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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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The Iniquitous Practice of Two Tier Pricing November 20, 2007

Posted by Clarissa Hughes in : Tourism , 4comments del.icio.us:The Iniquitous Practice of Two Tier Pricing  digg:The Iniquitous Practice of Two Tier Pricing  newsvine:The Iniquitous Practice of Two Tier Pricing  blinklist:The Iniquitous Practice of Two Tier Pricing  furl:The Iniquitous Practice of Two Tier Pricing  reddit:The Iniquitous Practice of Two Tier Pricing  blogmarks:The Iniquitous Practice of Two Tier Pricing  Y!:The Iniquitous Practice of Two Tier Pricing

There are not that many things in life that get my hackles up.  But two tier pricing in the tourism industry, for African and non-African residents, is one of them.

I think the practice arose back in the 1980’s when South Africa was the world’s pariah and the sub-continent’s tourism industry was tarred with the same brush (foreigners had to fly via South Africa to get to any of its neighbouring countries).  In those days the industry was largely dependent on the South African market and any foreign revenue was seen as the cream-on-top.   I imagine the thinking went something along the lines of:  “Well if they’ve taken the trouble and risk of being ostracized to come, they really must want to and therefore they’ll pay.”    It was common practice well into the 1990’s in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe to have a price for South African residents and another, higher price, for non-South African residents. (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.

Bazaruto, dugongs and peak oil September 14, 2007

Posted by Ralph Pina in : Conservation, ecotourism , add a comment del.icio.us:Bazaruto, dugongs and peak oil digg:Bazaruto, dugongs and peak oil newsvine:Bazaruto, dugongs and peak oil blinklist:Bazaruto, dugongs and peak oil furl:Bazaruto, dugongs and peak oil reddit:Bazaruto, dugongs and peak oil blogmarks:Bazaruto, dugongs and peak oil Y!:Bazaruto, dugongs and peak oil

The Bazaruto archipelago, off the coast of Mozambique, is a tropical island paradise and a national park. Proclaimed in 1971 to protect, amongst other species, what is now the last viable dugong population in Africa, it is under threat from the desperate exploration for and extraction of oil and gas, as world demand for hydro-carbons starts to exceed a plateauing supply. The short-term profits to be made, at the expense of the long-term survival of our ecosystems, are enormous. (more…)