What you can expect are hosts who think globally about sustainability. What you can experience is what they do locally. About places we support:
Diversity of natural environments, low impact by using small groups and be amongst dedicated conservationists but enthusiastic participants in sharing there knowledge. Zomerlust Gastehuis, saved for re use in tourism. Locally owned, local staff and some money will flow to the nearby old age home of Rusoord. Be introduced to the wine industry in the living museums of the mountainous, green, fynbos of the Boland kontrei.
On the arid West Coast with its highly nutritional, cold, sea water you will learn about its gifts of sea food, farming and diamond mining. Stay and support individuals working pro actively for sustainable harvesting of the sea, sustainable farming and living with a Big Money neighbour. There “Struggle” is not an individual one but really a community effort.
Up in the rugged sandstone Cederberg at Mount Ceder you will be part of a nature conservancy with real involvement to keep the Cape Leopard alive and well. Cross the Koup karoo in style. Be a guest in “the Lord Milner Hotel, the last authentic vestige of Victoriana, in South Africa. The Lord Milner's 58 guest rooms have been well maintained over the years and a high standard of service upheld.” (Quote from their website).
Stay on a working ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo where the owner stopped farming in one paddock to make room for Meerkat research and a walking with Meerkats experience. Local people involved in the Meerkat and hospitality section using own farm produce for meats and salads. Over high mountains to enter the indigenous forest and lake area of the warm Mozambique sea current. You have come a long way from the arid West Coast to the Garden Route.
Much awarded places like Grootbos and Farm 215 known for their conservation of coastal and mountain fynbos and partnerships with local communities and gardening courses for local unemployed people. Supporting Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamic where part of your money flows to research on white sharks and jackass penguins and support their Nolwandle community craft project for producing and selling authentic products to tourists in the Gansbaai area.
In Arniston Waenhuiskrans supporting the women’s club of local Kassiesbaai fishing community in their efforts to create additional income. Learn about the local social problems from the people who work pro actively to improve the community life.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
