In this edition of Responsible Traveller we celebrate People & Places…

And intricately linked to people and places is conservation and communities. We meet Sipho Ntombela at Amakhosi Safari Lodge and be inspired by his (and his grandfathers) stories of Zulu culture and traditions  as well as enjoy wonderfully rewarding wildlife experiences… and Pie Blight who on a visit to Thonga Beach Lodge was inspired to invest in the Mabibi Primary School. And then there’s DEEP – the Dyer Island Conservation Trusts’s Environmental Education Programme that exposes learners from a disadvantaged background to conservation through interactive education. And the team at Thanda Island, who together with a local NGO have played a significant role in sea turtle conservation.

Start planning a trip to the newly opened Roho ya Selous in the heart of the UNESCO world heritage site of Selous Game Reserve – Asilia Africa’s newest ‘impact investment’. Or Botswana’s Chobe National Park for a Pangolin Photo Safari like no other – you’ll want to visit after reading Sharon Gilbert Rivett’s account of her recent visit.

Visit Knysna and discover how owners Geoff Engel and Dandre Lerm-Engel
reinvented the Thesen Island Power Station into the uber chic Turbine Boutique Hotel and Spa with its creative decor and wonderful waterside location – enjoy the quirkiness of Knysna, the arty places and interesting people… and be sure to take some time for a walk in the forest.

But as I always say, the responsibility of being a responsible traveller lies
ultimately with the person travelling and the choices they make. It’s about
choosing to not waste water , to switch off when you leave the room, to
stay, shop, experience and eat local… thereby providing employment and
contributing to the local economy. By choosing to have conversations with locals and experiencing the ‘real’ destination, you add value and return home with irreplaceable memories.

Enjoy the read… and be the difference.

Read the digital mag HERE