The Real World Store offers a range of hand-picked merchandise with a percentage of profits being donated to wildlife conservation charities supported by Real Africa. Real Africa is an award-winning tailor-made safari specialist based in the UK.

Real Africa has been organising exceptional journeys to sub-Saharan Africa for their clients for 16 years. They have a UK registered charity, The Real Africa Trust, which partners with wildlife conservation charities to raise awareness about key issues and to fund-raise. Last year they partnered with Save the Elephants, raising £13,000 for the charity. This year they aim to match that sum in aid of Save the Rhino International which works to conserve all five species of rhino. As well as supporting one main charity annually, they also support a number of smaller projects.

In the time Real Africa has been operating, Africa's wildlife has sadly faced enormous challenges. It is estimated that some 30,000 African elephants are being poached for their ivory annually, with fewer than 400,000 of these beautiful giants now left to roam the plains and forests. Just 20,000 white rhino remain while the critically endangered black rhino population has dwindled to just 5,000.

Tourism plays a huge part in the battle to conserve world wildlife. The Sheldrick Trust, one of the charities supported by Real Africa, estimates that a living elephant generates 76 times more in tourism revenue than the value of its tusks, over the course of its life.

Real Africa donates to selected conservation charities on behalf of every client travelling with them. For example as part of their commitment to conservation they donate £50 per person to Save the Rhino International on behalf of anyone booking one of their special rhino safari modules.

However,  Real Africa  appreciates that not everyone can stretch to going on a safari so they wanted to find another more affordable way for people to show their support while also helping to raise awareness for their nominated charities.

As marketing director Sara White says, “For every person that travels with us there are several hundred more that we meet at shows and events during the course of the year who would consider buying a Tshirt in order to support our charity partners and the work that they do. It all adds up and we have found that by offering Tshirts and other hand-picked items via the Real World Store that we are able to raise significantly more funds for our partners. This is fantastic news and something we are very proud of.”

The range of merchandise includes cotton Tshirts, handcrafted solid silver jewellery and Real Africa's own blend of premium coffee.

Visit the store at realworldstore.co.uk