I’ve been posting a lot about South Africa partly because my summer season is over at Grand Canyon. Now I’m in down time and not really doing anything overly exciting. But I’d also like to finish up all the stories from last Feb & March’s visit. Going through photos and sharing the stories brings back wonderful memories and excites me. Plus now I’m in ‘planning mode’ because I’m going back for the South Africa diversity Ecotour. Bought my ticket and leaving January 14, 2014 for three months. Maybe will include a bit of Namibia and Botswana as well.
Ecotourism helps preserve biodiversity
According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), ecotourism is “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.”
Biodiversity refers to all the different kinds of living organisms within a given area and the roles they play in their ecosystems. This includes plants, animals, fungi, and all other living things—everything from towering Baobab trees to tiny insects. And when the biodiversity of an ecosystem is interrupted or destroyed, the economic impact on the local community can be enormous. In fact it reverberates around the world.
Extraordinary natural and cultural diversity found in South Africa provides opportunity for research, education and tourism in balance with the environment.
South Africa has the third-highest level of biodiversity in the world yet takes up only 2% of the earth’s land surface. It is home to 10% of the planet’s plant species and 7% of all its mammals, birds and reptiles. According to the World Bank data base in 2010 almost 7% of the land is protected for conservation.
South African Green Economy
People sometimes think South Africa is a third world country, backwards and behind the times. Not so. 20 years ago Apartheid came to equalize all the many cultures of people. A struggle ensued, and still does, yet South Africa pursues a Green Economy. They are a developing country.
In May 2010, the South African government hosted a Green Economy Summit to set the stage for the formulation of a Green Economy Plan. In partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) the Department of Environmental Affairs embarked on the development of a green economy modeling for South Africa. South Africa views a green economy as a sustainable development path that is based on addressing the interdependence between economic growth, social protection and natural ecosystems.
I’m not saying that South Africa is perfect and I don’t plan to move there, yet. But just maybe their Green Economy plan could be a model for the rest of the world.
2014 South Africa diversity Ecotour
Once again I’ll be traveling with Joan. Not sure I’ve ever met someone so easy to travel with. She is such a wealth of information and makes a great guide. We’ll be documenting the biodiversity found along our journey.
This visit I really want to spend more time staying in one place, set up a base to explore from. Of course the focus will be primarily on protected natural areas like National Parks and nature reserves.
Don’t expect a gift from here
Help me plan
I have way too many ideas, as usual, but am open to recommendations. Seems I have pretty good luck that way while I’m traveling. So whether you’ve been there or not please make some suggestions. Could be either from personal experience, a story heard, or an online discovery. Just remember, I’m thinking Green. Take a look at my tentative itinerary and add to it. If I get to your recommendation you’ll be eligible to win an as yet unknown gift from South Africa. Help me plan the journey.
Tentative Itinerary by province
North West Eastern Cape
Pilanesberg Game Reserve the Wild Coast
Madikwe Game Reserve Mkamboti Nature Reserve
Limpopo Hluleka Nature Reserve
Bela-Bela Mineral Hot Springs Grahamstown (for the history)
Waterberge (zipline) Port Elizabeth to see Jonker
Marakele National Park Garden Route
Mokolo Dam Nature Reserve Tsitsikama National Park
follow the Limpopo River NE OR Western Cape
Polokwane Wild Spirit Backpackers Lodge
Mapungubwe Nature Reserve Knysna
Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park Karoo National Park
Mpumalanga West Coast National Park
Kruger National Park Cederberg Wilderness Area
then south Northern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal Namaqua National Park
Sodwana Bay National Park Augrabies Falls National Park
St Lucia Kgalagadi National Park
Durban Kimberley
Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve North West
Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve
Tentative route counter clockwise, begin and end in Johannesburg
Feel free to make suggestions any time, in the comments, or send me an email. I’ll be on the lookout for hand-made items in order to support the communities I visit.
West Coast National Park
I am SO looking forward to exploring more of the biodiversity found in South Africa’s many landscapes—coastal, semi-desert, fynbos, ancient forest, bushveld, grasslands. And I also look forward to sharing this experience with you. I will try, internet and time permitted, to post with frequency here, on Facebook and Twitter using #SAdvrstyEcotour.
If you are interested in contributing either financially or in trade please get in touch with me. You can also help spread the word. We all share the same planet.
Wow, this an amazing plan, I would love to travel more in Africa for couple of months. But even though I like to think I’m brave and I travel alone for past 6 years, I’m a bit hesitant.
South Africa is a safe place to travel alone. I’ve done it a couple times.
