Category: Ecotourism

  • Ecotourism company announces cut in plastic use

    Ecotourism company announces cut in plastic use

    Wilderness Safaris, an ecotourism company with headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana has announced its plan to eliminate single-use plastics in its operations in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe by providing reusable bottles for guests.

    The company made the announcement on Monday, saying it is in line with the environmental action it took in Botswana and in Rwanda. The company has camps and mobile safaris across eight African countries.

    According to the company’s Group Sustainability Coordinator Warren Ozorio, decreasing the use of plastic remains a priority, especially plastic bottles.

    “Wilderness Safari is also currently paying attention to food waste in our kitchens, and making efforts to produce smart and sustainable menus,” Ozorio added.

    The project not only reduces wastes, but also addresses immense logistical challenges in areas where Wilderness Safaris camps are located, the sustainability coordinator said.

    He also said the company’s ultimate goal is to become completely plastic-free in all its operations.

    “Even though our official campaign was launched in 2018, Wilderness Safaris has been working on waste reduction since we began operating back in the 1980s, and while the reduction of plastic is our main objective – with recycling as a last resort – we are currently also paying attention to food waste in our kitchens, and making efforts to produce smart and sustainable menus. Our ultimate goal is to become completely plastic-free in all our regions”, confirms Ozorio.

  • Sustainability, ecotourism and life lessons

    Sustainability, ecotourism and life lessons

    Ten Decatur High School students experienced firsthand progressive sustainability and ecotourism practices on a recent field trip to Germany and Switzerland.

    Jordan Lybeck, agricultural sciences teacher at Decatur, and several horticulture and animal science students embarked on a 10-day educational tour of sustainable living in Germany and Switzerland, organized through Education First.

    In April, the group traveled to Berlin, Stuttgart, Freiburg and the Lucerne region, exploring historical museums, cultural monuments, and geographic wonders from cities to farmlands.

    For many of these students, it was their first time out of the country or even on an airplane, Lybeck said.

    “I think in total we traveled about a thousand miles in a couple of days just by train and bus,” Lybeck said.

    The students learned about a biosphere reserve, Lybeck said, which is similar to the national parks in the U.S., but in Switzerland, they allow people to farm and live in the park.

    “A lot of their ecosystems can’t go on without human intervention, so they allow their farmers to graze cattle up in the hills because they clear the area out, which allows the wildflowers and native plants to grow,” Lybeck said. “It preserves their culture but it also preserves nature and a way of life for people.”

    In his classes, the focus is to teach kids how to live more sustainable lives, Lybeck said, so when he received a promotional email about the trip, it was a perfect fit.

    One student said Europe shines a light on a reimagined metropolis area, typically thought of as a smog-filled city, instead showing it can be environmentally safe.

    “Everyone has a garden. Every building has solar panels; they made each building so that the light would filter in though certain times of the year to warm up the house or cool it down during the summer,” said student Hallie C. “It was just amazing that in a place that you think would be overrunning with sewage and grossness was better than suburban areas.”

    “I liked how they have reusable energy sources,” said student Kayden S., explaining the mass use of solar panels and the timber burning mechanisms used as central power sources for heating and electricity. “I think that’s something I could take and apply it to my own life at some point.”

    The students also got to experience the Innovation Academy, also called the “Maker’s Space,” where they designed keychains via a computer software, and then saw a 3-D printer laser bring their design to life.

    The students also got to work with animation graphics and virtual reality to create their own world, exploring their creation with virtual reality goggles.

    They also toured the Holocaust memorial, which was fascinating, yet decripid, dark and creepy, the students agreed. They viewed the Berliner Fernsehturm, a satellite TV tower constructed between 1965 and 1969 by the government of the German Democratic Republic.

    Some teaching moments were unplanned.

    The group’s departing flight from the United States to Amsterdam landed late, causing them to be delayed for their following flight. Deboarding the plane on the tarmac, the 13-person group ended up getting split into three.

    It was Kayden S. who sprinted through the airport, arriving at their second flight in just enough time to speak with the captain and hold the plane for the rest of the Decatur group.

    “It’s a good learning experience because you learn how to problem solve and all sorts of logistical things,” Lybeck said of the airport stresses.

