Global Basecamps, in collaboration with Maasai Wanderings, contributes to a variety of ecotourism and community outreach programs in Tanzania. In 2004, Maasai Wanderings visited a Maasai village called Ilkurot (which means “dusty place”) just north of Arusha, and saw that the schools were in desperate need of supplies and repairs, and there was no nursery school.

Global basecamps and and Maasai Wanderings are two travel operators that support communities in Tanzania. Photo courtesy of Maasai Wanderings/The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)

Following this visit, the Ilkurot community project was developed to raise funds for the school and to make education more accessible to the Maasai children. The Ilkurot community project began by setting up a nursery school so the village children would be able to enter the Tanzanian education system and would hopefully then move onto primary and secondary school and beyond.

People in Ilkurot live below the Tanzanian poverty line and earn an average of less than $200 per year. The cost of schooling is about $40-$50, making it difficult for children to receive an education. With the help of donors and volunteers, Global Basecamps and Maasai Wanderings strive to make education easily accessible and free to the Maasai children of Ilkurot, with the hope that educated Maasai will be better equipped to aid in retaining their ancient culture.

Welcome Wall, Ilkurot Nursery School, Tanzania

Maasai Village Experience Tours

In 2005, the Ilkurot Nursery School opened and had 45 students between the ages of 5 and 7. The class was held in a small room, but the number of students quickly outgrew the small facilities. As a way to raise additional funds for the school, Global Basecamps in Tanzania developed ‘Maasai Village Experience Tours’, giving travelers the unique opportunity to interact with and learn from the Maasai people. These cultural tours helped raise funds to build a new classroom for the Ilkurot School and continue to help build the Ilkurot community project.

The new classroom was opened in January 2006 with a large increase of students. To accommodate all the new students, the school began holding two sessions a day. The five-year-old group consisted of approximately 110 students and was held in the morning, while the afternoon lessons consisted of about 100 six-year-old students. At each session the students are served uji (ground corn porridge with sugar and oil), the staple diet of the Maasai people.

Porridge time at Ilkurot Nursery School, Tanzania

Community Members Benefit from Ilkurot Nursery School

In 2007, over 1,000 textbooks were purchased, and for the first time students had guides to their studies. During this year, funds were also used to plaster the classroom and fit glass windows, which were previously wooden windows, allowing dust in and making the classrooms very dirty. In an effort to control the amount of dust in Ilkurot, a tree and grass planting project was put in place and a 2,000-liter water tank was installed. Almost 500 trees were planted in an effort to limit the dust that flies around and caused many eye infections and dry coughs.

The school was able to employ a Tinga Tinga artist to stay in the village for a few weeks to paint murals and educational drawings on the classroom walls. The school was also able to build a playground – the first playground in the school and in the district – with a basic football pitch, netball court, and volleyball court that allowed for sports education in their curriculum. In 2009, Ilkurot saw many more changes, including the completion a library/teacher’s resource center.

In addition to providing valuable educational opportunities to children, Ilkurot Nursery School also supports teachers and cooks by offering employment, and promotes additional cultural tourism throughout the village. Recently, a building was constructed to include a kitchen, store, staff room and changing room with a 3,000-liter water tank, and six new toilets. Further, the children now all have school uniforms, made as part of another community project that allows women with disabled children to stay at home and earn an income by creating a sewing business.

Students on the playground, Ilkurot, Tanzania

Maasai Village Life and the Importance of Education

In Maasai villages, young boys are typically sent away with their father’s cattle and accompanied by older morani (warriors) for 3-5 years tending to the cattle. Therefore, the Nursery School has a higher attendance of girls than boys. The girls that attend school also have chores they must complete before or after their lesson. By the time the students are 5 or 6, their mothers may have had 2 or 3 more children, for which the young girls are responsible for. They feed, bathe and carry the smaller children.

The lifestyle of young males and the responsibilities expected of young girls were a hurdle in the Ilkurot community projects. While trying not to disrupt the norms of Maasai life, the school tries to encourage education in the community. The school continually changes lesson schedules and requirements to make it more acceptable to the Maasai community.

The main task of the nursery school is teaching the children Swahili (Tanzania’s national language). Since the primary school curriculum is taught in Swahili only, children who do not learn the language will not be able to advance to primary school. The nursery school also teaches some English phrases because secondary school is taught only in English.

Ilkurot Nursery School classrooms, Tanzania

About Global Basecamps

Global Basecamps is a specialty travel company designed to simplify the process of researching and booking sustainable hotels, lodges and private tours worldwide. Travel at your own pace with a custom itinerary or simply find accommodations and excursions so that your trip priorities are met and you have maximum flexibility while on the road. Global Basecamps is the North American representative for Maasai Wanderings.

The Transcarpathia region of southwest Ukraine is a unique area, a tourism pearl sometimes called "Little Switzerland." Photo courtesy of Iloveukraine/Tetyana

Today, this grand state beckons travellers to explore its intricate church architecture and delicate frescos, bustling cities and authentic rural villages, and gorgeous natural resources. Along the way, you will discover that there are plenty of cultural myths and stories, the kinds about unique local archetypal characters that will capture your imagination and keep you coming back for more local travel experiences in Ukraine.

Here are just three stories with which to whet your appetites.

