ECO-TOURISM IN SOUTH AFRICA

It is almost impossible to separate a tourism experience in South Africa from a nature experience. So rich is the country in scenic beauty and wildlife, that these facets remain the strongest motivation for overseas tourists to visit South Africa. No trip to the country would be complete with visits to cities or created resorts only; visitors flock to the better-known scenic regions and beaches and insist on a visit to a game park. And there is still a wealth of lesser-known areas to discover.
 
DEFINITION
As an eco-destination, South Africa has an enormous responsibility. The international definition of the word eco-tourism implies far more than merely a nature-experience. The term environment in its broader context has come to include the diverse community activities and cultures of a country's inhabitants, as well as its scarce and sensitive natural resources. Eco-tourism implies tourism practices that would benefit all concerned parties rather than benefit some concerns and neglect others. The term "eco-tourism" has therefore come to include concepts such as planning before development; sustain ability of resources; economic viability of a tourism product, no negative impact on either the environment and local communities; responsibility for the environment from developers, the tourism industry and tourists; environmentally-friendly practices by all parties concerned; and economic benefits flowing to local communities and may include:

• Purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and natural history of the environment, taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, while producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people.

• Travel undertaken to witness sites or regions of unique natural or ecologic quality, or the provision of services to facilitate such travel.
   
• A tourism market based on an area's natural resources that attempts to minimize the ecological impact of the tourism.
   
• Responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and sustains the livelihood of local people.
   The practice of touring natural habitats in a manner meant to minimize ecological impact.
   
• A combination of adventure travel, cultural exploration, and nature appreciation in wild settings.
   
• Travel that focuses on avoiding harm to wilderness areas and wildlife and wherever possible, actively contributes to their preservation.
   
• Nature-based tourism which is ecologically sustainable.
   
• The act of travelling with attention to nature¹s wonders and leaving them as they were found.
   
• Economic revenue generated by tourists who travel to a particular region to visit areas abundant in wildlife within beautiful geographic settings.
   
• Designed to counter the trend towards mass tourism, ecotourism is widely regarded as a valuable tool for protecting ecologically sensitive areas and species as well as providing sustainable economic help for often-impoverished communities.
   
• Tourism supported by natural ecological attributes of an area, for example bird-watching.
   
• Tourism to exotic or threatened ecosystems to observe wildlife or to help preserve nature
   

Mission - Far and Wild Safaris cc

We wish to promote ecotourism by bringing together peoples from all walks of life to develop in them a better understanding of themselves and their environmental heritage. To nurture a spirit of adventure whilst respecting our conservation ethics and to provide an enlightening, participatory travel experience to environments both natural and cultural, that contributes to the sustainable use of these environments. Whilst respecting the integrity of the host communities, produces economic opportunities that contribute to the long term conservation of the resource base and reinforces the concept that conservation can bring meaningful benefits.