Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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Environment:
There is an opportunity to visit a large number of national parks and reserves: Table Mountain National Reserve Park, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Wilderness National Park, Tsitsikamma National park, The Featherbed Nature Reserve and Amakhala Private Game Reserve. The majority of the parks and reserves in South Africa run environmental educational programmes, support research projects and many have developed their own environmental projects. For example, The De Hoop Nature Reserve is an associate of the CapeNature organisation, which aims to transform biodiversity conservation in to a key component of local economic development through eco-tourism. Your visit to this park will actively support this project. The Amakhala Private Game Reserve funds its Amakhala Conservation Centre through bed levies from commercial lodges in the park so guests staying in the reserve will directly contribute to this project, while the Conservation Centre concentrates on educational programmes, research projects and the re-introduction of species to the park.
The FTTSA accredited company that we recommend for whale watching is extensively involved in marine conservation, assisting scientists in their research and supporting several conservation organisations, such as CapeNature. They are also actively involved in the rescue and care of injured birds and seals and the clearing of marine litter in the area. The company also runs educational tours for local school children to expose them to the marine environment and initiated the Nolwandle Project which takes into consideration the social, economic and environmental impact of the cruises that they operate.
Monkey Land is a rescue centre where primates from zoos and private hands are allowed to return to their natural habitat after time spend in captivity. There are guides to take you on walks through the forested enclosure and introduce you to the monkeys and gibbons now living there.
Community:
The properties have all been selected for many reasons, the main one being that they are all accredited by Fair Trade and Tourism South Africa (FTTSA). FTTSA awards this status to qualifying guest houses as a way of signifying their commitment to Fair Trade criteria including fair wages and working conditions, fair purchasing, fair operations, equitable distribution of benefits and respect for human rights, culture and environment. By electing to stay at an FTTSA-certified establishment, tourists are assured that their travel benefits local communities and economies, and that the business is operated ethically and in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
The locals rely on tourism to sustain their economy so a visit to a township on an Uthando Tour in Cape Town, as well as Robben Island is a must. Uthando is a registered Non-profit Organisation based in Cape Town. Founded in 2007, the organisation raises funds for a broad range of community based projects which support the most vulnerable sectors of society in some of the most destitute areas of the city.
The directors of this company went to university together and met up again when they were travelling. They started doing tours to Vietnam in 1996 and were so successful that they expanded to many other destinations. Their company now employs 170 well-travelled staff who can advise customers on how to put together the perfect itinerary. They share the same no-nonsense, honest approach and ensure anyone who travels makes the best use of their time and budget. The amount of research that goes into these trips means you get to see the slightly quirkier places and can travel at your own pace.
Listen to the podcast below:
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!
