Conscious Travel – Page 2

June 1, 2022

The desert rain frog

Not many people can claim that a rain frog was named after them – even fewer can assert that they were once almost arrested for searching for one – in a desert of all places. Let me introduce you to the world of frog expert Vincent Carruthers.

June 1, 2022

Birding in Lüderitz

I wonder if any of those pioneers in the early 1900s ever saw Barlow’s Lark (Calendulauda barlowi) at Pomona, or the Dune Lark (C. erythrochlamys) in the dunes near Lüderitz? Looking at the barren ‘killing fields’ those diamond hunters left behind as memories for later generations, I doubt it very much. I suppose the diamond’s blinding effect on your eyes has the same effect on your mind. In the end, it’s the larks that are still around, and not those diamond hunters.

June 29, 2022

Pangolin conservation

Despite being the most trafficked animal in the world, there is surprisingly little known about pangolins.

September 1, 2022

Turning travel into impact: Celebrating 10 years of TOSCO

The uproar in the Namibian tourism industry as a result of the poisoning incident was a direct reason for stakeholders to open the dialogue. The consensus towards the end of the meeting was overwhelming: an organisation was needed to strengthen the relationship of the tourism industry with communities and conservation organisations. That same year, Félix founded the Tourism Supporting Conservation Trust which has become known as TOSCO.

June 21, 2023

The land of sand and freedom: Birds of a feather

We feel tremendously privileged to know some nature specialists who are founts of knowledge. Luckily, they are also amazing human beings who share their wisdom and their knowledge. Birds of a feather flock together. As this story is about our birding experiences over the years, that seemed like an apt segue.

September 28, 2023

A sensory feast in the lap of isolation on the Skeleton Coast

Shipwreck Lodge: A Journey Through the Untouched Beauty of Namibia's Skeleton Coast | Witness Rare Wildlife Encounters, Stunning Landscapes, and Cozy Cabin Retreats

September 28, 2023

Namibia’s most endangered species

Explore the Precarious Existence of Namibia's Most Endangered Species and the Ongoing Efforts to Preserve Their Future.

September 28, 2023

Pedalling for a purpose: The RMB & Wilderness Ride for Rhinos 2023

Join the RMB & Wilderness Ride for Rhinos 2023 and Experience an Unforgettable Adventure in Namibia's Wilderness, All for a Noble Cause.

January 5, 2024

Khaudum + Nyae Nyae

Khaudum National Park has justifiably been described as ‘Namibia’s last wilderness’ and ‘Namibia’s lost wilderness’. It is renowned for its large herds of elephants, packs of wild dogs and one of the largest populations of roan antelope in addition to various other species.

January 17, 2024

The Kavango-Zambezi transfrontier ELEPHANT SURVEY

The first flight to begin an elephant survey covering parts of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe took off from a dirt strip in Zimbabwe on 22 August 2022. The survey area, known as the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), hosts over half of Africa’s savanna elephants, which underlines the importance of the survey.

January 21, 2024

Empowering the Visually Impaired

There are around 32,000 Namibians who are visually impaired. These individuals face many challenges to find stable employment, such as ignorance, social stigma and limited access to educational programmes. However, one company in the business of rejuvenation is rewriting the script. Nomad Wellness Homestead is a sanctuary of relaxation in the capital city of Windhoek.

January 21, 2024

ECO AWARDS NAMIBIA

Eco Awards Namibia is the only certification program for rating sustainability in Namibian tourism establishments. It is an NGO partnership of twelve organisations, representing the private sector, civil society, parastatals, tertiary institutions and the government, including the Namibian Tourism Board.

March 1, 2024

Making Mindful Moves along coastal shores

Making mindful travel choices helps us to slow down and appreciate the finer details of what is going on around us. This can have a positive effect on our carbon footprint and the environment, whilst supporting local markets and people. We have created a list of a few of the mindful, conscious or environmentally friendly places you can visit on your trip to the coastal town of Swakopmund.

March 4, 2024

Slofari: Namibia allows you the time to s-l-o-w down

Slow travel is a mindful approach of taking the time to see less, but experience more. It is about exploring one or two regions rather than sprinting through an entire country merely to tick the boxes. Slow travel is about immersing yourself within a culture to better understand its people and their way of life. It is about partaking in authentic, community-led experiences with those who have the best interests of the environment at heart.

March 5, 2024

Gardens in the desert

On the edge of the Namib Desert, at the gateway to Sossusvlei, lies the village of Maltahöhe. Founded in 1899 and once a hub for tourism, Maltahöhe has been on a steady decline for a number of decades. As it became more dilapidated, this small southern community saw an exodus of businesspeople and a massive spike in unemployment. What had been a welcome stopover was now a place that visitors would rather pass through in a hurry. But this was in the past, and today Maltahöhe is on track to become a thriving desert-based economy thanks to an exciting community revitalisation project called RuralRevive.

March 21, 2024

Local Agricultural Initiative Boosts Education and Community Well-being

Ahealthy diet is the cornerstone of a successful school career and in the Kavango West Region the Mungongi Agricultural Project has played a pivotal role in supporting local schools through food sponsors thanks to surplus harvests.

March 28, 2024

Giving Plastic Pollution a Cute Face

Seals are popularly known as the dogs of the sea. This is because seals and dogs are physically similar and therefore classed in the same carnivore sub-order called Caniformes (meaning dog-like). Even their behaviour is similar, as seals are known to be playful and intelligent. Not surprisingly, humans can easily relate to seals as the marine version of man’s best friend.

June 4, 2024

Exploring Animal Movements: Unravelling the Rhythms of the Wild

Can a landscape exhale and inhale with the ebb and flow of life? Do animals adjust their movement patterns in response to shifts in resource availability? These fundamental questions regarding the characteristics of wilderness also extend to fenced areas and national parks. The evidence unequivocally confirms that animals pay little heed to man- made borders, whether they be physical fences or legally designated boundaries.

June 6, 2024

Suricates: nature’s highly social little guards that are too cute for their own good

Standing on its hind legs, keeping balance with the help of its tail, and holding its front legs together against its chest and stomach, the little mammal scans the open grassland and the blue sky. Suddenly its eyes are fixed on something high above. It takes me some time to spot the small black silhouette high up in the sky, which turns out to be a vulture gliding across the firmament. Yet no alarm call sends the other members of the group scrambling for safety. The little guard seems to know that this silhouette does not mean danger.

June 7, 2024

Rhino Guardianship Certificates: The future of sustainable conservation financing

In a pioneering move for conservation and sustainable finance, Namibia has introduced its first Nature Positive certificate through a collaborative effort between Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT) and the innovative technology firm Wadappt. This groundbreaking initiative utilises blockchain technology to verify conservation efforts, marking a significant advancement in the fight against wildlife crime and habitat destruction.