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Responsible Travel in Africa

As more travelers have become aware of the impact of tourism in the countries they visit, there are a growing number of websites that provide resources for responsible travel. Keywords such as "Responsible Travel," "Sustainable Tourism," "Ethical Travel," and "Ecotourism," all seem to hint at a complex code of travel rules, suggesting a restricted travel experience for the sake of political correctness. But in essence responsible travel comes down to a simple rule: Travel in a way that respects the people, culture and ecosystem of your destination and minimizes the impact you and your cultural values have on your destination. Below we have listed websites and programs in Africa which provide travel experiences that emphasize learning about the people and traditions of the various countries while treating the local environment and culture in a respectful and sustainable manner.


Responsible Travel in Africa

Featured Articles on Responsible Travel in Africa

Traveling Responsibly in West Africa: For Those Who Seek Raw Adventure Writ Large
Journey Botswana: New Safaris are a Lesson in a Ecology
Kenyan International Village Offers Hope and Meaningful Exchange by Paige Stringer
Community Ecotourism: Similar Opportunities and Challenges in South Africa and Mexico
Volunteer at a South African Game Preserve: Getting Up Close to an African Safari by Giving of Yourself by Lisa M. Chavis
Rural Tourism in Morocco: Women's Cooperative Promotes Development
Diving With Sharks in South Africa: Combining Ecotourism and Adventure
Letter from Ethiopia by Clay Hubbs
Kidnapped in Rwanda
Walking with Gorillas: Tracking Mountain Gorillas in Southwest Uganda
Nature Travel in Ghana, West Africa's Threshold
Namibian Safaris for the Responsible Traveler

Contact the program directors to confirm costs, dates, and other details. If you do not see the program you want in the country of your choice, look under Worldwide for programs located in several different regions

Disclaimer


Volunteer on a Monkey Conservation Project in South Africa
Getting involved with world-class conservation work on this volunteer project will take you to enjoy the variety of wonders that South Africa has to offer. GVI supports The Vervet Monkey Foundation, a sanctuary for over 700 primates (of which most are vervet monkeys), which is in need of volunteers who are prepared to become completely involved in the care and rehabilitation of these wonderful wild animals. Volunteers can join for four weeks and upwards, and will be fully trained in all aspects of animal care needed. Located in a beautiful region at the foot of the Wolkberg Mountains, an hour and a half drive from the Kruger National Park, you can experience the fascinating flora and fauna of South Africa and enjoy life in a traditional African bush camp.

Volunteer on a Monkey Conservation Project in South Africa

Dates: 4 to 20 week durations available, visit the website for upcoming start dates
Costs: From $1740 for 4 weeks
Email Contact: info@gviworld.com
Phone Contact: +1 888 653 6028 (USA) or +44 (0) 1727 250 250 (UK)
Where do I go from here? Visit the website for more information on this wildlife conservation project

Featured

Wildlife Conservation Expedition in South Africa
Experience Africa’s large game such as lion, leopard, elephant and hyenas whilst gaining conservation and game reserve experience on this incredible wildlife research expedition based in two stunning locations of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Volunteers will learn to monitor wildlife using tracking skills and telemetry (for collared predators) developed on the week long training program. Volunteers may also possibly get involved with the darting and fitting of radio tracking collars to lions and leopards to further research work. Volunteers can also apply their new knowledge and enjoy the cooler air during satellite camps to some of the breathtaking mountain habitats participating in conservation and biodiversity studies. Volunteers will build upon their training, gaining knowledge and developing practical field skills throughout their time on the program ensuring a well rounded, education and rewarding wildlife volunteering experience deep in the African bush.

Volunteer Marine Conservation in South Africa

Dates: 2, 5 or 10 weeks, visit the website for upcoming start dates
Costs: From $1590 for 2 weeks
Email Contact: info@gviworld.com
Phone Contact: +1 888 653 6028 (USA) or +44 (0) 1727 250 250 (UK)
Where do I go from here? Visit the website for more information on this wildlife conservation expedition

Featured

Action Africa Volunteer & Development Programme
Volunteer Projects, Internships and GAP Years in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi
Are you up for a challenge and life-changing experience? In our projects in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi you have the great opportunity to make a difference and to work with the community on a grass-root level. Join our non-profit organisation and take part in a variety of projects in the sectors of environmental conservation, animal welfare, children & youth development, community development and cultural research.

Regardless if you are in university, professional or even retired, all ages are welcome to support us in improving livelihoods and the conditions of our environment.

Action Africa

Dates: The projects are ongoing and volunteers can join us on a daily basis
Cost: Project fees ranging from US$500 for two weeks up to US$2000, for 3 months placement. We also offer the possibility of Lodge-Stays. If a volunteer wishes to stay rather in a lodge than a host family, please contact our team directly to give you the exact costs for the placement.
Contact: Action Africa, Programme Coordinator, 6078 Mkhosana, PO Box C.T. 502, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Tel / Fax 00263-13-40097 / 00263-13-40097
Email: mail@action-africa.org
Website: www.action-africa.org

Featured

African Conservation Experience
Conservation work placements on game reserves in South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Fees from £2,700 ($5,300) for four weeks up to £4,000 ($7,860) for 12 weeks, including flights from London.

