DISCOVERING PEOPLE & PLACES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA EDITION 2 - 2021 be the difference ResponsibleWhat makes for a really great wine? Flo smiles and says, “Good soil makes for great wine. We work hard with what nature gives us and give the vineyard what it needs”.responsible traveller 1 WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER. It has been such a pleasure putting this mammoth edition together – all 165 pages of it, and choc-a-block full of fabulous responsible tourism stories. Starting in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Park, where we visit Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe - and show that tourism in the region really is ready to host travellers, post Covid-19 lockdowns. We explore Azura Benguerra Island and get the low-down of their community projects, and continue our exploration in Limpopo with a visit to Hoedspruit, Baobab Ridge and the luxurious Saseka Tented Camp. And in the Western Cape we head up the West Coast to explore nature’s splendour with the spring flower display. We chat to Chris Godenir of Dream Hotels & Resorts, Tracey Bolton of Banyon Tree Ilha Caldeira, and hear the great history of The Cavern in the KZN Drakensberg. Floricius of Groot Constantia shares about his love of the soil and the difference it makes to wine-making, and we celebrate the conservation success of a leopard released at Finfoot Lake Reserve and heart-warming community stories with Uthando SA. Enjoy the read, and as always, be the difference. Tessa edition 1 - 2021 PUBLISHER / EDITOR Tessa Buhrmann Cell: 083 603 9000 ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES tessa@responsibletraveller.co.za DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS www.responsibletraveller.co.za RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER PUBLISHED BY Spotted Mongoose Media CC (CK 2008/178482/23) CONTACT DETAILS P.O. Box 3, Gillitts 3603 KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Tel: +27 31 7674022 MAGAZINE INFORMATION COVER IMAGE: Azura Benguerra Island pic -supplied Disclaimer: Responsible Traveller is published by Spotted Mongoose Media CC. The information provided and the opinions expressed in this publication are done so in good faith and while every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents, neither the managing editor nor the publisher can be held responsible for any omissions or errors; or for any misfortune, injury or damages that may arise. All rights are reserved and no material from this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. EDITION 2 2021 03 RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER - CELEBRATING RESPONSIBLE TOURISM SINCE 2008Contents EDITION 2 - 2021 NEWS 08 Travel 10 Conservation 12 Environment TRAVEL 16 Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Park - Zambia, Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe 46 Experiential Travel with Table Mountain 50 Getting to the heart of Azura Benguerra Island 64 Baobab Ridge & its ‘secret spice’ 72 Hoedspruit, a little town with a huge heart 80 Bushwillow Private Villa 88 Saseka Tented Camp, a feast for the senses 96 Nature’s Splendour on the West Coast 104 Banyan Tree Ilha Caldeira 16 64 50 88 96 04 EDITION 2 2021Visit www.westcoastway.co.za Call 0861 321 777 3-DAY WEST COAST TOUR WAMAKERSVLEI NATURE EXPERIENCE T r ac t or R ou t e Wild Route Cultu re R ou t e Be r g R ou t e START F oodie R ou t e Expertly guided nature exploration by foot, boat and air-conditioned tour vehicle - Sunset Salt Pan & Beach Walk - Sandveld Botanical Walk - San Cave Culture Walk - 06 EDITION 2 2021 CONTENTS PEOPLE 110 Tracey Bolton, survivor extraordinare 120 The Cavern, & the beauty of building a dream 126 Q&A with Chris Godenir of Dream Hotels & Resorts CONSERVATION 130 Dream Diaries: Chapter One - Leaping back into the Wild 136 Groot Constantia - a sense of place 146 Milestone with Sanbona COMMUNITY 152 Re-build & Re-imagine with Uthando SA 164 Solar Mamas with Great Plains 126 136 152 130 146BOOK WITH US TODAY: 24hr Central Reservations: +27 (0)861 010 347 www.dreamresorts.co.za RESET. RECONNECT. Planning your dream getaway? You can find the perfect spot with Dream Hotels & Resorts. Our varied and dynamic collection of over 20 destinations is no coincidence. We strive to discover the special qualities of a location by pinpointing those hidden gems especially designed for those who long to explore and rediscover South Africa.08 EDITION 2 2021 NEWS NEWMARK HOTELS, Reserves, Lodges & Residences launches the Catalyst Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa. Set in a tree-lined suburban sanctuary in the heart of Johannesburg’s residential Sandton, The Catalyst Hotel opens its doors today for the first time and aims to live up to its name by sparking a change in the way people invest, live and visit South Africa’s financial capital. READ MORE MAURITIUS WELCOMES its first wave of tourists after lifting quarantine restrictions. The Republic of Mauritius officially reopened its borders today, as it lifted restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers. From today, visitors will be able to freely explore the paradise island’s beaches, mountains, waterfalls and lagoons from the moment they land. READ MORE THE FESTIVAL THAT got tour guides back on their feet . What happens when you’re a tour guide and the world ‘locks down’? You experience no income for 61 weeks – or more. This was the reality faced by Shelley Mileham, a 49-year-old, self-employed tour guide based in Cape Town. READ MORE TRAVELEDITION 2 2021 09 FRANSCHHOEK’S LA PETITE Ferme appoints talented new head chef. La Petite Ferme, the renowned manor house and vineyard suites on the Franschhoek Pass and member of The Nest Collection, has appointed a talented new head chef. Odette Olivier comes with a wealth of local and international experience and is set to re-invigorate the dining experience at one of the Cape’s most scenic locations. READ MORE EXPLORE SPIER’S serene food garden — and harvest your own bounty of seasonal produce. Over the last 18 months, an old horse paddock at Spier Wine Farm has been transformed into a thriving food garden. The roughly one-hectare garden’s bounty includes fruits, herbs, salad greens and vegetables — all cultivated using eco- friendly and regenerative techniques. READ MORE TINTSWALO RECOGNIZED with Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. Two of Tintswalo’s properties received the nod in the recently announced 2021 Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Tintswalo Safari Lodge is retaining its spot as one of the Top 20 Resorts in South Africa, while Tintswalo Atlantic was included in the Top 30 Hotels in Southern Africa list for the first time. READ MORENext >

NOTE: This publication is pending deletion. The account which was used to upload this publication needs to be renewed in order for this publication to stay online.