NatureSmart Expeditions
NatureSmart Expeditions is a community-based tourism enterprise focused on tourism value-addition. It facilitates visitors to make their visits have more environmental, social and economic impacts in the host community through carbon footprint neutralization; volunteer tourism placements; a conservation museum; and eco-accommodation.
These activities are complemented with tourism advocacy and micro-delivery. Community members are active participants in the enterprise; the enterprise raises awareness of the value of the local ecosystem and cultural heritage to foster engagement and participation in community-based conservation.
- Raising awareness on the importance of environmental conservation.
- Promoting responsible, low-carbon and ecologically friendly tourism.
- Promoting sustainable agriculture.
- Contributing to social cohesion of the community through working together.
- Harnessing the Mabamba wetlands as a community resource for common good.
- Providing employment opportunities to residents as tour guides.
- Building new markets for agricultural produce by connecting suppliers, retailers and tourists.
Partners
Nature Palace Foundation launched NatureSmart under an eco-tourism project and is the enterprise's parent organisation.
Buganda Kingdom collaborates with NatureSmart on promoting and conserving cultural heritage and local ecosystems.
The Mabamba Wetland Ecotourism Association supports NatureSmart by offering capacity-building for tour guides.