Contact: P.O. Box 28, Ottery St. Mary, Devon EX11 1ZN, U.K.; 011-44-870-241-5816; www.ConservationAfrica.net

African Impact
Wildlife Conservation Projects
Interesting conservation and volunteer projects throughout Africa.

Contact: impact@africanencounter.org, www.africanimpact.com

AVIVA
Convervation Projects in South Africa
A variety of volunteer social work and conservation projects throughout South Africa. See their website for details.

Contact: info@aviva-sa.com, www.aviva-sa.com.

Azafady
A registered U.K. charity (No. 1079121) and Malagasy Non-Governmental Organization working in southeast Madagascar to alleviate poverty, improve well-being and protect beautiful unique environments. Azafady offers two volunteer programs: "Pioneer Madagascar" - which allows volunteers to work at a grassroots level, helping to combat extreme poverty and environmental degradation; and "Lemur Venture" - which is specifically focused on conservation efforts to aid threatened lemur populations.

Contact: Studio 7, 1A Beethoven St., London W10 4LG, U.K.; 011-44-208-960-6629; www.madagascar.co.uk

Blue Ventures
An award winning not-for-profit organisation dedicated to facilitating projects and expeditions that enhance global marine conservation and research. The field research of Blue Ventures projects is carried out by our overseas volunteers, who work closely with our field research scientists and camp staff. We are currently looking for overseas volunteers to work at our site in Andavadoaka, Madagascar in Africa.

Contact: enquiries@blueventures.org, www.blueventures.org

Center for Global Education
Travel-Study Seminars in South Africa
Learn from Southern Africans of diverse backgrounds about their economic, political, and social realities. Emphasis on the views of those struggling for justice. Call for details or to organize your own custom trip.

CYTOFWEA
Charity Youth Travel Organisation for Working Experience Abroad, NGO arranges volunteer placements for self-funding international volunteers in Ghana in the fields of health, early childhood development, teaching at all levels, forestry, environmental protection, tourism, etc. Minimum stay 3 months. Accommodation is provided.

Contact: P.O. Box MA 30, Ho V/R, Ghana; 011-233-91-27008; cytofwea2001@yahoo.com.

Community Tourism - Trekking in Ethiopia's Highlands
Trekking facilities (accommodation, food, guides etc) are offered to tourists in stunning landscapes and hosted by local communities. The enterprises are run for and by communities in North Wollo, Ethiopia (near Lalibela). This is your chance to get off the beaten trail and see the treal Ethiopia.

Contact: chapman@ethionet.et, www.community-tourism-ethiopia.com

Eco Programs: Students Mountains Expeditions and Game Safaris [SMESA] Programme
Travel opportunity for students worldwide to visit and experience the World Heritage Sites in Tanzania. This include climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru; and Game Safaris to Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti, and Tarangire.

Contact: info@ecoprograms.or.tz, www.ecoprograms.or.tz

Frontier
Carries out environmental surveys in Tanzania and Madagascar (as well as Cambodia, Fiji, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and others) that use paying volunteers for 4, 8, 10, or 20 weeks to work in coral reefs, savannas, forests, and mangrove areas as part of ongoing conservation programs.

Contact: 50-52 Rivington St., London EC2A 3QP, England; 011-44-207-613-2422; www.frontier.ac.uk.

Global Exchange
Responsible Travel in South Africa
You won't find a safari on this trip because South Africa has so much more to offer. On this alternative, socially responsible tour you will explore the troubling history of this complex country and marvel at how the people have emerged as a unified nation. Witness the ever-changing look of South Africa as we travel from Johannesburg to Umtata to Cape Town - from sophisticated cities to traditional rural villages to the townships in-between.

Contact: realitytours@globalexchange.org, www.globalexchange.org/tours

Global Seekers Development Expeditions
Volunteer in East Africa Program

Our Alternative travel services offer an unforgettable African experience, including educational and cultural tours in Kenya and Tanzania.

Contact: info@globalseekers.com, www.globalseekers.com.

Ibike Tours / International Bicycle Fund
Ibike Tunisia Odyssey

Small group, immersion, bicycle tours, designed to get you out of the box, enrich your life and introduce you to the rich diversity of the people, their culture and the environment of the area. IBF programs are designed to provide participants an opportunity to learn more about the world at a person-to-person level not usually available to tourist. Itineraries highlight the cultural, historical, economic and physical diversity of the area. Traverse the diverse cultures & fascinating lifestyles & beautiful landscapes of the coastal & Sahara zones of Tunisia. It is a wondrous array of people, architecture, cultures and landscape
Ibike Tanzania Surf to Summit
Starting on Zanzibar and ending with a climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro; extraordinary diverse scenery, friendly people, visits to national parks, development projects, traditional villages and much more.
Ibike Uganda Pearl of Africa
Uganda features: traditional villages, social programs, development projects, schools, national parks, wildlife, the extraordinary beautiful scenery of western Uganda and a lot of people contact.
Ibike South Africa Sojourn
Features include: wonderful meetings with people at schools, development projects, social & environmental programs, visits to national parks, and breathtakingly beautiful biking.
Ibike Mali Sahel Journey
Explore the lifestyle of the "Sahel", including a once-in-a-lifetime boat trip on the Niger River, visits to Timbuktu and the fascinating, culturally rich Mopti/Djenne/Dogon region of Mali.

