Humane Standards for Wildlife Tourism

Not all wildlife tourism operations are equal. Some tour operators may encourage behaviors that compromise the health and well-being of animals, and without independent oversight there is no way for travelers to distinguish responsible operators from harmful ones.

The Global Humane Certified™ Ecotourism program gives travelers confidence that a certified destination prioritizes animal welfare, habitat protection and responsible visitor conduct.

Operations apply to the program and undergo an independent, on-site audit. Auditors assess compliance with comprehensive welfare criteria developed by a Scientific Advisory Committee of animal welfare experts who specialize in the relationship between tourism and wildlife.

Certified partners must demonstrate humane responsibility toward all animal life their operations may encounter, from marine wildlife on boat tours to land animals at safari lodges and conservation reserves.

The program certifies a range of wildlife-based tourism experiences, including safari lodges, wildlife reserves, marine eco-tour operators and conservation-focused hotels.

Certified partners include properties in Southern Africa, marine eco-cruises in Port Elizabeth and conservation-focused lodges. Certified operations safeguard more than one million acres of land and 1,200 square miles of water in the Eastern Cape of Africa.

The ecotourism certification is operated by Global Humane Society, the international arm of American Humane Society. One of Global Humane Society’s key programs, the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa, supports rewilding, anti-poaching and habitat restoration across five million acres of conservation landscapes.