Africa On the Internet
 Travel
Africa Quarterly magazine, Summer 2002
Eco-Tourism Online, Page 91
A GLANCE AT the numerous hotlinks to other ethical travel websites on www.responsibletravel.com,
reveals the profusion of eco-tourism information available online.
A good starting point is www.ecotourism.org, the International Ecotourism Society
(TIES) site. TIES covers every aspect of eco-tourism, from how to make responsible
travel decisions (and with which companies) to details of courses, academic papers
and a member-only area with yet more information, jobs, trip discounts and special
offers. There’s also a bookshop and coverage of the UN International Year
of Eco-tourism (IYE). Vast it may be, but the site isn’t hard to navigate
and its presentation, with slabs of bright colour and children’s-book pictures,
conveys the message that eco-tourism is not the dull-but-worthy alternative to
fun holidays that many mistake it for.
Another site that’s enticing rather than off-puttingly worthy
(as well as easier on the eyes) is www.eco-resorts.com, an operator specializing
in Kenyan and Tanzanian holidays. Even if you’re not interested in visiting
either country the site’s worth perusing for accessible background information
about eco-tourism, how it helps Africa and how it enriches the traveler. It’s
also worth visiting, regardless of eco-issues, for its innovative products, including
the Woman to Woman safari (exploring Kenya through the eyes of its women),
art safaris and volunteer vacations. Trips can be tailor-made, with activities
ranging from diving to horse-riding, or there are suggested itineraries and group
departures.
Keep an eye on www.ecotour.org, the travel site of Conservation International.
There’s information on the IYE and a map showing the biodiversity hotspots
where CI works, many of which are in Africa. After much futile clicking, you realize
the map isn’t interactive and turn to the listed destinations. Disappointingly,
there’s only one in Africa: Ghana’s Kakum NP. But the information
is superb, with illustrated sections on activities, facilities, benefits to the
area and a list of local operators with whom to travel. Hopefully, more African
destinations will receive the same treatment in the near future.
A wide selection of tours and accommodation is available on www.greenstop.net,
a site that attempts to compensate for the worldwide lack of eco-ratings by awarding
green dots (one for an eco-effort, three for eco-excellence). The fascinating
background information and “did-you-knows” will get you thinking before
you travel.
Likewise, any trip available on www.responsibletravel.com has been vetted and
meets strict environmental and ethical criteria. Alongside its plethora of hotlinks,
the site offers the world’s largest selection of eco-holidays, including
unusual destinations like Congo and Gabon alongside classic safaris. Queries are
passed directly to operators and the “responsible” aspects of each
trip are explained. There are numerous articles and excellent background information
about eco-tourism. Navigating the site is all the more pleasurable for the quotes
scattered throughout (see the main Africa page for vintage AA Gill). I also liked
this, by Anon from Asia: “Tourism is like fire – you can cook your
dinner on it or it can burn your house down” – something Responsibletravel.com
understand well.
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to read and discover about ecotourism and the environment 