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Aug 7, 2007
Bridging the Great Divide
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Introduction
by Clarissa Hughes
During one of Cape Town’s soggiest winters of the past few years I’m looking forward to going to the Kalahari in a few days, where the desert will be a nice contrast. Albeit cold! I have been warned. The Kgaligadi was Africa’s first Peace Park and has proved to be a great success. One of the planned stopovers is to a new lodge situated in the park but on land returned to the local Khomani San (Bushmen) and Mier communities - a new initiative which I look forward to with keen interest.
On the return leg I hope to catch the world-famous Namaqualand spring flowers, which to all predictions should be riotous after our good rains. Declared by Conservation International as one of the world’s “biodiversity hotspots” the flowers of this desert attract visitors from far and wide during the spring.
Our blog is now up and running and for more personal and perhaps, controversial, views on environmental issues in general it’s worth a look. We have a diverse team here at ecoAfrica and the views expressed by us promise to be unusual, at least.
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Peace Park No. 5
Bridging the Great Divide
Known as Peace Parks, the transfrontier park initiative is taking off around Southern and East Africa. I am sure they will become of major symbolic importance to the world as the programme gains momentum. And therefore the fifth one, to be launched on 4th September 2007, is worthy of note. Stretching from the Maloti Drakensberg Mountains the transfrontier park, which will be formed once the remaining sections of border fence between Sehlabathebe National Park (SNP) in Lesotho and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site (UDP WHS) in South Africa, are removed. Taking a look at the map you can see the area is significant and will allow for improved conservation management and enhancement Southern Africa’s tourism offering.
The Drakensberg mountains on both sides offer spectacular scenery and getaway opportunities. Get a taste of what can be enjoyed in God’s own country.
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Eco-travel in Africa makes a Difference
Our slogan is more than a come-on
Ecotourism not only benefits the environment but also Africa’s people. As a tried and tested mode of development many African governments put great store by tourism to help uplift their countries.
As corroboration of this an excerpt of this an article from AllAfrica.com follows.
“Queen Elizabeth National park is one of the prime wild animal conservation areas in this country. It earns this country about Shs2.5 billion every year in form of direct payments from tourists. Assuming that the current security and stability will continue for the foreseeable future, tourism will be only second to oil in foreign exchange earnings to this country.”
The tree-climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park are world-renowned. Uganda offers some of the best wildlife and birding opportunities. The tropical forests are home to the great primates and the savannah to plains game.
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Zimbabwe: eco-travel pariah
Or a case for compassion?
With the news of the revocation of the law that would force all imports of fuel and essential food stuffs to be done by the Government of Zimbabwe, (it was scheduled for midnight last night and repealed at the 11th hour), the tourism industry and, indeed, the country heaves a sigh of relief. Enforcement of this law in Zimbabwe’s uncontainable economic plunge would have, no doubt, brought things to a political head but would also have caused untold suffering.
In a similar vein we have to ask ourselves who we harm by not travelling to Zimbabwe. The wild and rural areas are not affected by riots and food queues and most tour operators seem to have “made a plan” with regards to supplies and fuel. The staff lay-offs from a shrunken tourism industry have exacerbated the problems of the ordinary Zimbabwean.
If you’d like to comment on this issue please visit our blog where you can have your say.
For those who have resolved these personal questions and believe in making a difference to the ordinary man there are some magnificent trips still to do in this challenging country.
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In what you’re eating?
With the world’s fisheries fast being depleted due to increased demand there is good news for those who can’t go without their Piscean meal. By texting the name of the fish you want to eat to the number 079-499-8795 you get a message back telling you whether to tuck in, think twice or avoid completely. Using WWFs knowledge of seafood resources the idea is to avoid being afflicted with a bout of conscientious indigestion.
Okay, this is the number for South Africa (we’re far ahead in the environmental game here!) but you could email WWF or your local fisheries department and ask if they have something similar. If they don’t, you could initiate it.
According to the law of consequences diminished fisheries will impact negatively on marine life, which in turn would impact on your tropical Indian Ocean diving trip, where magical corals and all forms of mysterious sea-life abounds. So you could regard what you eat as an investment in your holidays.
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Increased in Tsavo East
Having just read Dame Daphne Sheldrick’s account of her life in Tsavo East and the teeming numbers of black rhino that were found here at the turn of the 19thC the news that the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary has been extended is good indeed. With help from the African Wildlife Foundation and its partners the sanctuary offers more space, forage and protection to Africa’s black rhinos so they are given a better chance for the future.
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Travellers Feedback
Dixie Riley (USA) - July 2007
Your company is the BEST! Bar none. I am highly recommending it to all my travel friends. Aron K, our guide, was exceptional in every way - his knowledge of plants, animals, insects, everything was top notch and he is a natural born teacher. He made each day a fun-filled learning experience; he was personable, funny, smart and kind in all aspects. All the camp staff we came into contact with were excellent; Nxabega staff, Frank, Sam and John were all very
positive in all ways. I cannot say enough good things about the whole camping safari with you. I'm so glad that your kind of company exists and my hat's off to you for your personnel choices.
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ecoAfrica Newsletter © 2007 ecoAfrica Travel.
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