Make a difference this festive season

The holidays are almost upon us and as we all start gearing up for Christmas shopping we thought it pertinent to give thought as to our money is going and whether the gifts we buy this year are adding value to the environment, to wildlife and to people. It has undoubtedly been a tough year for many and the simple choice of what you buy and from where can really make a big difference.

We know the feeling - you WANT to buy Christmas gifts that are ethical and sustainable and you WANT to make sure you are giving back but the question is in the HOW? So, we decided to put together the ultimate festive season shopping list that will help you buy Christmas gifts this year that really have a positive impact. Here goes...

Shop for Wildlife

In the age of consumerism and materialism, why not visit our very own Shop for Wildlife where you can purchase a gift certificate for which the donation contributes towards conservation in Africa. Our online shop has a wide range of much needed conservation products from GPS collars to camera traps as well as operations such as rhino de-horning or snare removal. You can either purchase a specific product or donate any amount to the Rapid Response Fund which provides support in wildlife emergency situations. We are running a Christmas special for the month of December where, with any gifted donation to the Rapid Response Fund, you will receive a high-resolution professional wildlife photograph download along with the below certificate detailing the donation value to present to your recipient.

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Onto shopping for physical gifts now, there are some incredible products out there that contribute to conservation, sustainability, people and the local economy in Africa. Here are our top choices:

Kaross

Amazing embroidery work, each hand crafted into a 100% unique artworks in the forms of cushion covers, bags, cloths and cards. Based in Limpopo, South Africa, this organisation celebrates traditional hand craft and vibrant colour providing employment while preserving traditional skills and supporting education through The Kaross Foundation.

The Joinery

By turning plastic into products, The Joinery offers sustainable products and corporate gifts. Products range from bags, home decor, office and tech to travel and leisure products. Conscious from their production process all the way through to offsetting carbon emissions from shipping, The Joinery prides themselves in their effort to be an eco-friendly company. We absolutely love their safari hat!

Ubuntu Life

Ubuntu Life create beautiful products for sale in Kenya and internationally, providing mothers of children with special needs and others in their community with sustainable employment. They also operate a special needs centre and specialty medical program that provide life-changing therapy and medical care to hundreds of children. Their shop is most famous for their “Afridilles’: espadrilles shoes made in Africa with love but they also have awesome bags, totes, jewellery and pouches.

Ashley Heather Jewellery

Handcrafted in gold and silver reclaimed from e-waste, Ashley Heather’s jewellery inspired by the earth and designed to protect it. Her work is truly stunning!

Painted Wolf Wines

Dedicated to the production of authentic, distinct and delicious wines, and to the conservation of African Wild Dogs and their natural habitat. What better excuse to drink wine when you know that every sip counts!

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust are well-known for their impactful orphan elephant conservation work.  While this forms the main part of their organisation, their anti-poaching efforts, aerial surveillance and mobile veterinary units all contribute to the protection of wildlife in Kenya. They also have an amazing community outreach programme and a Saving Habitat initiative dedicated to securing wilderness areas. By supporting their online shop, you are actively contributing to these amazing initiatives. The shop has all sorts of fun lifestyle products and merchandise. We love these luxury notebook for all those important things, so that you can be like an elephant and never forget.

For just 50USD per year, you can also adopt an orphan elephant, rhino or giraffe for yourself or as a gift - offering life and hope to an animal in need.

Remembering Wildlife Books

These books are truly sensational. Each one is full of images donated by many of the best wildlife photographers in the world with all profits from sales being donated to wildlife protection projects. The book series includes; Remembering Lions, Remembering Cheetahs, Remembering Rhinos, Remembering Great Apes, Remembering Elephants, Remembering Bears and Remembering Leopards. They make beautiful gifts and can be enjoyed for years to come.

DID YOU KNOW? Wild Wonderful World works with Remembering Wildlife to distribute funding for wildlife vets responding to injured wildlife and snaring incidents in the Greater Kruger Region!

The Gorilla Organization

The Gorilla Organization works to secure the long-term survival of the world’s last remaining gorillas in the wild. Their work combines traditional gorilla monitoring and habitat conservation projects with research, education and community development in areas adjacent to the gorilla habitats in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Their online shop has a range of products and service offerings that channel funds into their various gorilla conservation work. Treat yourself and purchase gifts with confidence: every purchase will directly support The Gorilla Organization and its community development and gorilla conservation projects.

Mulberry Mongoose

Mulberry Mongoose in Zambia produces incredible art jewellery made from collected snares, which actively supports anti-poaching efforts in the South Luangwa. Their online shop has a wide range of jewellery products to choose from.

Lets Go On Safari

Something for the kids! Co-written by Wild Wonderful World's very own founder and guide, Michelle, the book tells the story of when 8-year-old Kate from America travelled on safari to South Africa, meets Michelle, and together turned their adventures into a lively book which shares facts and secrets about the African bushveld. At the same time, they show how young children everywhere can become advocates for wild animals. Let’s Go on Safari! combines daily entries in Kate’s African safari journal with insights from Michelle about the bushveld and wildlife. Kate discovers the wonders of wildlife contrasted with the threats that animals face. She is inspired to make a difference.

Let’s Go on Safari! has been endorsed by significant conservation bodies, including the Jane Goodall Institute, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Global Wildlife Conservation, an organisation working around the world to save endangered animals. Every book purchased directly supports these organisations with all profits supporting their work.

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Jane Goodall Institute Online Shop

The Jane Goodall Institute’s shop has an assortment of lifestyle products, apparel, homeware, books and more that you can buy from the comfort of your own home and still be directly supporting their efforts to protect chimpanzees, other species and their habitats, as well as to grow the next generation of compassionate young people through JGI's youth program Roots & Shoots. We love the beautiful etchings in the recycled glassware and the bag with Jane Goodall's famous quote:

The greatest danger to our future is apathy

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We hope you enjoy perusing through these awesome online shops and finding unique and positively impactful gifts to give your friends and family this festive season.

Written by Michelle Pengilly