“IF tourism is to become sustainable in the long term then tour companies need to start providing avenues for tourists to give back to the people, places and animals that they come here to see,” says Nomad Adventure Tours, and consequently has developed a series of ‘volun-tours’.
The Nosizwe, Izula and Ubuntu tours take in spectacular South African scenery but at the same time allow clients to get involved in different volunteer projects that were selected by a tourism and development expert for their relevance and potential impact.
On the first day of any tour the group will be given a skills assessment to help the guides to match the clients to involvement - this makes the best use of the group’s human resources, says Nomad.
Tours include assisting at the Judah Square Community in Knysna, where volunteers can help in the crèche’s or orphanage, youth training at a community centre, maintaining a garden, or the upkeep of the Khayaletu River Trail.
The Eastern Cape is one of the least developed provinces in South Africa, and in Lusikisiki volunteers help with the building and infrastructure projects at a Gwexintaba community. One of the community projects is involved in producing leather sandals, tree planting, gardening, basic English skills and alien vegetation clearing.
In Swaziland volunteers get involved with craft and permaculture at the Swazi Shewula project.
The Jane Goodall Foundation has branched out from its original roots on Lake Tanganyika to try and address issues such as the trans-location of chimpanzees. A day and a half is spent at the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden near Nelspruit, South Africa, where clients scientifically monitor the behaviour patterns of the chimpanzees and support the full time rehabilitation team. All the chimps are rescued animals.
For more details se www.nomadtours.co.za