It's a question we get asked quite often.
What actually makes a safari ethical?
The honest answer is that we don't think there's a simple one.
The word ethical has become quite common in wildlife tourism, but it's also one of those words that's easy to use without really explaining what it means. Before talking about our own approach, we think it's worth taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture.
After all, even being inside a national park raises an important question. We're entering an animal's home because we want to experience wildlife. We're driving through their habitat, watching their behaviour and taking photographs. However respectfully we do it, that part doesn't change.
At the same time, there's another side to the story.
National parks don't exist in isolation. They protect wildlife, but they also support thousands of people living around them. Tourism creates jobs, supports local businesses and helps give these protected areas economic value. Without that value, some of these landscapes could face very different pressures in the future.
So perhaps the real question isn't whether a safari is completely ethical or completely unethical.
Perhaps it's whether we're doing everything reasonably possible to reduce our impact while making sure wildlife benefits more than it suffers from our presence.
That's the balance we try to find.
Of course, every safari operator will probably have a slightly different answer. We don't believe there's one perfect definition. But there are a few simple principles that guide almost every decision we make inside the park.
The first is giving wildlife space.
It's natural to think that getting closer means getting a better sighting. Sometimes that's true. But very often the opposite is true. Animals that don't feel pressured are far more likely to continue behaving naturally. An elephant will continue feeding. A peacock may carry on displaying. A crocodile simply lies on the riverbank, completely undisturbed. You're not just looking at the animal anymore. You're watching its natural behaviour, and for us that's usually a far more rewarding experience.
That same thinking also changes how we approach sightings.
When an exciting sighting is reported over the radio, it's quite common for vehicles to head in the same direction. That's understandable. Guests have travelled a long way, drivers want their guests to have a great day, and everyone hopes to see something memorable. But if every jeep starts racing towards the same location, the safari can quickly become more about keeping up with other vehicles than quietly exploring the national park.
We'd rather let the park reveal itself at its own pace.
Sometimes that means missing a reported sighting altogether. We know not everyone will agree with that approach, but we've found that slowing down often leads to encounters we would never have experienced if we had spent the entire day chasing reports over the radio.
The same idea applies when wildlife decides to move.
If an elephant wants to cross the road or a leopard chooses to walk along a track, we don't believe our role is to influence where it goes. Blocking an animal's path simply to extend a sighting or get a closer photograph changes its behaviour because of us. We'd much rather wait patiently or quietly move aside and let the animal decide what happens next.
Sometimes doing less is actually the better decision.
The same is true with noise.
Whenever it's appropriate, we'll switch off the engine and simply sit for a while. It's a surprisingly simple thing to do, but it changes the whole atmosphere. Without the sound of the vehicle, you begin to notice everything else. The birds calling across the reservoir. The wind moving through the trees. The alarm calls in the distance that might tell you something is happening long before you see it.
For us, those moments are just as much a part of a safari as seeing wildlife itself.
Interestingly, this is one of the reasons we chose to specialise in Yala Block 5 and Block 6.
People often ask why we don't operate in Block 1, especially since it offers a much higher chance of seeing leopards. The answer is actually quite simple.
Because leopard sightings are much less frequent in Block 5 and Block 6, far fewer safari vehicles choose to spend their day there. That naturally creates a very different atmosphere. There is generally less pressure on drivers to compete, less rushing between sightings, and often more space for wildlife simply to carry on with its day.
That doesn't mean Block 5 and Block 6 are better.
In fact, if your biggest priority is seeing a leopard, we'd probably recommend Block 1 instead. It has earned its reputation for a reason, and we'd rather tell you that honestly than pretend otherwise.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a quieter safari where the experience is less centred around chasing a single species, Block 5 and Block 6 may be a much better fit.
Of course, the guide and driver aren't the only people who shape a safari.
Guests play a part too, often without realising it.
When guests trust their guide's judgement and are comfortable keeping a little distance from wildlife, it becomes much easier to make calm decisions throughout the day. On the other hand, if every sighting becomes about getting closer or reaching the next reported animal before everyone else, even experienced drivers can begin to feel that pressure.
A safari is something shared between the people in the vehicle.
Everyone influences how that day unfolds.
This is also why we don't think it's possible to judge whether a safari is ethical based on a single moment. It's rarely one big decision that makes the difference. It's dozens of small ones. Choosing not to rush. Giving wildlife another few metres of space. Waiting instead of pushing forward. Accepting that sometimes the best decision for the animals might mean a slightly less dramatic experience for us.
It's rarely one big decision that makes the difference. It's dozens of small ones.
Planning a safari in Yala Block 5 or Block 6?
We plan everything personally and reply on WhatsApp, usually within a few hours.
Will every decision be perfect?
Probably not.
Nature is unpredictable, and every situation inside a national park is different. There will always be moments where guides have to make judgement calls, and reasonable people may not always agree on what the best decision would have been.
So are our safaris ethical?
Honestly, we don't think that's for us to decide.
All we can do is be transparent about the way we approach wildlife, explain why we make the decisions we do, and try to be consistent every time we enter the park. Whether that's enough to call a safari ethical is something we'd rather leave for our guests to decide.
If you're planning a visit to Yala and you're unsure which block or which type of safari would suit you best, you're always welcome to send us a message on WhatsApp. Tell us a little about your trip, what wildlife you're hoping to see and what kind of experience you're looking for. We'll happily give you honest advice, even if that means recommending a different block or even a different national park. We'd much rather help you choose the right safari than create expectations that nature may not be able to meet.
Thinking about a safari in Yala Block 5 or Block 6?
The best way to find out if it suits what you are looking for is to ask. We reply personally on WhatsApp, usually within a few hours.