    While the students may not always remember the random facts they learned from their knowledgeable tour guides, the life experiences of nearly missing a connecting flight, or hearing how wars they had read about in textbooks had firsthand impacted the lives of people they met in various countries — those memories are unforgettable, Lybeck said.

    “Sustainability was the theme of the trip, but the life lessons I think are going to stick with them a lot longer,” Lybeck said. “I think sustainability was a big part of it because it relates to the course and what we do here, but I think the cultural differences and life lessons they learned were probably the most important.”

  • Elephant conservation: Japan supports Uganda with strategic outpost

    Elephant conservation: Japan supports Uganda with strategic outpost

    The government of Japan has built and handed over to Uganda a Strategic Anti-Poaching Outpost for Elephants. The anti-poaching facility was completed and handed over to Uganda in April at the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. The project was in line with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    The Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Uganda, Mr. Mizumoto Horii launched the Lions Bay ranger post.

    The new outpost is part of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)’s larger Recovery of Queen Elizabeth National Park programme and provide a base for field rangers conducting operations in important wildlife and tourism sector, and will significantly strengthen UWA’s capacity to address current and emerging threats impacting this important site of the CITES Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme. The project was led on-the-ground on behalf of CITES by the Uganda Conservation Foundation in close collaboration with UWA.

    Two new eight-man ranger posts were handed over to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) on Friday 12th April 2019.
    Two new eight-man ranger posts were handed over to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) on Friday 12th April 2019.

    Queen Elizabeth National Park provides protection for 95 species of mammal, including buffaloes, hippopotami, crocodiles, elephants, leopards, lions and chimpanzees, and over 620 species of birds. The park forms part of an extensive transboundary ecosystem that covers forest reserves and the adjacent Virunga National Park World Heritage Site, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The elephant population in the Queen Elizabeth National Park was recently reported by UWA as young and healthy, numbering over 3000 individuals, which is by far the largest elephant population in Uganda but still below levels, the park can sustain. The elephant population has been increasing steadily over the last twenty years, since being reduced by poaching to below 400 elephants in 1988.

    “The illegal wildlife trade is an urgent global issue. Japan is deeply committed to the cause of protecting elephants and their natural habitat. Japan places great importance on supporting elephant range states in the fight against elephant poaching,” said Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Uganda, Mr. Mizumoto Horii.

    He added that, “Japan continues to make great efforts in implementing the trade control of ivory under CITES and working together with our partners to tackle the problem of elephant poaching and the illegal elephant trade.”

    The Honourable Minister Godfrey Kiwanda highlighted that “Having a well-built, dry and clean facility, with clean water, solar power lighting and an ablution block, makes rangers feel respected and motivated.”

    “The recovery of wildlife and tourism in Queen Elizabeth National Park depends on the motivation of our frontline staff and tangible support such as this. This support also provides a solid foundation for growing tourism in Uganda which is already recognised as the countries strongest contributor to the regional and national regional economy,” said Uganda Wildlife Authority, Executive Director, Sam Mwandha.

    The Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Uganda, Mr Mizumoto Horii commissioned the Lions Bay ranger post, and the Honourable Minister Godfrey Kiwanda Ssubi opened the Katore ranger post.

    “The funding provided by the Government of Japan for the development of essential infrastructure needed to support management operations is invaluable. The investment and attention given to the area has had a significant impact on the overall morale of the staff based in the Lions Bay and Katore Sectors and enhanced their capacity to effectively protect the area,” added Thea Carroll, CITES-MIKE Programme Coordinator.

    The Government of Japan contributed 55,000 US$ to CITES’s Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme.

  • Consider Gombe for your next northern trip

    Consider Gombe for your next northern trip

    The mention of travel to any part of Northern Nigeria gives a lot of people the jitters. Many things come to their minds — terror. But there are great secure destinations there. Gombe is a good example. Gombe whose capital city is also named Gombe is bordered by Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa and Bauchi. The state was created out of Bauchi State on 1st October 1996 by the late General Sanni Abacha’s Administration. Nicknamed Jewel of the Savannah, the state is home to the headquarters of many international intervention organisations catering to the needs of Internally displaced people who are victims of the Boko Haram crisis.

