In 2023, Flatdogs Camp, a well loved safari lodge nestled along the Luangwa River at the edge of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, made history. It became the first tourism business in Zambia to achieve Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) certification – a distinction that represents far more than just a logo on the wall.
This milestone marks the culmination of years of thoughtful reflection, operational reform, and community engagement. It’s a story that reveals what it truly takes to align hospitality with fairness, sustainability, and integrity.
Why Fair Trade Tourism?
For Flatdogs Camp, the decision to pursue certification came from a deep belief that tourism must work for people as much as it does for profit.
“We wanted to make this premier Zambian safari destination accessible to like-minded souls while caring for the future of the wildlife, the habitat, and the community of people who live here,” the Flatdogs team shared.
Operating in one of Africa’s most pristine wildernesses means operating with great responsibility. The Fair Trade Tourism framework offered Flatdogs a way to formalize that commitment by covering everything from fair wages and ethical supply chains to environmental stewardship and community partnerships.
Turning Commitment into Action: The Certification Journey
Achieving certification wasn’t an overnight victory. Over nearly two years, Flatdogs Camp underwent an intensive process of training, audits, and operational change.
1. Baseline Assessment & Reflection
With guidance from sustainability experts and support from partners like the
Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI), Flatdogs began by examining every corner of its operation:
- Are staff fairly paid and protected?
- How sustainable are our supply chains?
- Are our community relationships respectful and mutually beneficial?
- Is our environmental impact properly managed?
- This deep audit laid the groundwork for transformation.
2. Implementing Change
Once the baseline was set, the camp rolled out tangible upgrades and initiatives:
- Transitioned to 80% solar energy, reducing dependence on diesel generators and the strained national grid.
- Introduced greywater recycling and waste minimisation systems.
- Supported the use of efficient cooking stoves for communities to reduce pressure on local forests.
- Launched tree-planting projects in nearby schools and villages.
- Improved local sourcing of food and supplies, while protecting market stability.
- Strengthened community engagement through a fairer way to safari with education programmes, sponsorships, and cultural partnerships.
3. Verification & Certification
Fair Trade Tourism certification involves meeting 174 criteria — from staff welfare to biodiversity protection. Flatdogs successfully met all mandatory standards and 75% of the additional indicators, earning the coveted certification and becoming a trailblazer for Zambia’s tourism sector.
4. Continuous Improvement
Certification is not the end. Every three years, Flatdogs must demonstrate continued progress, ensuring that sustainability remains a living practice, not a static achievement.
What This Means for Conservation and Community
Fair Trade Tourism certification recognizes how Flatdogs integrates environmental and social responsibility into every part of its DNA:
For the environment: cleaner energy, forest conservation, and waste reduction.
For the community: local jobs, education support, and cultural respect.
For guests: a transparent, ethical travel experience that contributes to real change.
This holistic balance of conservation and community has always been at the heart of Flatdogs, and now it’s globally recognized.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While the milestone is worth celebrating, maintaining it brings its own tests:
- Sustaining high standards in a remote environment where resources are limited.
- Continuing to educate guests about what Fair Trade Tourism means, beyond eco-buzzwords.
- Inspiring other Zambian lodges to embark on similar journeys.
Flatdogs’ leadership hopes that their success will spark a broader shift in Zambia’s tourism landscape – towards practices that value people, place, and planet equally.
A Model for the Future of Tourism
Flatdogs Camp’s Fair Trade Tourism certification proves that luxury and responsibility can coexist beautifully. It’s a living example of how tourism can empower rather than exploit – protecting the wild while uplifting the people who call it home
For travellers, staying at Flatdogs now means more than enjoying Zambia’s stunning wildlife; it means being part of a movement that redefines what it means to travel well.