The Babushkas of Ukraine’s Cities

Babushka (in Russian) or babusia (in Ukrainian), as Ukrainians call their elderly ladies, are an inevitable sight in any city or town in Ukraine, no matter where you go. Stroll along the cobbled sidewalks in Lviv and you will see them, chatting and singing folk songs in front of the impressive Opera Theatre. Hop on a train headed east and you will be greeted by their curious eyes and voices selling homegrown apples and freshly baked buns with jam or poppy seeds. Head further east and you will find them sitting on every street bench, letting the world pass by in the greenery of Kharkiv’s parks, or selling everything from sunflower seeds to flower bouquets in Donetsk.

Kyiv (Kiev) is the capital city of Ukraine. Photo courtesy of IloveUkraine/Marynka

The cultural phenomenon of babusia in Ukraine is directly tied to the country’s troubled history. The 20th century saw an epic tug of war waged between five empires parceling up the country, two world wars fought on Ukrainian territory, tragic famine and a repressive communist regime. Together, these afflictions laid waste to most of Ukraine’s men, leaving behind the now-familiar crowds of babushkas. It is the stories of these women that make Ukraine so different from other cities in Central Europe.

But there is much more to Ukraine’s cities. Charming Lviv will leave you with the smell of freshly ground coffee, the memory of cosy cobblestone streets in a World Heritage-listed town centre and the air of jazz and classical music. Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, has the ruthless bustle of a teenager, but also wide promenades and maple trees, the sparkling golden domes of St. Sophia Cathedral and painful insights at the National Chernobyl Museum. Further east and south, grandiose Tsars’ palaces pop up along the Black Sea shore, Tatar mosques call for prayer, and statues of Lenin and Karl Marx crowd the streets of like Donetsk and Odessa.

The Hutsul highlanders of Ukraine are an ethno-cultural that group that still uses ages-old traditional practices and wears traditional clothing for major celebrations. Photo courtesy of Igor Melika

The Traditional Hutsul Highlanders

Far from the urban scapes of Ukraine’s cities are traditional rural villages dotting the hills of the Carpathian Mountains. Lush pine forests and hard-to-access trails make it difficult for many travellers to explore the countryside of the Hutsuls, an ethno-cultural group of Ukrainian highlanders. Unlike more heavily explored areas in Central Europe, Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountains remain largely cut off from the main tourist routes. You will find few marked walking trails; organised campsites are virtually non-existent. Most highland roads can only be reached via four-wheel-drive vehicles, on foot or by the horse cart. Few if any people speak English, and most still live by the centuries-old customs of their ancestors.

Hutsul society was traditionally based on forestry and logging, as well as cattle and sheep breeding. Right up until the present day, the month of May marks the Hutsul’s most exciting and colourful celebrations, a time when Hutsul shepherds leave their homes to spend three months herding flocks of sheep and producing delicious cheese known locally as brynza.

Stepping into a Hutsul house in Ukraine is a trip back in time. One of the joys is a taste of delicious homemade cheese known locally as 'brynza.' Photo courtesy of Igor Melika

Stepping into a rural Hutsul house is a trip back in time: you can sample delicious homemade bread, enjoy fresh water from deeply-dug wells, taste vegetables from the local fields and even try on colourful Hutsul clothes, still worn on major village celebrations.

Hutsul people are also famous for their incredible craftsmanship. At the local bazaar, you may find beautifully and intricately decorated eggs, ornate clothing and delicate woodwork.

Travellers lucky enough to spend a day or two in the Hutsul villages during traditional holiday celebrations will come away mesmerised by the whirlwind of colours, timeless customs, plentiful dinners and authentic culture carefully preserved on the outskirts of Europe.

The Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine in winter. Photo courtesy of Igor Melika

The Vast Expanses of Nature

The Dnieper – Ukraine’s largest and Europe’s second-longest river – is bested only by the Danube. So great is its presence, ”Rare is the bird that flies to the middle of the Dnieper,” wrote Nicolai Gogol, a well-known Russian and Ukrainian writer. And while the Dnieper is definitely not the majestic waterway it was during Gogol’s lifetime, it remains an impressive and imposing sight, a symbol of Ukraine’s stunning natural landscapes.

Beyond the Dniepr, due to the sheer vastness of the territory, Ukraine can satisfy even the pickiest nature lover. Dense forests in the north hide countless rivers, marshes, lakes and swamps. In the west the gentle peaks of the Carpathian Mountains tower over the lush valleys, underground caves and World Heritage-listed beech forests boasting an abundance of wildlife. The south brings the warm sunshine, pebbled beaches and the grand Black Sea.

The Dniepr River is Ukraine's largest and Europe's second-longest river. Photo courtesy of Iloveukraine/Yevgen Pohulaylo

Whether you choose to go hiking in the Carpathian highlands, kayaking along the winding rivers or just enjoy sipping your morning coffee at the artsy cafes of Lviv, don’t forget to listen to the background stories of caring babusias, welcoming Hutsuls, cheerful women, ambitious youngsters, fearless Cossacks and countless others that form an eccentric and yet truthful-to-the-core mosaic of Ukraine, Europe’s largest unexplored frontier.

For an up-close glimpse of local Ukrainian culture – the unique combination of a proud and cosmopolitan European past, eclectic communist history and newly reasserted independence – try the wide range of Ukraine holiday packages available though Gunyah, a marketplace of authentic local experiences and tours for independent travellers.

Their practice in experiential and mindful travel and their locals’ knack for identifying, explaining and sustaining the distinctive qualities of a place make them the perfect go-to people for travellers looking for unique ways to experience a destination. But sometimes, when travellers prepare to hit the road, they’re not choosy about where they want to go: they’re actively looking only for the best of the best – the best experiences in the best destinations based on information from the best travel experts.

