Carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere now as a result of burning fossil fuels and of deforestation. Climate scientists say that the increase of carbon dioxide and green house gases is raising the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere, the impact of which is unthinkable to our planet.

Sense Africa recognises the fact that air travel releases gases that contribute to global warming, such as carbon dioxide. In fact, your flight will be the largest environmental impact of your trip. This does not mean that you should not take flights, seeing wildlife in its natural environment and interacting with local communities gives a value to conservation and community initiatives. It means that we should be aware that we are contributing to carbon dioxide emissions.

Sense Africa has teamed up with an environmental organisation, Climate Care, to help you to repair the damage your trip does to the climate. Climate Care funds sustainable energy and forest restoration projects that reduce carbon dioxide on your behalf, by the same amount as your share of the plane emits.

Examples include a project in India to help schools move on to a renewable cooking fuel and a project in Uganda that is restoring the rainforest in Kibale National Park.

A typical one-way flight to Africa generates about one tonne of CO2 per person travelling. The cost of "offsetting your emissions" is just £20.

Sense Africa knows that most of you will want to help with this. Should any traveller not wish to offset their carbon emissions then please contact Sense Africa so that we can simply deduct the carbon offset amount from your final balance.

And carbon offsetting does not stop here. We should all be aiming to reduce our energy consumption in our daily lives.