This photo was taken in one of the most traditional parts of the Marrakech, in the shadow of Bab el Khemis, one of the old town’s ancient gates. To me, it symbolizes not only Marrakech, but the experiences that can be had in Morocco. While travellers are unlikely to venture into this particular street unless accompanied by a local, it’s a familiar scene which can be found echoed throughout the city.

It was time to escape into the wild embrace of nature and reignite my spirit for adventure. I needed a place where I could take my true form with a backpack, sneakers, reckless abandon and unruly hair. I knew where this place was; it had been calling me for my entire life. On my 26th birthday, I booked tickets to Nepal.

Malawi-based The Responsible Safari Company (TRSC) just got even more responsible. A partnership with the United Nations Millennium Villages Project (MVP) in the country’s southern Zomba District has created a unique ecotourism program that lets visitors experience firsthand how the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG) are being implemented.

Every month, we delve into the travel experiences of people in the extended WHL Group network. This month we talk to Kate Ward and Chimwemwe Siyabu, both of whom work for The Responsible Safari Company, the whl.travel local connection, based in Blantyre, Malawi.

Nothing beats the experience of staying with locals and supporting their local communities. The WHL Group puts forward here five of its favourite community-based accommodation initiatives in Africa.