The annual Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy (BHRC) mountain bike permits are now available online. Enjoy a 92km trail network through rolling hillsides, conservation areas, vineyards and farmland in the Bottelary Hills just outside Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands. Multiple route options cater for various skill and fitness levels. Fees range between R400 and R700 … [Read more...]
Exciting journey ahead for Somkhanda
Somkhanda Game Reserve covers over 12 000 hectares of land and is a community reserve owned by the Emvokweni Community Trust (ECT) and co-managed with WILDLANDS, a programme of the WILDTRUST. Since its establishment in 2005, it has achieved major milestones and has in the process earned its status of being a ‘Big Five’ reserve. Currently, over 80 community members are employed … [Read more...]
Environmental sector responds to Green Paper
The greening of SA's economy can create 460 000 new jobs, says the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) Green Paper on post-school education and training. Many of these jobs would be at an intermediate skills level. There therefore exists considerable potential to generate mid-level green skills through FET colleges that could be geographically focused around … [Read more...]
Doing good is good business
This was one of the founding principles of Pick n Pay. It’s in the DNA of how the company does business. But what does that mean and how are they supporting good? “Our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility goes back to when the company celebrated its 30th anniversary,” said Bronwen Rohland Pick n Pay Marketing and Sustainability Director, “it was then that the … [Read more...]
Brazilian couple win conservation award
A Brazilian husband-and-wife team of conservationists have won this year's prestigious National Geographic Society/Buffett Award for Leadership in Conservation. To do this, they created a 5,000-acre protected forest reserve and a Ugandan conservation manager who supervises all the protected areas and wildlife reserves in his country. Vitor Osmar Becker and Clemira Ordoñez … [Read more...]
Singita director to address global tourism conference
Mark Witney, Chief Operating Officer of Singita Game Reserves will be addressing the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference in Australia, which is taking place between 25 and 28 October 2010. Delegates from major tourism bodies across the world will attend this annual convention, themed Experience is Everything!, exploring experiential tourism, green tourism, ecotourism … [Read more...]
Big step for green tourism
When I go on holiday, I want to stay in certified green establishments. I have tried, believe me, but have I failed? The last time I was sent an invitation to visit and promote a new so-called green tourism site, I browsed through the list of beautiful places in search of the answer to my obvious question: What makes them green? Eventually I gave them a ring and asked for … [Read more...]
International certification for sustainable tourism
NaturCert announced the appointment of ETC-Africa as their South African partner. NaturCert operates through the international network of NaturCert representative offices and subsidiaries. Each network member is a separate and independent legal entity and operates locally in countries around the world. NaturCert's local partners provide NaturCert programs locally and perform … [Read more...]
What makes the green traveller tick?
The environmentally-aware traveller represents one of the fastest growing niche markets in the tourism, travel and leisure sectors today and this discerning market is set to become one of the key income generators in global tourism over the next decade. For the southern African travel industry, this global trend presents an opportunity for sustainable growth, but this will … [Read more...]
Rooibos goes greener
The South African Rooibos Council celebrated the second anniversary of its Rooibos biodiversity initiative at a recent Biodiversity Information Day, held near Clanwilliam in the Western Cape. Representatives from various nature conservation agencies and government departments joined Rooibos farmers and other industry players to celebrate this milestone. It was an opportunity … [Read more...]