Let me know when you want to come and I will be your guide too. 🙂
Wow, thanks Girl. I believe it is, but I more meant other countries in Africa, but Joan, I will keep it in mind 🙂 Always great to meet new amazing people!
Oh this sounds and looks so wonderful. Three whole months. That’s just fantastic. I wish I had any suggestions at all but pretty much all I know about Africa has come from you. That Lion picture alone is enough to make anyone want to go. I’m not sure with that long itinerary how you’ll take on any more ideas but I know you will. The planning is some of the most fun.
I do love the planning part. Maybe you’ll trip over some article in the near future for a suggestion.
Love your plan Gaelyn and am so looking forward to the trip. Studying the biodiversity along the way is going to be exciting.
The count down is on and I’ll spend the next month and half in anticipation.
Me too!! 🙂
The only thing that I can possibly suggest is…squeeze a nap in there somewhere girlfriend…you’re going to need it! (This suggestion should definitely put me on that gift list…how can you NOT take a nap over a three month time period! =o)
Well you’re definitely on the list with this suggestion. But let me warn you, I’m not usually a napper.
Well, I had to take a nap half way through your to-do list! =o)
I have nothing to offer because I know absolutely nothing about South Africa, but I am very impressed by what you’ve mapped out for yourself and the fact that your departure date is my birthday – well, I think that’s a great sign! Ha! Ha! Safe travels and I look forward to following the journey.
How cool is that. I’ll send you a birthday wish from the airport.
Thanks!
Wow, Gaelyn, your itinerary is very good. Kgalagadi National Park is a must-visit. The West Coast National Park, too. We don’t visit any parks in Namibia but just to ride through that beautiful and progressive country is an uplifting experience. We prefer it to Botswana. Perhaps you could visit the Richtersveld – one of the best holidays we’ve ever spent was in the 90’s in this part of Namibia. We’re also hoping too meet up with Jonker in PE next time out. We’re in SA from 12 January until 12 February so perhaps we’ll meet up again. (((Hugs))) Jo
I saw West Coast last year but Joan hasn’t been there so hope to go again. Sure hope we can hook up while we’re all there.
You say: This visit I really want to spend more time staying in one place, set up a base to explore from.
You then have a list of over 30 places/things to see or do and you have over 20 markers on the map. It seems to me that your goal (spend more time in one place) and your plans are at odds with each other. Then you ask for more suggestions of what to see and do?
I suggest you re-consider your goal then adjust your plans to fit. But then again maybe I’m waaaay off base and you can fit it all in.
I always make a list much longer than I know I can do. Gives me lots of options. Plus I’ll be there three months so should be able to spend days to a week in many of these places. Just the way I roll. 🙂
Gaelyn’s coming to visit!!! Yay!!! I’m sure you are hard at work busy planning. When you have a more detailed outline please let me know. I wanted to contribute on your last visit by organising things for you but then time caught me and I got busy and never did. I’ll start asking around. Please let me know around what time you will be in the Eastern Cape and on the way to the Garden Route and I will get cracking.
You did a great job last trip showing me around. As we work our way towards you will be in touch.
That’s wonderful Gaelyn! An ecotour seems like the best thing in the world. I have nothing to offer but my best wishes and thanks in advance for whatever you will be able to share. Virtual travel is fun too.
Gaelyn,meven if you’ve been to the Drakensberg before, don’t leave it out… Such lovely hikes and such beautiful natural surroundings 🙂
I love the Drakensberg. Hiked there in 2010. May get back this trip, if there’s time.
I will be eagerly looking for your blog posts from South Africa. My husband is attending a conference in Cape Town in October 2014 and I’m in charge of planning the rest of our trip.
It’s a wonderful country to visit. You can search on my site for past posts about South Africa. Let me know if you have any questions.
Wow! Looks like a pretty comprehensive itinerary already! We loved the red sands of Sousussvlei in Namibia. . . but that might be too huge a detour!
Hoping to get into Namibia but don’t know that I’ll make it that far. Good excuse to return.
What a wonderful trip you are planning to South Africa. I’m not sure if you would be interested but Madikwe Game Reserve is on the border of South Africa and Botswana. It’s an attempt by the government to repopulate the area with wildlife. Of course there are the usual range of safari accommodations from budget to luxury. Finding out if this has been successful would make an interesting article.
Thanks Donna. Madikwe is on my list probably towards the end of my visit in March.
Will definitely be following and clicking, Gaelyn! What an amazing trip you have planned…
Thanks Lynda.