To facilitate that process, whl.travel has announced the winners of its 2011 internal competitive performance review. Based on their work in 2011, four tour operators – one from each of four broad geographical areas – have been singled out as models for a set of whl.travel standards critical to the operation of their own businesses but also fundamental to the success of the global network. Assessment criteria included response times and customer service, maintaining an active social media presence and keeping destination Web portals up to date.

The whl.travel local partner in Malawi: The Responsible Safari Company (left to right: Chimwemwe Siyabu, Kate Webb, Dom Webb, Andrew Kayuni). Photo courtesy of The Responsible Safari Company

Malawi Triumphs in Africa

In Africa, whl.travel is anchored in about 40 destinations across 20 countries. Taking honors on this continent was the Responsible Safari Company, the whl.travel local connection for Malawi. Apart from demonstrating a strong commitment to community development through sustainable tourism initiatives, they have proven that they are serious about client services.

The whl.travel local connection in Boracay, Philippines: Go Discover Travels (left to right: Kristiana Jorjah Espiritu, Trudy Allen and Chaddy Cocjin; not pictured: Helen Atanacio and John Maclang). Photo courtesy of Go Discover Travels

The Philippines Shine in Asia and the Pacific

The whl.travel local partners in Nepal, the Philippines and northeast India stood out from the mix of more than 70 destinations in 26 countries in Asia and Oceania; however, it was the Philippines’ Go Discover Travels, one of the first partners to join the whl.travel network, that came out on top for their whl.travel Boracay Travel website. They also manage portals in the Philippines for Cebu, Palawan and Manila.

The whl.travel local expert in Corfu, Greece: Corfu Sunspots Travel (right to left: Sandra Broedner and Chrysa Tsakalakou; Andronikos Moutos not pictured). Photo courtesy of Corfu Sunspots Travel

Corfu Takes the Limelight in Europe and the Middle East

Corfu Sunspots Travel Ltd, the whl.travel local expert in Corfu, Greece, ranked above approximately 40 other destinations in about 20 countries in Europe and the Middle East. What started as a small family-run business back in 1986 has blossomed into one of Corfu‘s largest, most reputable and successful agencies.

The whl.travel local partner in Santa Marta, Colombia: Las Pleyades (Fabiola Duerig and Oliver Blanco). Photo courtesy of Las Pleyades

Colombia Conquers in the Americas

The whl.travel local connection in Santa Marta, Colombia, was crowned the winner in the Americas, where there are about 50 whl.travel destinations in 15 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The site for Santa Marta is owned and operated by Las Pleyades, a small company that is a big player when it comes to developing social and environmental travel.

“While every network is only as strong as its weakest link, it’s also as ambitious as its strongest,” commented Rob Shortland, CEO of whl.travel. “whl.travel relies on each local operator to help build and develop our shared global brand. If we want travellers to support local companies then it’s essential that their service standards compete with, if not exceed, that of the large global powerhouses. Add in a large dollop of local knowledge and we’re tough to beat.”

Screenshot of the Bahamas page on Gunyah.com, the website shortlisted by the Caribbean Web Awards 2012

An Award for Quality Websites

Unlike most travel awards, the Caribbean Web Awards 2012 focused on the websites that represent the travel companies, not on the travel companies themselves. As stated on the Caribbean Web Awards 2012 website, special attention was given to best practices in online marketing with an eye toward recognizing websites with excellent graphic communication, superb online copy and salesmanship, and laudable examples of strategies and techniques for enhanced site conversion.

Through its recently launched online presence, designed with all of this in mind, Gunyah dishes up memorable short-break package holidays and vacations managed by a dedicated network of passionate people all around the world. With locals in every destination and a clear responsible travel vision, Gunyah is more in tune with what makes a truly authentic local travel experience.

“We wanted to convey the authenticity and inspiration of our short breaks from the moment users started researching their trips, something that combined the spontaneity of independent travel with the comfort of a package holiday,” commented Luke Ford, CEO of Gunyah, about the unique look and feel of Gunyah.com. “The experience begins from the moment they start corresponding with our local operators. We wanted the navigation functionality to be simple and so it’s search by destination, but we also wanted to include a search by experiences for those looking for, for example, diving or a cultural break. We were thrilled to have been shortlisted.”

A screenshot of one of the packages available in the Bahamas on the Gunyah.com website

A Work in Progress

At the present time, Gunyah lists 170 short-break package holidays in 46 countries with an additional 600 contracted or under construction. Gunyah is working with 83 local partners in a total of 78 countries, including developed markets in North America, Europe and Australia, and emerging-market economies across Africa, Asia, South America and elsewhere.

The short breaks – all of which consist of carefully selected accommodation, tours and activities – average four to six days in duration, but can also extend to 12 days. Regardless of length, Gunyah’s goal is to evoke an authentic experience through each package by connecting travelers to the people, communities, food and culture of each destination.

“We are only at the early stages with product development in the Caribbean, but this attention from the Caribbean Web Awards provides us with even more motivation to include more fascinating destinations in the region,” added Ford. “We have some amazing experiences in San Salvador, Bahamas, with diving, fishing, nature and eco walks, history and adventure, something for everyone! Our local partners in the Bahamas deserve credit for all of their hard work developing such unique experiences.”

