TRAVEL
THE RISE OF ECOTOURISM
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the wellbeing of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”. TIES further states that this responsible travel needs to “adopt the following ecotourism principles”: • Minimise physical, social, behavioural, and psychological impacts. • Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect. • Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts. • Provide direct financial benefits for conservation. • Generate financial benefits for both local people and private industry. • Deliver memorable interpretative experiences to visitors that help raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climates. • Design, construct and operate lowimpact facilities. • Recognise the rights and spiritual beliefs of the indigenous people in your community and work in partnership with them to create empowerment.
In its 2014 South Africa adventure industry survey, the adventure travel organisation Dirty Boots lists the following as the top 10 adventure activities by number of participants: boat trips, zipline tours, horse riding, boat-based whale watching, river rafting, shark cage diving, ziplines, quad biking, bungee jumping and Segway tours. Johan Radcliffe of Dirty Boots defines adventure travel as “any multiday tour or day trip that includes a physical activity and a small element of risk. Internationally the definition for adventure travel is a trip that includes a physical activity and interaction with nature and a cultural experience. Using this description 26% of all tourists are adventure travellers, and certainly most of the tourists coming to South Africa are.” South Africa’s adventure tourists are split between 45% international and 55% domestic tourists. The industry is healthy and the country has a great deal to offer.
SO LET’S GO ALREADY! When it comes to finding tours that are meant to educate, entertain, inspire and enrich, there are many tour operators and guides available across the country. While there tends to be an overlap, it simply means that one is never spoilt for choice. Below is a snapshot of what is available. It is time to book your next holiday and explore this beautiful continent of ours intimately and actively.
IMAGE Shutterstock
South Africa, and the rest of the continent, provides the perfect environment for ecotourism. I would include in that category adventure tourism, which in its own way is very much about engaging with the environment in a way that does not damage, raises environmental awareness, provides financial benefits to local people and private industry, and delivers memorable experiences.
THE ADVENTURE INDUSTRY
51