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Aaaaah, It Was Wonderful To Go Back To The Bush! June 12, 2008

Posted by Julia in : Animals, Safari, ecotourism , 1 comment so far del.icio.us:Aaaaah, It Was Wonderful To Go Back To The Bush! digg:Aaaaah, It Was Wonderful To Go Back To The Bush! newsvine:Aaaaah, It Was Wonderful To Go Back To The Bush! blinklist:Aaaaah, It Was Wonderful To Go Back To The Bush! furl:Aaaaah, It Was Wonderful To Go Back To The Bush! reddit:Aaaaah, It Was Wonderful To Go Back To The Bush! blogmarks:Aaaaah, It Was Wonderful To Go Back To The Bush! Y!:Aaaaah, It Was Wonderful To Go Back To The Bush!

Upon entering Klaserie Game Reserve we were delighted with the welcoming committee of a solitary Brown Snake Eagle perched high on a dead Leadwood as we zooted off to our unfenced camp.   It was an amazing setting on the banks of the Klaserie under a canopy of Jackalberry trees.  With an armed ranger and tracker, we explored the treasures of their concession.  On our final evening of the 3 nights we spent there, we came across a mating pair of lion on the game drive.  After our supper their calls continued echoing across our camp and to our surprise we were later surrounded by calls from 2 other lionesses.   There’s nothing like those decibels to get your adrenalin going!

Ellies Civet

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Kruger National Park Google Earth layer May 25, 2008

Posted by Ralph Pina in : Conservation, News, Safari, Tourism, ecotourism , 5comments del.icio.us:Kruger National Park Google Earth layer digg:Kruger National Park Google Earth layer newsvine:Kruger National Park Google Earth layer blinklist:Kruger National Park Google Earth layer furl:Kruger National Park Google Earth layer reddit:Kruger National Park Google Earth layer blogmarks:Kruger National Park Google Earth layer Y!:Kruger National Park Google Earth layer

ecoAfrica has launched a Google Earth layer for the Kruger National Park (2MB .kmz file; requires Google Earth), in the context of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Our layer includes:

So there’s something there for the traveller and visitor, as well as the scholar. (more…)

Eco-travel in Africa makes a difference May 13, 2008

Posted by Ralph Pina in : Community, Sustainability, Tourism, ecotourism , 1 comment so far del.icio.us:Eco-travel in Africa makes a difference digg:Eco-travel in Africa makes a difference newsvine:Eco-travel in Africa makes a difference blinklist:Eco-travel in Africa makes a difference furl:Eco-travel in Africa makes a difference reddit:Eco-travel in Africa makes a difference blogmarks:Eco-travel in Africa makes a difference Y!:Eco-travel in Africa makes a difference

The title of this post is also ecoAfrica’s slogan, and one of the questions it immediately raises is: what sort of a difference? Another would be: what is “eco-travel”? These questions - and their answers - go to the heart of what ecotourism really is.

Addo elephant bullLet’s take the second question first: what is eco-travel? Without entering into a debate about eco-travel - or ecotourism - definitions, it is worth pointing out that ecotourism represents a travel ethic rather than a market segment or type of tourism. It is purposeful travel, where the salient purpose, besides experiencing Nature, is the preservation of Nature.

Two generally accepted definitions of ecotourism are:

Ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.

Ecotourism Association of Australia

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)

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Is it only about “the Big 5″? February 17, 2008

Posted by Ralph Pina in : Conservation, Tourism, ecotourism , 1 comment so far del.icio.us:Is it only about  digg:Is it only about  newsvine:Is it only about  blinklist:Is it only about  furl:Is it only about  reddit:Is it only about  blogmarks:Is it only about  Y!:Is it only about

Every once in a while I trawl through the research output of academia, specifically in the fields of ecotourism, sustainable tourism and ecotourism certification. The other day I came across the following article in the Journal of Ecotourism (vol 6, no. 1, 2007) entitled “Wildlife viewing preferences of visitors to protected areas in South Africa: Implications for the role of ecotourism in conservation“.

The article’s conclusions are particularly interesting, given the prevailing wisdom in the tourism industry that tourists to Africa are only interested in seeing the “Big 5″ - leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Just recently we have been debating this issue in ecoAfrica, so the research is timeous and topical for us. I for one have always been loathe to accept that only the Big 5 holds any attraction to travellers to our continent. (more…)

The thing about African wilderness trails November 10, 2007

Posted by Ralph Pina in : Safari, ecotourism , 5comments del.icio.us:The thing about African wilderness trails digg:The thing about African wilderness trails newsvine:The thing about African wilderness trails blinklist:The thing about African wilderness trails furl:The thing about African wilderness trails reddit:The thing about African wilderness trails blogmarks:The thing about African wilderness trails Y!:The thing about African wilderness trails

Walking on a wilderness trail is the only way to feel the pulse of the African “bush”. That is what I believe anyway. I have experienced my fair share of the African safari concept: vehicle-based photographic safaris, Is this safe Iain?game drives and stays in high-end and exotic game lodges, and even canoe safaris down the wild Lower Zambezi. But none of this compares to following a game trail on foot: listening for a warning call, watching the reactions of the tracker, sniffing the breeze, or simply existing in your immediate sphere. Nothing compares - except perhaps for the canoe safari. (more…)

Circles in the Bush October 21, 2007

Posted by Ralph Pina in : Safari, ecotourism , add a comment del.icio.us:Circles in the Bush digg:Circles in the Bush newsvine:Circles in the Bush blinklist:Circles in the Bush furl:Circles in the Bush reddit:Circles in the Bush blogmarks:Circles in the Bush Y!:Circles in the Bush

(With apologies to Dalene Matthee…)

Machampane Wilderness Camp in Limpopo National Park, Mozambique, shares the western bank of the Machampane River with tall fever trees at a pool called Xisivene - which apparently means “deep pool”.

The wilderness trail experience that runs out of the camp is similarly structured to the iconic trails that operate in the Kruger National Park across the border. Machampane’s accommodation is a tad more luxurious though - large walk-in tents on stilts with en suite bathrooms.

Read more…

Download the Google Earth track of Machampane wilderness trails.

Book the Machampane wilderness trail.

Battle of the Leopards September 14, 2007

Posted by Marcelle in : Safari , add a comment del.icio.us:Battle of the Leopards digg:Battle of the Leopards newsvine:Battle of the Leopards blinklist:Battle of the Leopards furl:Battle of the Leopards reddit:Battle of the Leopards blogmarks:Battle of the Leopards Y!:Battle of the Leopards

Kruger Park is world renowned and the standard of the accommodation is excellent. All based on self-catering but at the same time comfortable and clean. The meals served by Leonard, our guide, were mouth-watering and it was so special to sit there under the stars and enjoy a real South African braai. These guys can cook. Mmmmm!

Two leopards fighting over a territory in KrugerThe highlight of our trip was seeing the territorial fight between two male leopards. It is impossible to relay the excitement and what it sounds like when one leopard actually rips open the other one’s skin. The growling cut through my whole being and while it is exciting it is also so sad to see these magnificent creatures all bloodied.

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