TAZAMA HAPA CHINI UJUMBE HUU KWA KISWAHILI / SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN SWAHILI

Adoringly known as ‘Dar’ by enthusiasts, Dar es Salaam, the former capital but still premier city of Tanzania, borders the warm Indian Ocean. Once a small, Swahili fishing village located in the centre of the East African coastline, Dar now leads Tanzanian access to one of the world’s most important sea routes.

A fisherman floats on the warm Indian Ocean near Mafia Island along Tanzania’s southern coast

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Posted under General, Tanzania, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news

VOIR CI-DESSOUS POUR CE MESSAGE EN FRANÇAIS / SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN FRENCH

Often called the ‘Red City’ or the ‘Jewel of the South’, Marrakech has for centuries been regarded as the quintessential Moroccan city. Once home to camel caravans, it is today a seamless fabric of old-world traditions and elements of the new, and continues to exude an unmatchable charm. Although Marrakech is not the country’s capital (a privilege belonging to Rabat), it is an epicentre of Moroccan tourism and one of Morocco’s Imperial Cities.

Jemaa el Fna Square of Marrakech, Morocco, with its Koutoubia Mosque in the background, is the beating heart of the city

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Posted under General, Morocco, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news

Image and text by Darron Raw,
whl.travel local connection in Swaziland

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Swaziland’s Gobholo Caves are unusual. They remain 95% unexplored and undocumented. What is known is that it is very rare to find caves of this age and magnitude in granite rock. Granite does not erode like most cave-forming rocks. Instead these caves were formed from an ancient boulder choke that has since being buried entirely underground. The cave is kept open by the periodic flooding of the Gobholo River that flows through the system for approximately two kilometres.

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Posted under General, Photo of the Week, Swaziland, countries

By Ethan Gelber

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The lion is one of the Big Five found in Kruger National Park, the country’s largest game reserve and a superb place for a safari (photo courtesy of South African Tourism)

The clock’s ticking. Every hour we move closer to 4pm South Africa time on 11 June 2010, when the World Cup 2010 kicks off in Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium. The anticipation is palpable, but so is the growing frustration and sometimes anger about the absurd room rates and out-of-focus travel opportunities in a country driven by high expectations.

So what are you to do? Are there reasonably priced accommodation options anywhere in South Africa? How can one find exciting and responsible travel options beyond the pomp of a month of games? And, as we’ve written about already, is there any way of ensuring that some of the money spent will be fairly distributed, so that the inflated profits benefit as wide a cross-section of people as possible, not just the already rich and powerful?
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Posted under General, South Africa, countries, local tips, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel newsletter

By Laura Fornadel

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When deliberating a honeymoon – an important rite of passage for all soon-to-be-married couples – traditional romantic cities like Venice or Paris are usually top destination choices. Few amorous outings compare to a stroll along the Seine or a gondolier’s serenade on the Venetian canals. This year, however, a new locale has topped a few lists for those in search of romantic settings… and it isn’t in Europe!

Newlyweds Ken and Isabella look to the horizon and contemplate their future at Anse Source d’Argent on la Digue Island in the Seychelles after their wedding

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Posted under General, Seychelles, countries, local tips, whl.travel newsletter

SIEN ONDER VIR DIE BOODSKAP IN AFRIKAANS / SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN AFRIKAANS

Notable as the locations of some of Africa’s preeminent water-sport destinations, Port Elizabeth and Addo National Park lie halfway between Cape Town and Durban on South Africa’s Eastern Cape. With a moderate climate and pleasant temperatures all year round, Port Elizabeth – more affectionately known as P.E. or the Friendly City by locals – and the surrounding region also offer exciting activities to terrestrial sports enthusiasts, nature lovers and history buffs alike.

Traditional wear in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, is still regularly seen. These two ladies are a prime example of the Xhosa heritage common throughout the province and in cities like Port Elizabeth.

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Posted under General, South Africa, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news

When the stadiums are empty, plan a tour or activity in or near the World Cup host cities to get to know the real South Africa

By Ethan Gelber and Crystel Carre-Hodgson

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“This World Cup belongs to Africa!” declared Sepp Blatter, FIFA president, at the Cape Town Convention Centre on 5 December 2009, the long-awaited day of the World Cup 2010 draw. Needless to say, since then, Africa’s already considerable pride at hosting the world’s most popular sporting event grows by the day, in lock step with the excitement of soccer fanatics from all across the continent (and around the world) eagerly awaiting kickoff of the first game – South Africa versus Mexico in Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium at 4pm local time on 11 June 2010.

Supporters of Bafana Bafana, the South Africa national soccer team (photo courtesy of South African Tourism)

The success of the World Cup will however be measured by more than just the tenacity of the teams. Nearly 500,000 people are expected to visit South Africa from game 1 until the finals precisely one month later. Their presence comes as an important economic injection, especially in the tourism sector, as the hordes head out to experience the country.

So, as a primer for the independent traveller in South Africa during the games – the traveller passionate about soccer, but also about meeting and making a difference with the local communities hosting the games – here’s a quick overview of how between games you can connect with the people, just a small but important step in being a good guest.
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Posted under General, South Africa, countries, local tips, whl.travel newsletter

By Ethan Gelber

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The impact of the FIFA World Cup on tourism in South Africa will be big. Really big. As many as 500,000 visitors are expected to find their way to the Rainbow Nation in June of 2010, infusing the economy with a mighty jolt of energy and money.

In a gateway community in Southern Limpopo, South Africa, a woman weaves baskets. Travellers making local connections like this are what the Shared Growth Challenge Fund hopes to highlight.

But some people are already (wisely) asking what will happen when the trophies have been celebrated, the afterglow faded and media attention lifted. Well, the South African Tourist Board estimates that 300,000 more visitors than usual over the next five years will continue to respond to the hype of the first African country ever to host the world’s biggest sporting event.

While that’s very encouraging, a more long-term view of tourism development in South Africa suggests that it’s not far-sighted enough.
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Posted under South Africa, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel news

By Ethan Gelber

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Youngsters from the Mphaphati community of Swaziland are a regular feature at the starting and finishing points of the Swazi Trails rafting trips. The current crew of river guides remembers vividly the days when they play-acted on the company's rafts, just like these kids.

Since the 1990s, white-water rafting operators Swazi Trails, the whl.travel local connection in Swaziland, have voluntarily set aside a small amount of money for each person who joined one of their trips. Then, on 25 November 2009, in the spirit of responsible tourism, they contributed the latest amassed total of 80,880 South African rand (approximately US$11,000) to the impoverished rural riverbank community of Mphaphati located in central Swaziland. The Swazi Trails donation will finance the construction of houses for teachers who work at the Mphaphati Primary School.

“We have a very long relationship with this particular community,” explained Darron Raw, Managing Director of Swazi Trails, “as not only do we pass through this area on a daily basis with our rafting groups, but all of our river guides are drawn from families and homesteads within the Mphaphati area.”

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Posted under General, Swaziland, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

Sitting on the Gulf of Guinea, Accra, the capital city of Ghana, is the gateway to Africa’s friendliest nation as well as many of ancient the continent’s monuments. It is a bustling and diverse centre, full of lively markets, European architecture and forts, shanty towns and interesting museums and memorials. Ghanaians are famous for their love of celebrations and festivals, so be sure to speak with the locals and participate in one of the many cultural events.

Vegetable vendors at the open Makola Market in Accra

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Posted under Ghana, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news