Shun all-inclusive holidays in favour of ethical tourism on trips to Africa

Africa overland trips may give you a much better understanding of the local culture than you would get in a five-star luxury hotel, but there may be other benefits too.

If ethical tourism is something that's important to you, taking an overland tour of the continent could be a great way to give something back to the people who are welcoming you to their land.

Charity Tourism Concern pointed out recently that all-inclusive holidays are having a damaging impact on local communities as well as the tourist experience.

It's true that if you hole yourself up in a hotel and spend your days between the pool and the bar, you might as well be anywhere in the world.

But you could also be contributing to the demise of local businesses - such as restaurants, shops and small guest houses - that are relying on tourists to earn a living.

In Kenya, for example, some 87 per cent of tourists choose all-inclusive holiday deals. And this in a nation where more than half of the local people live in less than $1 a day.

Venture out of the hotel complex, and you'll find so many exciting things, from the lively goings-on in the capital Nairobi to the wild and wonderful sights of the Maasai Mara reserve.

Surely this is why people decide to travel to Kenya? Who needs all-inclusive meals in a packed hotel restaurant when you can indulge in authentic local cuisine with a tribal community in the heart of the desert?

And you'll be supporting the local people and their way of life, rather than pouring your money into a giant all-inclusive hotel chain.

"The current mainstream all-inclusive model is perpetuating social and economic exclusion and inequality, while threatening the very character of the destination that tourists pay to see," said Tourism Concern. "This does not make for sustainable tourism."