KwaZulu Natal holiday

KZN Wildlife are fully committed to nature conservation of the region and through conservation facilitate upliftment of local communities with job creation, training facilities & community projects. Didima Camp, which was set up by KZN wildlife, celebrates the San heritage of the area and has been themed around the art of the San people. The camp boasts their recently opened San Rock Art Interpretive Centre providing fascinating insights into the art and culture of the San, and includes static displays and audio-visual presentations within a reconstructed rock shelter. The camp is managed as a community based initiative employing all staff and managers from the local community.

Hilltop Camp is managed by the provincial conservation authority and is a past winner of the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow award. The British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards recognise and encourage sustainable tourism initiatives across the globe. The award was made in recognition of Hilltop Camps benefits to the local community and protection of the areas cultural and natural environment.

Kosi Forest Lodge is situated on community land and operated on concession basis. Although it is now managed by a larger South African group the local community benefit from each bed night, as well as employment, specialist training and produce bought locally. The lodge management assist in the training of neighbouring communities to supply arts, crafts and produce to the lodge’s curio shops and kitchens. An opportunity has been created for the community to earn significant income.

These projects vary from lodge to lodge. The sandy soils, high rainfall and moderate temperature in the Kosi Bay area make it ideal for the establishment of the area’s first large scale vegetable supplier. The close proximity of the community to the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve makes it an ideal venture with Kosi Forest Lodge. In addition the growing tourist market in the area provides a year round demand for the produce.

Tembe Elephant Park is join venture between KZN Wildlife and Tembe Tribe to amongst others protect the elephant population in South Africa. Tourism revenue in the form of park fees has enabled the creation of a multinational conservation project centred around Tembe. Tembe Elephant Park is a part of the greater Lebombo Transfrontier Conservation Area incorporating conservation areas in Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa. The future of our elephants and other wildlife at Tembe looks bright, as the Ndumo Futi Tembe Transfrontier Conservation Area unites Tembe with the pristine pan system of Ndumo Game Reserve. This will restore the ancient territories of the elephants in the Futi system and Rio Maputo wetlands of Mozambique – giving them unprecedented freedom to roam, to grow and to thrive, and taking the measured thread of these grey giants into area where they have not been for centuries.

For all of our tours we provide customers with an itinerary specific responsible travel guide aprox 4 weeks before they depart. This includes a generic travellers code of conduct which emphasises basic responsible travel advice – e.g. reduction of waste and consumption of natural resources, purchase local produce where possible etc. Our holidays are specifically designed to bring guests into direct contact with locals from a range of different tribes and cultures across Africa. We also therefore provide destination specific guidance including advice on local customs and some key phrases in certain languages (e.g. Swahili). We also offer guidance on how to barter responsibly for local curios and what curios should be avoided (e.g. certain wildlife artefacts such as coral, turtle shells etc.). As all of our guides and groundhandlers are local we also give guidance on what a fair and reasonable level of tipping would be at the end of the holiday.

We support the work of Tourism Concern both in distributing their advice to customers and as an active participant in the Ethical Tour Operators Group. Our managing director sits on this group and is a regular attendee of meetings contributing to work towards developing industry wide fair trade standards. We also distribute materials to customers and make periodic donations for the following charities: Tree Aid; International Fund for Wildlife and Survival International Trust. In Southern Africa we support the Southern Africa Sustainable Seafood Initiative and forward their guidance to all customers on which seafood is sustainable when offered a choice at restaurants.