Leisure & Tourism

Anglers should always take home all their fshing equipment. Discarded hooks, sinkers, lines, and nets can be hazardous to humans as well as to wildlife.

Our coastline is fragile and vulnerable – take good care of it by taking your rubbish home. Around the world, over two million seabirds and 100 000 sea mammals die annually, trapped or injured by discarded rubbish.

There is no better way to get to know an area than by travelling about on foot or by bicycle, because the slower the travel, the deeper the experience. Not only is this fossil- fuel free travel, but walking and cycling are also healthy and invigorating exercise!

The Wild Card is a renewable membership card that allows member’s unlimited access to all parks, reserves and resorts of the participating partners, for a reduced annual fee. Not only will the wild card get you and your family out into beautiful natural places in South Africa, but it also makes an excellent eco-logical gift.

Some souvenirs cost the planet far more than you paid for them. Don’t buy anything made from endangered species. This includes animal hides and body parts; tortoise-shell; endangered woods; ivory and coral. At the beach, do not take any corals, shells or starfish as souvenirs – removing them can seriously disrupt the eco-system.

Stay on trails during hikes, do not remove plants or feed animals and take all your litter away with you when spending time in natural areas. Keep vehicles off sand dunes, as vegetation on dunes tends to be very sensitive and slow growing. And when you are washing in rivers or lakes, use biodegradable soap and shampoo that will not disrupt the aquatic ecosystem.

Tourism can be a wonderful tool for financially supporting local communities and encouraging conservation. Buy from local businesses and indulge in local delicacies rather than international chain stores. Use your money to support reputable, conservation-minded tour operators and suppliers who support local community development.

View and photograph wildlife from a distance and remember that in the optimal wildlife viewing experience, the animal will not know that you are there.

Learn about the local culture and take their beliefs and customs into consideration while interacting with locals. Learn a few words of the local language – you might sound a little silly, but your hosts will appreciate the effort! Hire a local guide – you’ll discover more about local culture and lives, and they will earn an income.

When travelling in South Africa or abroad, take advantage of economical forms of local public transport such as trains, buses and ferries. If you have safety concerns then travel only during busy times of the day and where possible travel together in a group.