By Charlotte Moroney, the whl.travel local partner
in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

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As anyone involved in the ecotourism industry can tell you, there are conservation and environmental challenges in every tourist destination. The problems may arise from human population pressures, natural geographic factors or climatic changes. Consider Bermuda’s crumbling coral reef, or the mountain gorillas of the Virunga Volcanic Range under constant threat from hunting and habitat destruction along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The spectacular 'Lunar Rainbow' cuts through the mist given off by Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, troubles have surfaced in the area surrounding the majestic Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The enveloping Victoria Falls National Park and its neighbouring Zambezi National Park both boast incredible biodiversity. Within the dense rainforests and riverine jungles are rare plants and animals like mahogany trees, elephants, kudu, hippos, herons, crocodiles, cormorants and kingfishers. In recent years, however, many native species have suffered from an increase in poaching.

Fortunately, one group has worked tirelessly to confront the growing crisis.
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Posted under General, Zimbabwe, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel

By Brian Hoeniger

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The Tour d’Afrique is an annual transcontinental bicycling odyssey that starts at the pyramids near Cairo, Egypt, in January, and then traverses 10 countries and every kind of road surface imaginable before spinning into Cape Town, South Africa, some four months and 11,800 kilometres later. It attracts nomadic souls and cycling enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, from triathletes to retirees.

With the Sphinx bearing witness, the Tour d'Afrique riders assemble near Cairo, Egypt, in preparation for the first kilometre on day 1 of their four-month, 11,800-kilometre trans-African pedal (photo by Brian Hoeniger)

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Posted under Botswana, Egypt, General, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, responsible travel, responsible traveller, whl.travel newsletter

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, although curiously not in the running as finalist for one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, it has a width of 1708 metres and plummets from a height of between 90 and 107 metres. It is, of course, Victoria Falls, the world’s largest sheet of falling water. Known locally as ‘Mosi-Oa-Tunya’, meaning ‘the Smoke that Thunders’, this magnificently powerful waterfall and its surroundings are recognised as both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a national park in Zimbabwe.

The spectacular Lunar Rainbow cuts through the mist given off by Victoria Falls

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

SILAKAN LIHAT DI BAWAH INI UNTUK ARTIKEL INI DALAM BAHASA INDONESIA / SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN INDONESIAN

Bali is the most famous of Indonesia’s many and spectacular Lesser Sunda Islands, a 1200-kilometre-long archipelago east of Java that also includes Komodo, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, Timor, and Lembata and Alor, not to mention a mouthful of adjacent smaller islands. Visitors will find them bursting with human culture and vivid with mind-boggling land-based flora and fauna – like the famous Komodo dragon, the largest living lizard in the world, native only to Komodo National Park and some parts of Flores island – as well as some of the world’s most spectacular and unusual marine life.

The fully grown male Komodo dragon can reach three metres in length and about 100 kilograms in weight

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

In December 2007, a global call for votes on 440 destinations in 220 countries netted a pared-down list of 77 sites, all vying for one of seven coveted spots as the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Then, on 21 July 2009, a panel of experts announced the even more select list of only 28 finalists.

Cape Town's Table Mountain is one of the finalists in the New Seven Wonders of Nature, as well as a whl.travel destination

It is now time for the world to speak and choose the final seven. Optimistic estimates are that 1 billion votes will be cast starting now, throughout 2010 and into 2011, when the official list will be unveiled.

TO ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE TALLY, START HERE.

whl.travel Destinations in the Mix

whl.travel is delighted to note that, of the 28 finalists, eight are covered by the network:
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Posted under Brazil, General, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Maldives, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, countries

By Ethan Gelber

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Jordan is solidly back on the radar. Already one of the most entrancing destinations in the Middle East, Jordan is attracting more attention than ever before as site of the ancient stone city of Petra, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. But Jordan is far from being a one-hit wonder. Visitors moved to take in the awe-inspiring rock structures of the Nabataeans usually also discover the country’s other attractions -– archaeological, historical and cultural. And, these days, in keeping with a growing awareness of travel ethics, many are doing so responsibly.

Responsible travel in Jordan is a relatively new concept, albeit one steadily gaining ground, both amongst locals and visitors. So, to add momentum to important early strides toward the country’s sustainable tourism future, here are several responsible travel hints.

Airport arrival. Most travellers first touch Jordanian ground at Queen Alia International Airport, located approximately 30 kilometres south of Amman. Although there are airport taxis to Amman on hand, getting one can sometimes be nerve-racking, even with the posted fixed-price service. Alternatively, and with an eye toward reduced fuel consumption, take the hourly bus (leaves on the hour) from outside the terminal 2 arrivals hall. As of mid-2008, it cost 3 Jordanian dinars per person (taxis charge slightly more than 20) and runs via Amman’s 7th, 6th, 5th and 4th circles before turning north to the new large bus station. You can disembark anywhere.

One of Amman's responsible craft sales centres

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Posted under Jordan, local tips, whl.travel newsletter