The kind of idyllic setting found on of the many islands that make up the Bahamas

The Winning Announcement

The TravelMole Caribbean Web Award winners were announced on the eve of the Caribbean Marketplace held in Nassau, Paradise Island, Bahamas. In their second year, the awards were run by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association in association with TravelMole, one of the largest online travel trade communities in the world, and LeadGenerators, the UK’s specialist online marketing agency for the travel industry.

The awards were presented by TravelMole’s Graham McKenzie, who praised the shortlisted websites but called for a stronger focus on online marketing within the Caribbean: “With the obvious exception of the shortlisted sites, the general standard of nominations were very poor and for the benefit of all really needs to improve. The importance of a good online presence for all tourism businesses cannot be overstated and at this time many do not make the most of the opportunities presented.”

Phnom Penh demands your attention from the moment you arrive. Vibrant, exciting and utterly unpredictable are just a few words to describe Cambodia’s capital. It’s a city of stark contrasts: slick SUVs share the road with old-world cyclos; visitors can relax in a posh cafe and think they are in Paris, or join the locals at a pop-up stall selling fried noodles; the memorial at the Killing Fields is heart wrenching, while the Temple of the Emerald Buddha will lift the spirit.

The self-sufficiency of vendors in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is an amazing sight: they carry everything with them, even mini-kitchens. Here a man cooks hard-boiled eggs on a coal brazier. Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan

Just when you thought you’ve got the hang of the city, though, it’ll surprise you with glimpse of something fascinating and unexpected. One wrong turn on a walk and you may find yourself a guest of honour in a Khmer wedding!

Yet if the stimuli ever become too much (and it will happen), simply head to Sisowath Quay, the grand boulevard along the river. The Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, which merge at Phnom Penh, are intrinsic to life and livelihood in Cambodia, so naturally activity in Phnom Penh gravitates to their banks. From your spot in a riverside cafe, bar or restaurant, unwind and watch as the city hustles on by.

Day Trips

A trip to Phnom Penh wouldn’t be complete without a boat ride on the Mekong River at sunset. Slipping away from the shore, one is blessed with the quiet that eludes the city’s relentlessly busy streets. Watch fishermen haul in a catch and maybe visit a village of silk weavers to learn about the fascinating process.

The memorial stupa at the Killing Fields outside Phnom Penh is a startling but important reminder of Cambodia's past. Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan

A trip to the Killing Fields, now known as the Cheoung Ek Memorial, is an important, eye-opening lesson on the Cambodian Genocide and Phnom Penh’s past. From 1975 to 1979, 1.7 million people perished at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. A Buddhist stupa containing the bones and skulls uncovered from mass graves is a place to reflect on Cambodia’s sorrowful history.

A less sobering alternative is to dine, shop and get pampered for a good cause. Daughters of Cambodia is a nongovernmental organization that trains, employs and empowers victims of sex trafficking in Cambodia. Their Sugar ’n Spice cafe serves lunch (salads, sandwiches), as well as tasty baked goods. The centre is also a spa and a shop selling handmade products.

Shopping

If you’re on the hunt for designer and brand-name clothes at bargain prices, the Russian Market is the place to shop in Phnom Penh. Since there are numerous garment factories in Cambodia, if an item doesn’t meet quality standards or a designer’s specifications, it somehow ends up here. The Russian Market also teems with other items ranging from tasteful to wondrously tacky. This is the best place to pick up good quality, inexpensive silk.

The Central Market (Psar Thmey) of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is well worth the visit for the building's stunning art deco architecture. Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan

Handmade, high-quality products can be found at boutique stores such as Artisans Angkor and Couleurs D’Asie, while Bodia Nature sells 100-percent-natural bath and aromatherapy products made using locally grown ingredients. The herbal ginger balm is good on sore muscles after a long day of sightseeing. There is a shop riverside at #10, St. 178 and a small stand within the Russian Market.

Mekong Quilts is a non-profit group that provides sustainable employment to women from poor rural regions of Cambodia. The hand-sewn quilts and other handicrafts, from laptop covers to yoga bags, are beautifully made and inexpensive. Shop employees are pros at packaging up large quilts tightly but if you still don’t have room in your luggage, international shipping is available at #49, St. 240.

Restaurants

The eating in Phnom Penh is outstanding. The thriving expat community in the capital city means there’s every sort of international cuisine available, with prices ranging from a worrisome “Why is this so cheap?” to a jaw-dropping “Why is this so expensive?” Generally speaking though, there is good value for meals.

One of the many treats of time spent in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is a tasty and fresh green-mango salad. Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan

You can test your stomach’s mettle with street eats: Hot woks dish up stir-fried noodles (mee cha), noodle-soup stands dot every corner, meat kebabs sizzle on grills and whole pigs slow-roast over red-hot coals.

Rice, fish and coconut milk are staples in Cambodian cuisine and Amok trey, the signature dish of Cambodia, uses all three ingredients. Fish coated with coconut milk is steamed or baked in banana leaves, then served with rice. It is delicious, light and fragrant. Try your own hand at Khmer cuisine with a Phnom Penh cooking class.

Cafes and restaurants line Sisowath Quay (riverside) but travellers should make an effort to explore the excellent eateries throughout the city.

Local Treats

Local Angkor beer is everywhere – fortunately it’s also good and cheap.