Contact: ibike@ibike.org, www.ibike.org/ibike

Kameleon Adventures
Wildlife Volunteer Projects in South Africa
We offer Volunteer Work Placements on hugely valuable conservation projects in South Africa where your support is vital for the survival of many habitats and animals in Africa. Each project has been handpicked by us for the quality of the educational program, the passion of the teams and their dedication to conservation and wildlife.

Contact: info@kameleonadventures.co.uk, www.kameleonadventures.com

people and places
Responsible Volunteering in Africa

Offer several projects — in Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and The Gambia — which enable each and every volunteer to make worthwhile contributions to communities of immense cultural richness, great ethnic and religious tolerance, yet often economically poor and in need of help, especially in the areas of education, business and economic development.

Contact: kate.peopleandplaces@yahoo.co.uk, www.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk

Projects Abroad
Volunteer Conservation Work in South Africa
Work at a Game reseve on the border of South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique.

Contact: info@projects-abroad.org, www.projects-abroad.org

Real Africa Excursions Ltd.
Volunteer work visits and vacations, missions trips, school-college or youth exchange visits, cultural and community excursions, to Uganda and Kenya, for groups and individuals. Have you ever wished to go to Africa have fun and also make a difference in the lives of the people you meet? explore Africa while assisting those who are less fortunate?would you like to try something different?, come to Africa with us and make this an unforgettable experience.

Contact: info@real-africa.co.uk, www.real-africa.co.uk.

ReefDoctor: Volunteer Research Program in Magagascar, Africa. A small not-for-profit organisation which completes coral reef research and conservation on unstudied reef in SW Madagascar. ReefDoctor has positions in its volunteer research programme to anyone with diving qualification (min. of PADI OpenWater) willing to join in Ifaty for a minimum of two months (starting in November 2004 and then March 2005). Volunteers learn underwater survey techniques, including fish and coral ID skills, belt transects, quadrats etc, help to teach English at our local school and participate in our survey dives (twice a day).

Contact: info@reefdoctor.org, www.reefdoctor.org

Save the Earth Network
Voluntary positions as English and maths teachers in primary and junior secondary schools, in rainforest conservation projects, youth work, agro-forestry in or near Accra.

Contact: P.O. Box CT 3635, Cantonments-Accra, Ghana; 011-233-21-667791; ebensten@yahoo.com.

Tembeza Kenya
Conservation, Teaching and Work Experience in Kenya
Tembeza Kenya is an organisation which specialises in bringing people from all over the world to Kenya, and facilitating voluntary work placements for them in various sectors in desperate need of help. From wildlife conservation to teaching, and from community-based work to medicine, Tembeza Kenya supports an ever-expanding network of organizations across the country that would love for you to come and lend a hand.

Contact: info@tembezakenya.com, www.tembezakenya.com.

Timeless Ethiopia Tour
Discover Ethiopia for its Timeless Treasures!!
Timeless Ethiopia Tours is a private Ethiopian owned tour company that offers wide selections of package, tailor-made and customized tours throughout the beautiful and timeless country of Ethiopia.

Contact: tours@timelessethiopia.com, www.timelessethiopia.com

Volunteer in Africa: Internships and Volunteer Work in Ghana
Participants are placed on worthwhile and meaningful projects that includes orphanage projects, street children projects, HIV/AIDS education projects, hospitals and clinics (health), schools, tree planting projects, churches, computer training projects etc. Participants stay with carefully selected, respectable and dedicated host families. We also organize 3-day and 9-day group tours for our volunteers, interns and visitors.

Contact: ghanaprograms@yahoo.com, www.volunteeringinafrica.org/programs.htm

Volunteer in Africa with Volunteer Adventures!
Work and live with the amazing wildlife of Africa when you volunteer with Volunteer Adventures. Our projects give you the opportunity to get up close and personal with the animals on the African safari, such as lions, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, impalas, antelope and many others. As a volunteer, you will be able to observe, rescue, and care for wildlife in Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Volunteering with Volunteer Adventures gives you the unique chance to learn about incredible wildlife, work with professional rangers on the safari, and experience the countries and culture of southern Africa.

Contact: volunteer@volunteeradventures.com, www.volunteeradventures.com

Youth International
An experiential education program focusing on international travel and intercultural exchange, adventure, community service, and homestays. Teams of 14, aged 18-25, travel together for 1 semester of 3 1/2 months to Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, and India) or Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and Namibia) or South America (Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, including the Galapagos islands). Assist refugees, hike the Himalayas or the Andes, live with and help an African tribe, scuba dive in the Galapagos, and much more.
International Expeditions with Global Vision International
Cross-Cultural Solutions: Volunteer Abroad
Latin America Travel Survey
Storytelling and Reponsible Travel

Community-based Tourism in Ethiopia