Cape Town and the Garden Route tour

Planet

Wildlife:
We do a number of wildlife oriented activities, such as game drives in Addo Elephant National Park, exploring the waterfalls and forests of Tsitskamma National Park and visiting an ostrich form in Oudtshoorn. In including these places on our tours, we are contributing to the employment of local staff here, the upkeep of facilities for people and animals and also promoting a responsible treatment of wildlife, as opposed to the alternatives like poaching and hunting.

UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.

People

Community:
There is the fantastic opportunity to go on a township tour in Port Elizabeth at the beginning of the trip- or in Cape Town at the end. We can visit a local ‘Shebeen’, which originally meant an illegal drinking den, and now refers to a legal tavern. Our visit here really gives an insight into the life of many South Africans that a lot of tourists don’t get to experience. Small local businesses really benefit from this type of tour as we pay for a home cooked, typically South African meal and travellers are often tempted to buy souvenirs here.

Accommodation & Meals:
We stay in small, locally run hotels and guest houses, chalets and one night on a guest farm. By spreading our business to many local establishments, we are making a positive impact by sustaining a demand for local employment. The guest farm in particular is a great example. The Stellenbosch region produces some of the best wine in the world and we have the chance to sample local produce and stay the night here. This kind of enterprise provides jobs for locals working in the vineyards, the hotel and it also encourages the production of regionally specific wine. This trip includes all breakfasts and where meals are not provided, your guides will be able to point out the best local cafes and restaurants. We recommend ostrich sausages, traditional ‘Pap’ (maize & water) and snoek fishcakes.

A Fair Deal:
We work closely with our local operator and ensure that all of our guides are local and that in exchange for their expertise on the wildlife, environment and culture that they are paid and treated fairly. The leaders will give a briefing on Responsible Tourism issues to help you understand how you can help reduce your impact and maximise the benefits to the local community from your visit. By supporting and employing these people we are helping to ensure that their wildlife areas, scenic beauty and historical significance generate value for the community and are therefore appreciated and protected from development and exploitation.

Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.