The Tour Operators Association for Mana Pools National Park has agreed on a voluntary Code of Ethics to ensure that all tourism operations are carried out in a responsible manner, to the highest ethical and environmental standards, and have the long-term future of the Zambezi River's magnificent wildlife and wilderness at heart.
Wild Zambezi encourages agents, clients and visitors to the Zambezi River at Mana Pools to ask their chosen operators about their ethical and environmental responsibility through commitment to the principles of this Code of Ethics.
Tourism operators are also encouraged to display their signed copies of this Code in their camps for the benefit of their clients.
CODE OF ETHICS FOR TOUR OPERATORS IN MANA POOLS
All tour operators in Mana Pools are required to abide by following:
1. NATIONAL PARKS AUTHORITY RULES
Operate under the rules and regulations as imposed by the Authority.
2. LICENCES
Ensure National Park permits are paid and current
Ensure Zimbabwe Tourism Authority licences are current
All Guides must hold a Professional Guide or Learner Guide Licence
3. BOOKINGS OF OPERATORS SITES
No block bookings of operators' sites to be made
Book operators' sites for a maximum of 7 nights per camp.
Operators' sites for use with paying guests on a safari only
Inform other Tour Operators well in advance if not able to utilize the booked site
4. CANOEING
Use allocated launch days
Collaborate with other canoe operators if require another launch day
Ensure night sites and other stopping points are clean and tidy
Use spade to bury excrement and burn all toilet paper
5. STAFF
Ensure staff are well trained to leave no litter or make unnecessary noise
Ensure drivers stick to speed limits at all times
6. CHITAKE SPRINGS
Be discreet when walking
Use the tour operators' "overflow site" only when the operators' site is double booked
No night driving
No use of spotlights at night if are people in adjacent camp
No driving in the river bed
7. CAMP SITES
Use designated National Park sites only
Remove all sign of occupation after vacating site
8. FIRES
Limit use of fires where possible, use gas
Do not collect firewood, obtain from National Parks
Bury all ash and remove all trace of fires when vacate camp site
Do not leave fires unattended
9. TOILETS & WASTE WATER
Use "long-drop" toilets in designated sites
Alternatively ensure own long-drop toilets are deep and covered when vacate site
On canoe safaris bury all excrement and burn toilet paper
Ensure toilet sites or waste water (kitchen or showers) do not contaminate water sources
Use chemical toilets as preference to "long-drops"
10. DRIVING
Observe speed limits in the National Park
No off road driving permitted in the National Park
Give all animals right of way
11. WILD ANIMALS
Respect all wild animals
Do NOT feed any animals at any time
Do not interfere with nature's course
12. ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
Leave camp sites as you would like to find them
Do not collect plants, bones, pottery or any artifact
Do not cut or damage any trees or plant
13. LITTER
Take out what you take in
Secure rubbish bags to avoid scavengers when in camp
Burn all combustible litter where appropriate
Make use of Mana Pools incinerator if possible
14. NOISE
Respect the wild and keep all noise to a minimum
No radios, music, vehicle horns
No use of generators, unless minimized for noise and used when clients are out of camp
15. DISPUTES
Any dispute between members to be put in writing to the Chairman of the Tour Operators Association
Resolution to any dispute will be by a two-third majority vote by the members
Arbitration to be by the Parks & Wildlife Authority where necessary
This Code of Ethics was compiled by Sunpath Safaris in collaboration with the Tour Operators Association for Mana Pools.