Responsible Tourism

Ecotourism and its supporters declare to leave the places and countries they visit untouched. In travelling to natural destinations the eco-tourist will respect the flora and fauna by not damaging it and by leaving only a trail of footprints, taking only the memories back home. If you are an eco-tourist you are telling the world that you are a responsible tourist. Thus, ecotourism focuses on environmental responsibility. Ecotourism aims at making the tourist sensitive to the beauty and the fragility of nature. Therefore, an eco-tourist will respect the set boundaries at natural sites and will obey all rules and regulations at a sanctuary, game reserve or natural destination.

With a rapidly changing world, new terms and phrases are born every day. Although the word tourism is well-known to old and young and eco is a term which has become a household name, many people are not so sure what the word Ecotourism involves. Eco- tourism involves many different programs. Basically the intention with Ecotourism is to visit a beautiful area without negative influence on the surroundings and the wildlife. It sounds plain and simple, but ecotourism involves more than this.

Many governments are focusing on educating tourists in order to minimize the impact on nature. More and more people are travelling abroad visiting countries for the natural environments and wildlife. If tourists and their hosts are allowed to do as they like, many malpractices might take place. People are visiting and taking interest in provincial parks, game reserves and remote destinations more and more every year. The world might even lose more of its natural heritages if people do not focus on preserving natural and historical destinations. Ecotourism will protect both ecosystems and cultural diversity. A place like South Africa has such a rich diversity of cultures, natural resources, flora and fauna to offer. In other countries you can observe animals like lion, elephant and rhinos in cages, but South Africa offers the traveller the real McCoy. In this country you can admire the big five in their natural environment.

There are several regions in South Africa that are open to eco tourism. One region is the Limpopo. Anyone who is familiar with Rudyard Kipling will remember the Limpopo River as the place where the elephant got his trunk. Not only is the Limpopo river the place where the elephant got his trunk, it’s also the province that is the furthest north in South Africa. Any further north and you end up in Zimbabwe, Botswana, or Mozambique. The Limpopo is one of the best places to go for ecotourism. Not only is it a beautiful region, it is also packed with history. While the history is great, it’s not the main focus of eco tourists. The main attraction is the wildlife.

One of the main attractions in Limpopo is the Kruger National Park. It is the largest national park in South Africa and its borders enclose 20 000 square kilometres. Apart from all the trees and more than 500 species of birds, there are more than 140 species of mammals in the Kruger National Park. You are sure to see one of the Big Five and you can visit four different regions. Each region has its own character and is a home to animals that prefer that specific area and flora. For example, the central regions are home to the lion, leopard and cheetah. Amazingly, this area is well-known for 60 prides of lion and also hosts a large population of leopards and cheetahs. With so many predators it is obvious that there will also be a large number of animals for them to prey on. Therefore, you will find many giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and antelope in the central region of the Kruger National Park. The Kruger National Park offers its visitors many rest camps in this area where there is such a diversity of animals.

Any country that is rich in scenic beauty and wildlife must consider Ecotourism. Ecotourism implies practices that would benefit all concerned parties and is essential if a country wants to lessen the impact of tourists on the environment. Visit the Kondowe site to book your bushveld holiday.