Tired of ubiquitous Angkor Beer? The German-owned Kingdom microbrewery offers tours and tastings of their flavourful pilsner at their factory in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan

The Seeing Hands Massage Centre is a great place to get a no-nonsense massage. Opened in 1995, it now employs 22 blind massage therapists with professional training. In a country with no social assistance, this centre gives those with a disability a sustainable livelihood and skills they can pass on to others. For US$7 you get a one-hour shiatsu massage and you’re contributing to a good business; it’s win-win. The centre can be found at 12E St. #13, across from the large post office near Wat Phnom.

Instead of walking or taking a tuk-tuk to get around, why not hire a cyclo? Slow down and see Phnom Penh in a whole different way.

Night Out

A night out in Phnom Penh starts early, with generous happy hours kicking things off – sometimes at an unsavoury hour. In the sultry afternoon heat, begin on the patio of one of the many riverside bars, cooling off with a cold drink and, if you’re lucky, a breeze off the water.

Happy hours indeed! The perks of time spent in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) is one such riverside spot. The FCC is located on the second floor of a colonial-era building, away from the street-level hustle of touts and tuk-tuks. It was once a popular watering hole for diplomats and journalists. While there aren’t many shady deals and intrigue going on these days, the FCC still retains the historic charm of its past. The nibbles on the menu are also a treat.

Once upon a time, the nightclub Heart of Darkness would have capped a wild night out. Unfortunately, it now has an unsavoury reputation, with security and crime an issue. Today, expats favour Pontoon.

If you want to see great apes in the wild, Sumatra’s rainforest is one of the most accessible places to do just that. Seeing orangutans in the wild, along with silver Thomas leaf monkeys, pig-tailed macaques, and a diverse range of birds like hornbills, will leave you with a renewed appreciation for the beauty and ingenuity of other species. However, you need to know how to visit them responsibly or you could introduce illnesses, since they share over 97 percent of our DNA. Less than 7,000 Sumatran orangutans live in the wild, and they’re an essential part of the rainforest ecosystem, helping seeds to germinate and even pruning the canopy.

Orangutan in Gunung Leuser, Sumatra. Photo courtesy of The International Ecotourism Society

The Gunung Leuser National Park is part of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an excellent spot for ape-watching and rainforest trekking. The Orangutan Information Centre (OIC), a local, grassroots nongovernmental organization, is working with a local guides association to certify guides in the popular destination of Bukit Lawang.

The OIC is an excellent source of information, and many of the guides are extremely knowledgeable and conscientious. However, because of the competition for visitors and tips, some guides do engage in unscrupulous practices like luring orangutans over with fruit, leaving fruit peels on the ground, or even letting visitors hug orangutans. Before you go into the forest, you’ll watch a short film on rainforest etiquette at the visitors’ center. Pay attention, and take responsibility for your own behavior. Better yet, download a copy of the park guidebook from the OIC website to prepare for your trip.

OIC Director Panut Hadisiswoyo, in Bukit Lawang, Indonesia. Photo courtesy of The International Ecotourism Society

In Bukit Lawang, you’ll have the chance to see orangutans close up, either at the feeding platform or slightly further into the rainforest. These orangutans have returned to the wild after a life in captivity. Taken from the wild by poachers at a young age, they are learning to live in the forest again after a rigorous rehabilitation process. They grow adept at building nests to sleep and lounge in, climbing nimbly through the canopy, and raising the next generation of wild orangutans. Like humans, they don’t know how to live in the wild by instinct alone. In the wild, they might spend eight years with their mother, learning how to live in the jungle. Learning these skills as adults takes an incredible amount of intelligence, patience, and perseverance, just as it would for a human.

Deeper in the jungle, you’ll likely see wild orangutans from afar. You’ll have the option to take a one-day, overnight, or multiday trek. Local guides are quite flexible in making arrangements. If planning a longer trek, talk with the staff at the visitors’ center to request a knowledgeable, conscientious guide.

For a quieter experience, visit the farther-flung village of Ketambe, about 8 hours by van from the main city of Medan. Staying in this little village bedecked with flowers and fruit trees will let you experience a less-trafficked part of the Gunung Leuser National Park, or “Leuser.” You’ll easily arrange van transportation on arrival; just ask your hotel staff for details. Call ahead to book a room in Ketambe. The Friendship Guesthouse offers rustic one-room bungalows with bathrooms for around U.S. $6 per night, and tasty curries for around $2. The welcoming staff will connect you with a local guide as well.

As in Bukit Lawang, take responsibility for your own behavior. The orangutans around Ketambe are wild, meaning they’ll keep their distance. One was said to have thrown a beehive at visitors, I was told, in what I felt sure was a cautionary tale. Talk about tool use, I thought.

Unfortunately, Leuser is threatened by the oil palm industry and other forms of encroachment, like much of Indonesia’s rainforests. In June 2011, it was placed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger for this reason. While there, I volunteered at a restoration site in the district of Langkat, North Sumatra. The OIC had reclaimed this illegally logged and farmed section of national forest in 2007. Since then, the all-local staff had been working to bring the rainforest back to life.

The old “hantu” – what we jokingly called the dead oil palms – still stood menacingly in some parts of the forest, gray-white fronds draping around their rotting trunks like a veil. But the vibrant growth of young rainforest trees was enveloping them, weaving them into the ecosystem as life carried on.

Restorasi house and plantation, Sumatra, Indonesia. Photo courtesy of The International Ecotourism Society.

One of the field assistants, Darjo, had carefully counted the bird species in the area – he’d spotted 83 so far. While collecting saplings in the deeper forest, the staff showed me huge elephant tracks. Very near the small house where we stayed, we saw the print of the rare golden cat.

