Neutralise your “carbon footprint” – Grow a Tree

Grow A Tree Starter Pack

Neutralising one’s “carbon footprint” seems to be the catchphrase of 2009. What does this mean exactly? Well the basic idea is to plant a tree to negate the effects of all of the carbon emissions we are responsible for, in our daily lives. The rule of thumb is:

“For every 5000 km you travel in a car or for every 5 hours you spend on a plane, you should plant 1 tree. If you never travel in a car or a plane, you should plant 10 trees to neutralize the effects of your household.”

So, now that you know what to do, how and where can you do it? Continued

How to Go Green

A solar collector

The time is NOW, the colour is GREEN and the question is: “What are you doing to save our Planet?” Eco living is on everybody’s lips and if it isn’t, it should be! Recycling, conservation and renewable energy have been around for many years.

Fossils fuels are polluting our environment and alternative energy sources are here! Many establishments are already saving the planet 1 kilowatt hour at a time by using various energy saving ranges, which are becoming increasingly affordable and available in South Africa and the world over. Continued

Eco-Friendly Accommodations

Booking eco-friendly accommodation in South Africa doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on comfort (though South Africa does offer a number of camping options should you want to “rough it”).

More and more establishments in South Africa are adopting eco-friendly principles on varying scales. Whether subscribing to “green values”, “sustainable or responsible tourism” or going the whole “eco-tourism” hog, you can support accommodation establishments that are trying to make a difference here in South Africa. Continued

Eco-Friendly Activities in Cape Town and the Western Cape

We start our eco-tour of South Africa in Cape Town, voted one of the world’s top 10 green cities – the US think tank Ethisphere Institute (http://ethisphere.com/) named Cape Town as a centre of global sustainability. The “Mother City”, so blessed with natural beauty, offers a multitude of outdoor activities which can be enjoyed guilt-free. Hike Table Mountain, enjoy the Cape’s beaches, or go shopping. Yes, I did say shopping in an article about eco-tourism … Continued

Are you a “Responsible” Traveller?

Eco-Tourism

Are you a responsible traveller? Believe in travelling green?
When travelling in South Africa, you can travel responsibly, travel green and give back to communities, by choosing providers who subscribe to the ethos of eco-tourism (see: What is Eco-Tourism?).

How to Travel Green:

• book eco-friendly accommodations
• get around responsibly
  • trains offer economical travel with a lower carbon footprint than a plane or car … Continued

What is Eco-Tourism?

Ecological tourism or eco-tourism is a highly popular term and possibly one of the most misused in the travel industry. It should describe travel to fragile areas where the fauna, flora and cultural heritage are the main reasons for travel.

Essentially eco-tourism protects and empowers local people and natural areas, and at the same time provides visitors with a unique, but low impact experience.

The Ecotourism Society defines eco-tourism as ‘responsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people’. Essentially eco-tourism should unite conservation, communities and sustainable travel.

However, it can get a little confusing. There are a handful of similar terms used to describe this type of travel, like ‘adventure travel’, ’sustainable tourism’, ‘responsible tourism’, and ‘green travel’. Continued

Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability at Mosaic Farm

Mosaic Farm

“The term ‘green’ certainly can be misused”, says Kathryn Johnson of Mosaic Farm, one of the few true eco-tourism establishments in South Africa. Surrounded by the whale watching paradise of Walker Bay Beach and the majestic Overberg Mountains, Mosaic Farm (near Stanford) perfectly blends the glories of nature with fine country living and superb South African cuisine and wine.

“Many businesses claim eco-friendliness”, continues Kathryn. “It’s a term often used very loosely as a marketing mantra, but without following the fundamentals of environmental integrity, social justice and economic development, claims can be empty.” Continued

Teniqua Treetops in the Forest Canopy

Teniqua Treetops

It is not often that one is invited to sleep, eat and wash high up in a wild, indigenous forest canopy, surrounded by mountains, bird song, butterflies and, well not much else really. But the tented tree house resort set in the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains right in the heart of the Garden Route does just that.

Not only does this pretty, tented treehouse destination lie roughly 23 kilometres outside of the equally attractive village of Sedgefield, but by all accounts a visit here is ‘quietly life-changing’. It is also one of few truly eco-friendly venues. Continued

Green is the new Black …

Leave only footprints

Green is the new black. No, really; we’re recycling, driving hybrid cars and generally trying to be intelligent enough not to melt the polar ice caps or widen the hole in the ozone layer. So why not travel green as well?

Eco-tourism is low impact travel, usually to protected areas in which flora, fauna and cultural heritage are the main attractions. Its focus is on educating the ecologically conscious traveller and minimising the negative aspects of conventional tourism, while providing funding for conservation initiatives and economic opportunities for local communities.

Of course, it’s not all serious… mostly eco-tourism is about having a good old bushwhacking fun time in nature. And with South Africa’s picture-perfect landscapes and status as the third most bio-diverse country in the world, it’s fast becoming one hot destination for eco-tourists. And with good reason … Continued