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Finding Local Travel Opportunity in South Africa around the World Cup

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 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

PEPY Magic: Under an NGO Spell in Rural Cambodia

By Laura Pepper

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I had no idea that a trip with PEPY would have such an impact on my life. Well, actually that’s a slight lie. The friend who had recommended the Cambodia-based NGO to me had warned that it would, but I didn’t quite believe it. After all, I had volunteered before, I had travelled Southeast Asia before and I had been working with children for two years. What possible magic formula could PEPY bring to the mix? I found out during a 10-day Golden Week PEPY tour in rural Cambodia.

PEPY participants with Cambodian kids

PEPY participants with Cambodian kids

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