Recently, after I’d arrived back in the States, the staff sent me an excited message: Orangutans were living at the site! They’d observed a male and pregnant female in the trees. The forest would take centuries, perhaps longer, to gain back the richness of the diversity it once had, but in the meantime, life will continue to thrive – as long as we let it.

More Information

Unesco World Heritage Centre: Danger listing for Indonesia’s Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra
Orangutan Information Centre: Project Reports
Ketambe: The Friendship Guesthouse & Restaurant
Orangutan Information Centre: OIC Restoration Site Performance Report, 2010-2011

Melanie Jae Martin writes about social/environmental issues and travel in the U.S. and abroad. To read more of her work, please visit The Story Grove.

The famous Arch and Bay of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, are a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Locals call the arch the Window to the Pacific Ocean

No longer a secret, if indeed it ever was, Los Cabos has grown in stature and renown as a holiday destination. Beach bums love the white sand and secluded coves, big-game fishermen idle all day on the water, and divers and snorkelers ogle the teeming marine life. There is, of course, plenty more to see and do in Los Cabos, some of it manmade, a lot of it cultural and delicious, but most of it involving nature in splendid abundance.

Finding Your Way the Right Way

With sights and population centres spread across the peninsula from Cabo San Lucas in the south to La Paz, the state capital, 160 kilometres (100 miles) to the north, and even Los Cabos International Airport 45 kilometres (28 miles) from central Cabo San Lucas, ground transportation is a vital consideration when in the area.

But while there is a solid assortment of transfer services, the eco-friendly qualities of only one of them really sets it apart. In the midst of the natural exuberance of Los Cabos, only the Green Path Transfers local partner provides a ground transportation service that is committed to going green.

Launched in March of 2011, Green Path Transfers is the global, environmentally and socially responsible transport service with a 100-percent carbon-offset policy. And its local partner in Los Cabos is Gray Line Los Cabos.

On the Green Path

Gray Line Los Cabos was launched in 2002 and immediately started offering airport and intercity transfers around Los Cabos in addition to destination management services such as the sightseeing tours and all types of adventure and group experiences.

Gray Line Los Cabos has two Eurovans like the one above. They carry eight passengers and are frequently used on the airport run in Los Cabos, Mexico

For its transportation purposes, the company currently manages two types of vehicles: Eurovans with an eight-passenger capacity and VW Crafters that can comfortably sit 16 passengers. They are the backbone of the famously punctual Gray Line Los Cabos airport meet-and-greet service available 365 days a year and managed by bilingual staff (English and Spanish).

These vehicles run on diesel, reports Karem Matamoros, a sales executive with Gray Line Los Cabos. In keeping with Green Path Transfers sustainable travel values, this means “they emit less carbon dioxide as it’s more fuel efficient,” she adds, but then admits that it’s only a first step until better solutions come along. “In Mexico, hybrids and other alternative vehicles are not popular yet and not many companies manufacture them. The ones that do exist are only compact cars.”

Fortunately, through Green Path Transfers, Gray Line Los Cabos can count on the policy of offsetting 100 percent of carbon emissions. “For now, I am afraid the only way we can contribute is through the carbon offset,” says Matamoros. “We hopes that the car companies start producing options more suitable for us to change our entire fleet.”

Trust a Local Native

In addition to competitively priced earth-conscious transfers, Gray Line Los Cabos promises comfortable recent-model vehicles, insurance and certified bilingual drivers who have completed training through a National-Tourism-Board-sponsored program called moderniza certification. The drivers also take a Red Cross class in first aid.

The main square of San Jose del Cabo, Mexico

These drivers are mines of information and can really bring to life the Los Cabos area in a way only possible through locals. In Cabos San Lucas, they can take you to Medano Beach, a must-see location where people can satisfy all their water-activities desires. In the nearby town of San José del Cabo, the drivers can point out the Art District, where historic and picturesque buildings display the work of creative talents, and the main square is home to an 18th-century Mission.

In neighbouring Todos Santos, the drivers can explain why the National Tourism Board has declared it a ‘Magic Town,’ a title conferred on places that preserve their culture and architecture. Todos Santos is full of art galleries, beautiful old buildings and cosy traditional restaurants. Further away, La Paz, the capital of the state, is a tranquil city with a beautiful Malecón that still holds the Old Baja atmosphere.

Whatever the path taken, “Gray Line Los Cabos brings to Green Path Transfers its transportation services operated by locals who really know Los Cabos and give their customers the best local approach, always ruled by the service standards of the Gray Line family,” adds Matamoros. She concludes: “In return, from Green Path Transfers, we hope to reach visitors who are coming to Los Cabos looking for a safe and affordable way to travel using a responsible company that provides quality transportation service in Los Cabos.”

To learn more about Green Path Transfers and how to be part of carbon-neutral travel arrangements that emphasise responsible actions in a growing number of destinations around the globe, visit www.GreenPathTransfers.com.

Volunteering abroad, also known as voluntourism, is on fire. More and more, all kinds of people are looking for travel experiences where they can serve the under-served, globally. Who can disagree with such noble intentions? In fact, voluntourism is often hailed as one of the most constructive forms of tourism out there.

Voluntourism Economics

Like anything new and fast-growing, voluntourism can go awry. Opportunistic travel companies commercialize what should be kept in the non-profit sector, charging voluntourists a hefty premium. NGOs use voluntourists as a fundraising mechanism, taking more advantage of their willingness to pay than their willingness to work. As voluntourism gains scale in certain destinations, it can even affect local labor markets in ways the voluntourists never imagine. Rightly so, skeptics have started blowing whistles and calling for best practices.

