Discover Africa. Travel with confidence.Questions? info@trybookafrica.com
Legal & Policies

Wildlife & Animal Welfare Policy

Standards for wildlife and animal welfare on the platform, covering wildlife interactions, photography, feeding and handling, captive wildlife, wildlife trade and reporting.

Wildlife & Animal Welfare Policy

← All policiesDownload (.docx)

1. PURPOSE

TryBookAfrica promotes responsible wildlife tourism and experiences that respect animal welfare, biodiversity and conservation.

This Policy is particularly important for safari, wildlife, game-reserve, national-park and animal-interaction Suppliers.

Suppliers must comply with applicable:

  • national legislation;

  • provincial legislation;

  • Municipal By-Laws

  • protected-area rules;

  • conservation requirements;

  • permit requirements;

  • wildlife regulations; and

  • animal-welfare requirements.

Certain restricted activities involving threatened or protected species may require permits or registration under South Africa's biodiversity framework.

3. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

TryBookAfrica does not support tourism activities involving:

  • illegal wildlife trade;

  • poaching;

  • trafficking;

  • unlawful possession of protected species;

  • illegal hunting;

  • deliberate cruelty;

  • abuse;

  • unlawful breeding;

  • illegal capture;

  • unlawful exploitation of wildlife; or

  • activities designed to encourage harmful human-animal interaction.

4. WILDLIFE INTERACTIONS

Suppliers should design wildlife experiences to minimise:

  • stress;

  • disturbance;

  • unnatural feeding;

  • harmful handling;

  • habitat degradation; and

  • unsafe proximity.

Wild animals should not be treated merely as entertainment.

5. BIG FIVE AND SAFARI EXPERIENCES

For safari listings, Suppliers should provide accurate information regarding:

  • game-drive conditions;

  • conservation area;

  • wildlife expectations;

  • safety rules;

  • accessibility;

  • permitted activities;

  • seasonal considerations; and

  • whether wildlife is free-ranging or managed.

TryBookAfrica does not guarantee sightings of any animal.

6. PHOTOGRAPHY

Guests must follow wildlife-guide instructions regarding photography.

Flash photography should not be used where it could disturb animals or where prohibited.

7. FEEDING AND HANDLING

Suppliers should not encourage unnecessary feeding, touching or handling of wild animals.

Any animal interaction must comply with applicable law and appropriate welfare standards.

8. CAPTIVE WILDLIFE

Suppliers offering captive-wildlife experiences must provide accurate information about the facility and comply with all applicable permits, registrations and welfare requirements.

9. WILDLIFE TRADE

TryBookAfrica prohibits listings that facilitate unlawful wildlife trade.

This includes unlawful trade in:

  • live animals;

  • protected species;

  • skins;

  • horns;

  • ivory;

  • bones;

  • trophies;

  • derivatives; or

  • other protected wildlife products.

10. REPORTING

Users may report suspected wildlife abuse, illegal wildlife activity or serious welfare concerns to:

TryBookAfrica: legal@trybookafrica.com

TryBookAfrica may suspend the relevant listing while investigating.

11. SUPPLIER VERIFICATION

For relevant wildlife Suppliers, TryBookAfrica may request:

  • permits;

  • registration documents;

  • conservation authority information;

  • operating licences;

  • insurance;

  • facility information;

  • animal-welfare policies; and

  • other relevant evidence.

12. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

TryBookAfrica's wildlife policy is aligned with the broader principle of responsible tourism, which South Africa's tourism framework describes as including conservation, respect for local cultures and communities, and positive local economic benefits.

© 2026 TryBookAfrica. All rights reserved.