Events and News BirdLife South Africa

Avitourism flies at Indaba

as PC Ferreira from Khoisan Karoo Conservancy and Ian Owtram from Antares Bush Camp and Umgede Hide. Andrew also spoke to several new potential partners about joining the BirdLife South Africa Recommended Accommodations network which is advertised through the GoBirding website (www.gobirding.co.za).

You can find the details of all of our Community Bird Guides as well as our BirdLife South Africa Recommended Accommodations and Tour Operators, and our affiliated Bird Clubs, on the GoBirding website. Please also follow our new social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

Africa’s Travel Indaba (aka Tourism Indaba) is an annual tourism trade show that takes place in Durban, KwaZuluNatal, South Africa. The event is one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African continent, and it attracts exhibitors and buyers from around the world. It is organized by South African Tourism, the national tourism agency responsible for promoting South Africa as a travel destination.

The Tourism Indaba provides a platform for exhibitors to showcase their products and services to the travel trade, media, and tourism industry professionals. The event features a variety of exhibitors, including accommodation providers, tour operators, transportation companies, adventure tourism operators, and tourism boards. It also includes a range of seminars, workshops, and networking events designed to help attendees stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the tourism industry.

Three of the BirdLife South Africa Community Bird Guides were in attendance promoting birding in South Africa. Junior Gabela and Sakhamuzi Mhlongo were sponsored by Tourism KwaZulu-Natal and represented the Zululand Birding Route, while Wilfred Mchunu was exhibiting his birding and battlefields tours under the national Department of Tourism stand.

Our Avitourism Project Manager, Andrew de Blocq, was also attending. Andrew took time to connect with existing partners in the industry such as EcoTraining, who celebrated their 30th birthday at the event, as well

Above | Andrew de Blocq (BirdLife South Africa

Avitourism Manager) with Junior Gabela, Wilfred Mchunu, and Sakhamuzi Mhlango were in attendance at the African Travel Indaba

Below | Bird Guides Junior Gabela and Sakhamuzi Mhlongo on the right talking avitourism with another