongoing and continuous.
● We endeavour to ensure that local suppliers and operators receive a fair rate for their services and support and encourage fair employment practices.
● We take into account the local economic issues when looking at new destinations.
● On our truck trips, we source our food locally thus benefiting the local economy whilst being sensitive to the needs of the local community.

3. We endeavour to preserve and enhance the environments in which we operate.
● We endeavour to work with all relevant local bodies and authorities to help preserve or improve the environment and deliver a long-term benefit for the host community.
● Where possible we choose suppliers who have green practices in place.
● On our truck trips we will make every effort to dispose of any waste in a responsible manner and aim to leave only footprints.
● We attempt to reduce the use of single use plastic water bottles by carrying drinking water on all of our trucks and actively encourage our customers to use the water supplied. Whilst away from the truck we encourage the use of a filter water bottle.
● We encourage all of our customers not to use single use plastic bags and provide shopping bags on our trucks to purchase local produce.
● We try to run our office in a responsible manner by reducing our energy usage and recycling whenever possible.
● We recognise your need to fly to the start of the trip but thereafter by travelling overland as much as possible rather than using internal flights, thereby minimising our carbon emissions.

4. We respect human rights.
● We actively discourage the exploitation of local people.
● We aim to engage with suppliers that demonstrate a duty of care towards the people they employ.
● We aim to ensure that everyone in our supply chains are free of human trafficking and slavery and actively encourage our tour leaders to disclose any concerns they may have to us.
● We explicitly forbid any participation in or endorsement of commercial sexual activities, exploitative sexual activities or drug use on Dragoman trips, from staff or customers.
● We do not engage with suppliers that exploit children in tourism and we do not visit orphanages.

5. We aim to promote animal welfare.
● We want to help protect animals from exploitation, neglect and cruelty.
● We oppose practices that have a negative impact on animal welfare whilst at the same time respecting the local customs and methods of animal husbandry.
● We do not offer elephant riding on our adventures.
● We believe that the best place to view wildlife is in the wild whilst minimising our impact on the wildlife concerned.
● We actively discourage the buying of items made from any protected wildlife.

6. We monitor our responsible tourism policies on an ongoing basis.
● We actively seek out feedback about our responsible tourism practices and environmental impact and any customer comments are monitored and acted upon on a weekly basis.
● We attempt to integrate the ethos of responsible travel throughout our organisation.
● We review our responsible tourism policy on an annual basis to ensure that it is in tune with current needs.

7. We support local community projects.
● We recognise that tourism can bring benefits to many communities, help preserve the environments we travel through and provide some real and positive social exchanges. In addition to our responsible travel philosophy, we have actively sought some specific small-scale projects for you to visit and support.

8. We work hard to reduce our carbon emissions.
● We advise our customers to fly less and take fewer but longer holidays, thereby reducing the number of global flights. We also encourage our customers to fly direct to their destination to limit the number of takeoffs and landings required which use the most fuel.
● We aim to reduce the need for internal flights once on tour and prefer to travel in our own trucks on our overland expeditions.
● We work with local guides who do not need to be flown out to destination and flights for our crew are kept to a minimum.
● We coordinate our trips so that where possible they travel in two directions so that we minimise additional mileage.
● We work with hotels and guest houses that use renewable energy wherever possible and aim to use simple home stays, wild camp or camp sites which use less energy.
● We shop in local markets and use locally owned restaurants serving local, seasonal produce wherever possible to avoid food miles.

● Turn off taps and switches when not in use.
● Dispose of litter responsibly.
● Smokers should carry a small container to dispose of their cigarette butts.
● Reuse towels in hotels.
● Use buses and metros rather than taxis.
● Stay in rooms provided or camp and try to avoid the upgrade!
● Don't pay for drinking water on overland tours, use the purified water from the Dragoman truck.
● Eat and drink in local establishments, thus helping the local economy.
● Observe the local cultural sensitivities to avoid embarrassment or offence.
● Learn a few words in a local language.
● Always ask if it is OK before photographing people.
● Dress respectfully with an awareness of local standards. The most suitable choice is usually loose fitting clothing which covers the shoulders and the thighs.
● Help keep traditional crafts alive by shopping with traditional artisans. Bargain if that is the local practice, but be fair!
● Tipping can form the basis of the local economy and many rely solely on tips. Do some research before you leave as to the appropriate amount to tip.
● Take your own bag when shopping and say no to plastic bags.
● It can be difficult not to give money to beggars, but if a person earns more than someone who works for a living it may encourage the practice.
● When visiting national parks and nature reserves keep noise to a minimum and respect the personal space of the wildlife.
● Stick to set paths in order to preserve natural habitats and leave animals undisturbed.
● Never buy endangered species or endangered habitat products.
● Smile and be friendly! Your goodwill will usually be reciprocated and make for a more enjoyable experience.
● After returning home, think about how you can support programmes and organisations that are working to protect the welfare, culture and environment. We have over 20 projects that we assist throughout the world and visit on our tours.
● Consider your carbon footprint when booking your flights. Make it count by taking fewer holidays with flights and choose to stay longer at your destination.
● Select trips that support local communities and conserve natural and cultural heritage.

● Respect the personal space of the wildlife and remember that you are a visitor in THEIR habitat. Observe nature as it occurs naturally and not how it responds to your presence.
● Speak quietly and try not to disturb the wildlife. Do not try to attract the attention of the animals in any way including calls and whistles. Try to avoid sudden movements as this can startle the animals.
● Wild animals are unpredictable and may feel threatened if you get too close, so keep your distance.
● Do not feed wild animals as they do not need or want human food. Habituating wild animals to humans and human food can upset their diets and lead to unnaturally aggressive behaviour towards us.
● Do not touch wild animals, they do not like it and may bite you and spread infectious diseases.
● When on safari stay inside your vehicle at all times except for designated picnic, walking and camping areas.
● Take all your litter with you including food scraps and cigarette butts. Leave the area as nature intended.
● Do not leave campfires unattended and ensure cigarette butts are disposed of properly. Discarded cigarette butts can start bushfires and devastate the land, fauna and flora.
● During nighttime game viewing minimise the use of flashlights and do not shine light directly into the animals eyes. Also, do not illuminate any prey as this gives
predators an unfair advantage.
● You may be offered the option to visit wild animals that have been habituated or are in animal orphanages. Ask your tour leader or the attraction if any of the animals have been taken from the wild as this can place additional pressure on wild species. Ask if there is an active education programme at the attraction as responsible attractions will provide this. Try not to give your business to exploitative operators.
● When encountering animals that have been taken from the wild, other than in a responsible attraction, do not take photographs of the animals eg. chained up bears and monkeys, as this will only encourage the practice.
● When camping amongst wildlife keep your tent away from game trails or trees that animals may feed on or roost in. Try to keep at least 2 metres between tents to give animals space to wander through. Do not keep food or toiletries in your tent as this may attract wild animals.