LORRAINE DAMERELL, 20, GAP-YEAR STUDENT, KENT

I’ve always been quite conscientious about my impact on the environment. But my trips also have to appeal to me on another level — to be well organised, without any glitches.

I went on a trek up Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and what struck me was the amount of rubbish there. We were expressly told not to leave any rubbish, and yet people did. I was disappointed that people didn’t listen. You feel you put the effort in — why can’t everyone else do the same? There are hundreds of people on the mountain, so the path is quite visible. But at least it is contained erosion. The only way to preserve things is not to go there at all. But you have to draw the line between complete restraint and enjoying something. It should be about having a minimal impact.

I believe that trip did benefit the local people. Talking to the locals, I can see that Kilimanjaro generates a lot of wealth — enough for the guides to get an education down in Dar Es Salaam, and the tips we gave equated to a month and a half’s rent for a family.

Working on Kilimanjaro as a guide or porter can be equated to a student working in the local supermarket here in the UK to pay your fees. It was good to know I wasn’t just giving them money, but what they earned would be used towards their air fare to the university in Dar Es Salaam. And those porters really deserved it — they carried up to 20kg up the mountain on their backs.

I like physical exercise so I’ll always be drawn to adventure holidays. Next time around I can envisage myself doing aid work in the Andes or the Himalayas.

My eco-tips

SAFIA MINNEY, 41, RUNS A FASHION COMPANY, SHOREDITCH