Two Sustainable Bolivia volunteers paint a flagpole at Atendi. Photo courtesy of The International Ecotourism Society/Cynthia Ord.

The economics of voluntourism is a hot issue in the larger debate about voluntourism’s impacts. Where are voluntourist dollars going? How much stays with the coordinating organization, and how much enters the local economy in a meaningful way? If you’re thinking about volunteer travel, these are the kinds of questions that are worth asking. If you’re an organization that is coordinating volunteer tourists, these are the kind of questions that are important to answer. Transparency is key.

Volunteering with Sustainable Bolivia in Cochabamba

Sustainable Bolivia is a registered non-profit organization in Cochabamba, Bolivia’s third-largest city. Here, it partners with 28 local non-profit organizations to coordinate volunteer and internship opportunities for international students and professionals. The organizations span a number of fields of development: public health, the environment, education, human rights, and social services.

Volunteers choose which organization they would like to get involved with, depending on their experiences, educational background, and interests. With its diverse network of local non-profit organizations, Sustainable Bolivia is in a good position to match volunteer skills and resources with the places in and around Cochabamba that could use them the most.

Engineers who want to work on appropriate technology solutions find a good match with Energetica, which works on alternative energy sources in the rural communities of Bolivia. Doctors and health care professionals have a number of choices for applying their skills, like Atendi where they can work with kids with disabilities, or Centro de Salud Cerro Verde if their interest is in reproductive health. For creative types and performers, Sustainable Bolivia has an artist residency program and a partner organizations like Performing Life, which provides underprivileged youth with workshops to develop juggling and other circus show skills.

Screen shot of mini grant reporting on the Sustainable Bolivia website.

The Mini Grant Program at Sustainable Bolivia

In 2009, the administration of Sustainable Bolivia started thinking about how they could make volunteer impacts more transparent. They realized that volunteers were the ones who were working directly in the field, in close contact with local partner organizations. The volunteers could see firsthand the most pressing needs on site at their projects.

In February of that year, the innovative new mini grant system was introduced. It’s a system where volunteers can decide exactly how their money is used in the community, and Sustainable Bolivia has one more way to measure and report contribution its to parter organizations. How does it work? For each month that a volunteer works with Sustainable Bolivia, $75 goes toward a mini grant. So, a volunteer that stays for three months has $225 to use toward their volunteer project in the way they think is most appropriate.

In order to apply their mini grants, volunteers are required to fill out an application explaining their project plans and budget. Then, once it has been approved, the volunteer is also required to submit receipts. This process allows for an organization-level reporting system on how volunteer money is being spent.

In keeping with the transparency that Sustainable Bolivia values, it publishes all mini grant activity on its website. On this fascinating page, viewers can see what each volunteer has done with each local partner organization. You can see a short description of the project, the application form, and the receipts showing where the money was spent. More than an ingenious system that ensures transparency about volunteer funds, it’s an elegant composite portrait of the kinds of activities that volunteers can do at Sustainable Bolivia and what the organization is about.

Blogging and Hula Hoops

I applied to spend time at Sustainable Bolivia through their artist residency program, asking if online content creation counts as a form of art. They were happy to accept me as their resident writer. Once I arrived, I had a meeting with Michelle, the national director, about the best way to use my volunteer time. Their website blog had become a little neglected, she said. I loved the idea of helping bring it back to life. By the end of my three month stay, I had five new posts published on the blog.

Hula Hooping with Performing Life members in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Photo courtesy of The International Ecotourism Society/Cynthia Ord.

As my time there passed, I was looking for ways to apply my own mini grant funding. The mini grant program inspired me to close my laptop and get involved on the ground level. My first week there, I had seen a show put on by Performing Life, amazed by the talent of its kids in juggling, diabalos, and unicycles. Since I’m a circus hobbyist myself, I was especially impressed by 13-year-old Scarlet and her fire poi spinning skills. I wanted to learn from her. I noticed that the organization could use some hula hoops to make its circus equipment more complete, and I started planning a project for my mini grant resources.

With my mini grant money, I went to the massive La Cancha local market and bought everything needed to make high-quality, performance-level hula hoops. I found PVC tubing, connectors, duct tape, electrical tape, and even some shiny decorative tape to finish the hoops with color and flair. My mini grant funding went a long way in Bolivia. By the end of my time there, I had made 15 new hula hoops, which were a big hit with the Performance Life kids.

All the materials for hula hoop construction had only cost about $75. There was still more mini grant funding left. I wanted to donate it directly to Performing Life, but Michelle explained to me that it rolls over to the next volunteer working with Performing Life. In this way, they can keep things totally transparent and visible about how the funding is spent. It gave me another idea – maybe I’ll go back and be that next volunteer myself.

To apply for an internship or volunteer opportunity at Sustainable Bolivia, get in contact through the Sustainable Bolivia website.

My name is Markus Neuer and I lead the Tiger Trail team in Luang Prabang, Laos. Born in Germany, I always had a passion for adventure and travelling but, even more important, for other people. Through our Fair Trek in Laos projects, I have found a way to perfectly combine community work with tourism and bring people together from all over the world to work with Lao communities.

