Our vision and approach
Asilia believes that world class travel can go hand in hand with improving livelihoods and conservation of nature. Our luxury camps and lodges are in some of the most special places on earth. Places we want to safeguard for the future. We strive to transform whole areas, from crucial fragile natural habitats with often impoverished communities into lasting conservation economies: effectively protecting wildlife whilst providing opportunities for local people to prosper.
Pioneering Tourism
Asilia’s portfolio boasts properties in the some of the most famous wildlife areas in the world. But we take special pride in pioneering tourism in areas where it had little foothold before. These areas, such as Rubondo Island,
Gorongosa National Park and the
Mara Naboisho Conservancy, offer our guest some of the most unique wildlife experiences to be had. Giving one the sense of being an explorer discovering a previously unknown place. It also allows us to make a large positive impact.
Of course, the line between ‘proven’ and pioneering’ areas is ever changing. Few people know that the
Northern Serengeti area, nowadays recognized as the best part the park has to offer, had no tourism presence whatsoever for the decade prior to Asilia launching Sayari Camp in 2005. This was after intense cooperation with Tanzania’s National Park authorities to make the area ready for high-end ecotourism and its positive impacts.
Ultimately, this pioneering approach can transform unknown areas into new Serengetis or Okavangos. Yet visiting them now, during the build up phase, is probably the most exciting and fulfilling. This is the time when you feel the mystery, the adventure and freedom – and where there is a tangible feeling of creating, of making things better. We welcome you to our vision of Africa.
Eco standards
Any lasting positive impact must ultimately begin with oneself. At Asilia our camps, lodges and logistics answer to the highest standards of eco-tourism. This means we buy locally where possible. That we are a caring employer, offering our staff opportunities to grow. It means we reduce our footprint by limiting fossil fuel and use sustainable energy sources such as the sun, recycling water and reducing waste. The remainder of our carbon footprint is offset by supporting local (re-) forestation projects.
We are proud to be the first travel company in Africa to have been awarded the highest 5 star rating from the benchmark
GIIRS-rating system and B-Corporation status. And yet, we believe that we do even more. By being creative and developing new models for travel we try to further increase benefits for nature and local people. We feel it as a great responsibility and honour: many of these areas run the risk of being exploited in unsustainable ways, but also stand the chance of becoming shining examples of travel done right.
We welcome your comments, feedback and involvement so feel free to
contact us with any questions you may have on this subject.
Our History
Founded in 2004, Asilia was created by the coming together of a few small, but highly reputed owner-run safari companies, including one of the oldest safari companies in the world. Most of the founders are still involved and over the years we have carefully cultivated the successful blend of professional business and unique bush expertise that delivers world-class safari experiences.
We are proud to have created the best operation in the Serengeti/Masai Mara ecosystem and we have used this ‘backbone’ of a leading position in Africa’s number 1 World Heritage site to pioneer responsible tourism to new areas: the wild southern area of Tarangire National Park, the remote Mara River region of Serengeti National Park, the newly formed Mara Naboisho Conservancy, Africa’s largest island National Park Rubondo Island and the new development of Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique – arguably Africa’s most inspiring national park restoration project.
Many of the original founders are still actively involved with Asilia, and they work to develop conservation areas, to train our young guides, or to guide you!