    Travel

    For lovers of road trips, there are many ways to go about the trip. The first way (if you are coming from Lagos) is to get a straight bus from Jibowu, Yaba or Ijora all in Lagos. The trip takes 18 to 20 hours by road, not adding the toilet and food stops along the road and the bus fare ranges from N6,000 to N13,000. The second is to break the trip into two. Take a bus to Abuja, from Iwo road (Ibadan), Kuto (Abeokuta) or Yaba (Lagos). From Abuja, take another bus to Gombe from Nyanya or Jabi Park, it takes only six hours to Gombe from Abuja. The cost is roughly the same, but the sites to see are so much more.

    By air, it can get cumbersome a bit. There are only two airlines flying that route regularly – Arik Air and Azman. Arik Airline travels to Gombe via Abuja on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday. Sometimes the layover can be up to eight hours. Azman airline travels to Gombe via Abuja only on Mondays and it is not regular.

    Dressing

    Gombe has two distinct climates, the dry season between November and March; and the rainy season between April and October with an average rainfall of 850mm. The heat can be very much during the dry season so make sure to consult your weatherman before you take the trip.

    Accommodation

    There are many hotels in Gombe, but many international visitors to the state lodge at 1. The Custodian Hotel and 2. The Gombe International Hotel.

    The Custodian Hotel is a four-star hotel with a cozy appeal. It is located in the heart of the town, in an easily accessible and serene neighbourhood. It is only about 20 minutes drive from Gombe Airport. The hotel has a small restaurant that serves both local and continental dishes that are not bad at all. It also has a 100-seater conference hall that is almost always booked. The hotel offers laundry, car hire and shuttle service to the airport. The rooms prices range from N70,000 to N16, 000 per night. The service is not bad and the staff are very polite and helpful. The only downside is its terribly unreliable free wifi service.

    Gombe International Hotel has a vast collection of sports facilities, including a swimming pool tennis court and a well-equipped gym. It is about 15 minutes from the airport. The hotel has nice lounges and the rooms are well furnished. The large conference halls in the hotels make it a destination for many events so for someone looking for a serene environment to meditate or write, it may not be the best. Apart from its being prone to rowdiness, the service many times can get very poor. Price per night ranges from N120,000 to N20,000.

    Other hotels are Flourish, Bulma, Dan Arewa, Zuma Royal among others, rooms can cost as low as N3000 in these hotels.

    What to do

    For lovers of nature, this is indeed the jewel of the savannah, co-housing the popular Yankari Game Reserve with Bauchi State. It is not to be confused with the Gombe Stream National Park in, Tanzania. The popular Yankari Game reserve. Places to visit in Gombe include the Emir’s Palace, Bima Hills, Gombe State University, the Federal University Kashere, State Polytechnique Bajoga, College of Education Billiri and the Ashaka Cement Company, Ashaka, Funakaye Local Government. You can also visit the Tangale Hill, the Kilang Hill, Popandi Village, Kaltungo Deba Local Government.

    There is also the historical Tula Battlefield, where the British first attacked and fought the Tula people. You should also visit the Tomb of Bubayero Gombe Abba. Bubayero is the patriarch of the Sukku emirate and his tomb is registered as a national monument.


    Food
    Gombe like every other state in the north all have foods like miyan kuka, and the several tuwo varieties in common. There is also fura de nono and kunun tsamia. The state also has a fine  collection of kilishi and dambu nama maker. So, do well to have a taste of the skillfully prepared meat delicacies when you go to Gombe.

  • Ecotourism industry to grow remarkably for the next five years — new report

    Ecotourism industry to grow remarkably for the next five years — new report

    The global Ecotourism market is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period 2019 to 2025, Market Research has shown.  The forecast was made in a report titled “Global Ecotourism Market Size, Status and Forecast 2019-2025. The report also presents market size, share, trend, demand, industry outlook and competitors analysis with growth in the global Ecotourism market. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

    The 105-paged reports used tables and figures to expound the topic while also providing information on the competitors and the specific growth opportunities with key market drivers.

    The report studies the Global Ecotourism market, analyzes and researches the Ecotourism development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.

    Ecotourism Industry analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions’ development status. The report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure.