1. Africa Update
Travel to Cape Town begins
Most people know that
Cape Town is best visited in the
summer months of November onwards, but travellers of the blubbery
kind don't seem to mind as much. The Southern Right's have arrived
and can now be spotted along the Cape coastline. While the weather
is still up to her usual pre-spring tricks, whales are our first
signs of sunnier things to come... soon we should be reporting
beautiful spring flowers and panoramic mountain walks, but more
about that next month I'm sure!
Grootbos lodge
More eco-awards
Cousine Island has been listed for
the 2005 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards in the category
“Best in a marine environment & Endangered species
conservation”. The First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards
celebrate tourism ventures that make a positive contribution to
conservation and the economies of local communities while minimizing
any negative impacts of tourism.
Umlani
Bushcamp in the Greater Kruger has been awarded the
Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa stamp, making it
one of only 13 other establishments in the country with this label.
It is awarded to tourism businesses that adhere to Fair Trade
criteria such as fair wages and working conditions, fairness in
operations, purchasing and distribution of benefits, ethical
practice and respect for human rights, culture and environment.
2. Have your say
Should we conserve the wilderness or care for people?
Let’s face it – it’s a tricky subject.
Conserving Africa, its wildlife and its untouched wildernesses, is
no easy task in the face of the need for food, housing and resources
by burgeoning, poor populations.
Africa is unsteadily trying to provide for the basic needs of most
of her people, and to top it all environmentalists are fighting with
all the means at their disposal to keep large areas untouched by
human interference. Large areas of land for grazing, agricultural
endeavors and mining possibilities are eliminated as a result.
Is this defensible? Are there any alternatives? Should the survival
of wildlife and wildernesses be rated above that of people? Or are
there any solutions that can possibly solve both problems? In my
opinion it is very well possible and also very important to consider
the wilderness, wildlife, AND the people of Africa. But in order to
make it work, we have to separate the facts from the fiction and
find practical solutions to benefit all parties.
Read more and tell us what you
think...
Coming soon: Africa’s large mammals to
America
It may sound like a project only Noah could pull off,
but even science journal Nature is taking it seriously.
Scientists from Cornell University, USA have proposed an alternative
and radical conservation strategy to 'save' Africa’s large mammals
while at the same time "restore animals that disappeared 13,000
years ago from Pleistocene North America".
Read the article ,
Read an African news response.
3. New on ecoAfrica.com
Chumbe
Island Coral Park - Zanzibar (Tanzania)
Chumbe Island is a unique nature
travel destination on a private island in Zanzibar. It is covered by
an undisturbed forest and surrounded by a virgin coral reef.
Activities include guided snorkelling, forest walks and historical
sights. Chumbe has recently been announced as one of 3 finalists for
the conservation category of the prestigious Tourism Cares for
Tomorrow award.
Asillia
camps and lodges - Tanzania
Asilia
aims to deliver Tanzania in a personal and charming way, with camps
in
Serengeti,
Tarangire and
Zanzibar. Each camp has its own
track record of community and conservation initiatives - and always
has an eye on long term continuation of these projects. (Great
honeymoon packages too!)
4. Traveller Feedback
“We
really had a great time in Africa - it was one of our best travels
we’ve ever made. I will recommend it to our friends! The safari
itself was perfect. I really did appreciate that we had 3 different
places in our safari so we could see different ecosystems. The
guides were great too. I still don’t understand how they do to spot
animals while driving and without binoculars! Thanks for everything.”
Julie Dion, Canada,
9 day Migration Routes Safari
“What
a fantastic trip we've had! Everything was run with efficiency and
friendliness and I can honestly say that the service could not have
been improved upon. The accommodation and food was fantastic and the
lodge even arranged for us to see the Big Five so really things
couldn't get better! Thank you and hopefully I can look forward to
dealing with you again in the not so distant future."
Caroline Lester, UK,
Rhino Post Safari Lodge
