Sustainable Tourism

Many people do travel. Now, more than ever, human beings are exploring the world around them.

Sustainable tourism is a way of traveling and exploring a destination while respecting its culture, environment, and people. Common sense says that this is simply the definition of travel and that the term ‘sustainable’ is unnecessary.

We should travel in a way that can benefit the people and communities we’re in, and that mitigates negative impacts of travel on the environment. Sustainable travel is about showing we care.

South Africa is a leader in responsible tourism and is a magnet for those who are interested in adventure, wildlife, culture, and history. Its history is complex and poignant, from the San who first inhabited the land to the establishment of Cape Town as a stopover for the Dutch along the spice trade route.

Creating a positive and lasting impact on the environment and community has become an increasingly important factor when visitors plan holidays. As one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and with South Africa being such a diverse melting pot of cultures, heritage sites, tourist attractions and adventure activities, our focus should be towards sharing the stories of change and preservation.

South Africa is home to a large number of sustainable tourism service providers belonging to organizations such as Fair Trade, Green Tourism Active and Responsible Tourism South Africa.

“The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see”

 

The desert delivers delectable dishes

Northern Cape food terroir

Whether you explore the ancient food culture of the Khomani San or prop up the bar at the venerable Kimberley Club. The food terroir of the Northern Cape offers food fundis a platter of unique epicurean opportunities and delicious traditional dishes.

The essence of Northern Cape food can be eaten in the Karoo.

The word Karoo is a Khoi-Khoi term meaning thirsty land. But the apparently arid plains are filled with liquid-retaining indigenous edible plants. The diets of Karoo goats and lambs, which are so good to eat, are rich in these plants. Including wild mint, wild garlic, buchu, and purslane.

Chilly evenings draw hungry diners to the fireside.

People come for roosterkoek and venison potjies. Not to forget roasted leg of lamb. And of course the slow-cooked pens-en-pootjies (tripe and trotters) stew.

http://www.southafrica.net/za/en/articles/entry/article-southafrica.net-northern-cape-food-terroir

Robertsons Masterclass – Milk Tart Recipe

Infused with cinnamon and a dash of Robertsons Nutmeg, a traditional Milk Tart is irresistible! If you’re looking for a simple recipe, here is one for you. Inexpensive and easy to prepare, this recipe is simple and guarantees great results. Watch the Robertsons Masterclass and follow the simple steps to create a delicious homemade Milk Tart. Robertsons Herbs & Spices is South Africa’s most loved spice brand and a proud.

South African cultural experiences

Hanging with South Africans

But nothing beats actually meeting people. South Africa’s many cultural villages offer a close-up insight into the country’s traditional cultures. In the major centers, township tours – conducted with sensitivity and pride – will put you in touch with real South Africans and their history. In the rural areas, community tours will help you get to know the country through the eyes of those who live here. You can discover ancient Setswana astronomy through the lens of a grandmother with an intimate knowledge of the ancient traditions. Or how about being taught to cook line fish the traditional way by the fishing community in Kalk Bay?

Cradle of Humankind

And remember, no matter where you’re from, this is where your roots are. It’s pretty much accepted that human life started in Africa. Most people look at the world differently after a tour of the Cradle of Humankind near Johannesburg – one of the richest hominid fossil sites in the world. Fossilized footprints near Cape Town, and the wealth of rock paintings and surviving shelters in KwaZulu-Natal’s Drakensberg mountains and elsewhere in the country, all testify to humanity’s origins on this ancient continent.

Wars, apartheid, reconciliation

More recently, South Africa’s history has been one of conflict and confrontation, but also of reconciliation and restitution. You can explore the battlegrounds where the bloody events that shaped the country took place.From Isandlwana or Talana in KwaZulu-Natal to Soweto in Johannesburg or Langa in Cape Town, our land tells a story – but one that can be difficult to interpret, so it’s worth doing a guided tour. We show the wounds of our past – visit the Women’s Monument in Bloemfontein, or the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. But we also announce our new-found unity. A trip to Robben Island will show just how powerful that attitude can be. We’ve taken a place of oppression, isolation and despair and turned it into a symbol of forgiveness and hope. That’s what South Africans are doing with the whole country.

SA info reporter and South African Tourism