VOICES 06


GOING GREEN


GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL DOESN’T NECESSARILY MEAN SACRIFICING LIFE’S LUXURIES. IN FACT, IT MEANS ENJOYING THE BEST OF THE WORLD FOR LONGER…


Dawn Jorgensen is The Incidental Tourist


(www.theincidentaltourist.com), a tourist with a deep love of Africa, its peoples and the environment. She’s a travel writer, blogger,


photographer, beauty-seeker and earth advocate.


T


he United Nations declared 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism, adding momentum to a long-term trend


and a sector of the industry that will, ideally, one day be the norm. Over the past decades, as the world’s


become more accessible, the increase in tourism numbers has had a negative impact on the environment, leading professionals in the travel industry to set in place criteria that will enforce responsible travel and protect our most popular destinations. In my own evolution, I’ve come to understand


the importance of what I refer to as “conscious travel”: the need to be mindful and respectful of our surroundings, whether these are urban or wilderness, of the people hosting us and the insights they offer into their worlds.


SHADES OF GREEN TRAVEL Among green travel trends, “staycations” have


increased in popularity, with many travellers choosing to stay local for their holidays. This has boosted local economies and communities, and is ideal for those wanting to avoid the time and expense of flights. Look for family-run businesses with a


strong eco feel, or for a Fair Trade in Tourism or Green Pearls endorsement, which ensures that environmental, economic and social values are upheld. Get to the core of responsible tourism by


eating locally sourced food, which supports resident farmers and creates job opportunities for the community, while giving you an authentic taste of home-grown cuisine. An issue making waves is animal rights in


tourism. Gone are the days when elephant- back riding or petting lion cubs was acceptable. The work of global activists, as well as documentaries like Blood Lions, have created new awareness of the message “hands off our wildlife”.


THE FEEL-GOOD FACTOR Private islands, off-the-grid walking trails and


remote community-run game lodges are the current sweethearts of sustainable travel. A favourite of mine is Anantara Medjumbe


Island Lodge, which is sensitively developed on a thin sliver of white sand that juts out of the turquoise ocean off northern Mozambique. Its strong eco-policies and off-the-grid success, as well as the opportunity to explore the protected marine world, make this a paradise found. The Travel Corporation and its family of brands is on a continued sustainability journey with its TreadRight Foundation and, under the guidance of its ambassador, Celine Cousteau, is seeking projects to support. An endearing example is the Be My Guest experience offered on its Trafalgar Tours, which invites tourists into private homes. For more active involvement, consider a


visit to Kenya’s east coast, where Watamu’s Local Ocean Trust welcomes volunteers to rescue turtles and educate the local fishing communities about ocean conservation. Fabulous experiences at eco-lodges Grootbos


Nature Reserve in the Overberg, Singita Grumeti in Tanzania and Chumbe Island off Zanzibar confirm that green and sustainable travel doesn’t mean forgoing luxury. It’s empowering to think that our responsible travel choices actually make a difference.


WORDS: DAWN JORGENSEN


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101