Niala, Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Climate Emergency

2020 saw the start of a new decade and focus for us all on the realities of Climate Change and the devastating results of our impact, as a species, on the planet. At YellowWood Adventures, we want to be a driver for behavioural change through setting a good example, promoting awareness, and offering positive choices.

YellowWood Adventures Declares a Climate Emergency

We firmly believe in the benefits of Responsible Travel; an opportunity to be educated, to contribute directly to local communities, and to appreciate and be inspired by the wonders of the world and the diversity of individuals within it.

As a small company practicing Responsible and Sustainable Travel, we are proud of the choices that we have had the flexibility to make, in how we run our itineraries: Small groups, camping or small hotel accommodation, use of eco resorts, local restaurants, and including learning about local projects and charities as part of our itineraries. There is however, always more that can be done and our Climate Emergency Plan is to continue to improve and to more accurately measure our Carbon Footprint.

We fully acknowledge the fact that, in offering mouth watering itineraries in remote destinations, we are actively promoting flying as a form of transport and this is a serious area of concern for us, as it will be to our partners in the Travel Industry. Aviation currently contributes about 2% of the world’s global carbon emissions (IATA figures).

We would like to join Tourism Declares, launched in January 2020, to come together with other organisations working within the industry, to declare a climate emergency and with those partners, to make the following commitments:

  1. Develop a Climate Emergency Plan, to be adopted within 12 months.
  2. Share our Public Declaration and updates on progress against our targets each year.
  3. Cut Carbon Emissions: We accept current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) advice stating the need to cut global carbon emissions to 55% below 2017 levels by 2030 to keep the planet within 1.5 degrees of warming.
  4. To Work Together and Share Best Practice, and actively participate in the Tourism Declares community.
  5. To Advocate for Change, both within our industry and further afield.

Climate Emergency Plan

  1. To increase our awareness of best practice and strategies in the industry that may enable us to cut carbon emissions, through membership of Tourism Declares, as well as personal research and networking. To watch and learn from the larger partners in the industry, but not being afraid to forge our own way forwards, as small operators often have more flexibility to do.
  2. Trees remove CO2 from the atmosphere and reverse global warming. Global Deforestation is a serious contributor to climate change. YellowWood Adventures promotes the restoration of forests for the benefit of the climate, people and the planet overall. We commit to making a donation to WeForest for each of our clients, that will see 15 trees planted and maintained/client or YellowWood guide undertaking international flights.
  3. We recognise the need to more accurately measure our Carbon Emissions, so as to be able to transparently demonstrate and inform our clients, and our partners, as to the impact of our itineraries. We will research and implement a sustainable system of measurement in 2020.
  4. We will continue to offer itineraries with a lower carbon footprint by using smaller, locally run accommodation and eco resorts, plus camping options. We will continue to prioritise restaurants that use locally sourced food.
  5. We will continue to focus on itineraries where our legs do a lot of the travel… we will promote walking and hiking as a way of experiencing a country!
  6. We will develop and launch a European itinerary in 2020 and will actively promote over-land transport as a means of travel to that destination.
  7. With our local partners, we will in turn, analyse each of our itineraries with a focus on making improvements that will cut carbon emissions.
  8. We commit to continue to promote and practice Responsible Tourism through the style and content of our adventure itinerary and by being true to Our Ethos.
  9. We will further develop the work we have just begun on Worthwhile Travel – facilitating our clients being able to learn more about the issues facing the country they are exploring, and being able to give something back through the support of local charitable organisations and projects.
  10. We commit to reducing single use plastic on our adventures, working with Pure Hydration to introduce our clients to Reusable Water Filtration System bottles that provide healthy clean water whilst also benefitting the environment.
  11. We, and our local ‘in country’ partners will work with our clients to educate them on how they can reduce the impact of travel, through taking personal responsibility. We will facilitate an increased awareness of local environmental and socio-cultural factors.
  12. We will publish a bi-annual Newsletter that shows our progress towards the targets stated here.

“To do good, you actually have to do something.”

Yvon Chouinard, Environmentalist & Founder of Patagonia

Grading

To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.


All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.


Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.

Grade 1-3: Entry Level

You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences. 

Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m). 

You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.

Grades 4-6: Intermediate

You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times. 

You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.

Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.

Grades 7-9: Challenging

You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven. 

Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).

Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).

Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.

Get in touch

CLICK HERE to schedule a call online with YellowWood Founder Sam McManus.

Or call us directly 24/7 on:

+44 207 846 0197
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