The views are spectacular on a half-day Tiger Trail mountain trek in Nong Khiaw, in the Luang Prabang province of northern Laos. Photo courtesy of Tiger Trail

Our team is international, yet all working and living in Luang Prabang. A big part of our company is regular interns, volunteers and students giving support. Our team members are currently from the US, Thailand, France, Germany and of course Laos. Tiger Trail was founded in 2000. I took over the company in 2008, and with the help of our incredible team it has become what it is today. We currently employ about 50 full-time staff members.

My Inspiration, Our Inspiration

I believe that the world is not fairly developed and even its most beautiful landscapes can be the stage for poverty and degradation. I aim to approach these problems by seeking a better way. We make an impact through an ongoing effort to care for the community and our environment, while enjoying the beauty and diversity of the world itself. If everybody would do this, we could have a better world, not just better adventures.

Tourists work alongside villagers harvesting rice near Huay Fai village (about 20 kilometres from Luang Prabang), Laos, during one of the Fair Trek tours offered by Tiger Trail. Photo courtesy of Tiger Trail

Fair Trek Is a Key Part of Our Adventure Travel Company

Fair Trek in Laos is an innovative community-based-tourism project aiming to assist in the development of communities in need. In return, it allows visitors to have access to remote villages by trekking, biking and kayaking, to learn and absorb different cultural experiences in Laos. Fair Trek is the first responsible-tourism project in Luang Prabang, and has been recognised widely as an example of community-based responsible tourism in the Mekong sub-region.

Fair Trek Was First Founded in 2007

I initiated Fair Trek in cooperation with local nongovernmental organisations and the government. It resulted from striking and obvious needs that I have experienced myself during normal treks through surrounding communities and in other countries. After the initiative had been started up, reviewed and adjusted, the operation of the Fair Trek project in Luang Prabang was transferred and is now partly run locally by the Provincial Tourism Department and a pool of operators, raising awareness toward development of tourism and community alike.

After years of development, Tiger Trail has continued to spread the Fair Trek initiative out to other areas of northern Laos, Nong Khiaw and Muang. Tiger Trail is also adopting the philosophy of “voluntourism” for an ecological school project, The Clay School Project, benefiting both the Fair Trek communities and volunteers.

Each tour that is within the Fair Trek project pays into a community fund! Depending on the setup, the funds are handled by local government institutions or the communities directly. The village funds are raised from each Fair Trek tour allowing each visitor to have an impact. Villagers are able to submit a request for needed financing, or propose their ideas on how to invest in improvements and development that benefits the whole community. A great side effect has been created through visitors who wish to assist more through donations. Through this the communities can achieve additional support through the awareness that Fair Trek provides to them.

The Villagers Also Benefit Directly

The villagers make an income selling food and accommodation, as well as traditional self-made handicrafts to the visitors. Individual villagers can earn from guiding around the communities and from helping out in tourism activities. Rental fees for land, blankets, cooking material and other assisting services also contribute to the local income. Our tours are not only “fair” in terms of money; they also preserve local culture and traditions. Having visitors gives the villagers an opportunity to spread and preserve their traditional performances and practices such as singing, dancing and playing local music.

Insider Tip

If you are coming our direction, give us a visit. Luang Prabang is a provincial capital city of Laos, where time still seems to stand still. Take a waterfall trek at Kuang Si and hang out on the Mekong to enjoy the stunning view. Also I recommend you visit Big Tree Café for a great photography exhibition and enjoy some locally grown coffee at either JoMa or Saffron Café, both engaged in social projects in the region. (Get more of the inside word on Luang Prabang.)

Volunteers work with locals to construct the foundation, columns and roof of the Clay School in Ban Naluang, near Nong Khiaw, in northern Laos. Photo courtesy of Tiger Trail

Attractions in and around Luang Prabang are diverse, including various waterfalls, caves, ethnic minorities, textiles and handicrafts, elephant rides and mahout elephant-care experiences. As part of the UNESCO World Heritage reconstruction plan, new buildings have been limited and old houses and streets received refurbishment to keep Luang Prabang a magical place. The most practical way to explore the city is by bike or on a walk. It’s really that small! On our various tours, selected sights and highlights can be combined on day trips and offer individual experiences with experienced and friendly guides.

For a short note on local weather: dry season lasts generally from October through April and wet season comes from the beginning of May to September. BUT I personally love and recommend the rainy season with its lush tropical green and powerful rain showers – it’s spectacular. Yearly average temperature is around 28°C, but it can fall to 15°C or 10°C during the cold season and even lower in the mountains.

The village ("ban") of Naluang, northern Laos, set amidst a stunning backdrop of karst mountains and lush jungle. Photo courtesy of Tiger Trail

View from Office Window

Well, there’s not much to see but at least we see most of the visitors as they fly into Luang Prabang airport, just about 300 metres from our office. We also have a decent view of a metal shop and a cement work space on the opposite side of the road.

Thanks to Markus for sending this through to us! If you’re interested in experiencing one of their fantastic trips, why not try Trekking in the Jungle or Living as a “Mahout” on an elephant sanctuary. Opportunities also exist for those interested in Volunteering in a Traditional Akha Village or Helping to Build a Clay School for a Small Village in Laos.

Co-management of protected areas by both the state and local communities is one of the best ways to guarantee that tourism will provide economic and social benefits to many people who would otherwise be marginalized, at the same time that it ensures protection for the environment on which these communities rely for their income. An excellent example is the Soncor Sector of Los Flamencos National Reserve, in the Atacama Desert of the Antofagasta Region, in northern Chile.

A local Lickan Antay guide explains the importance of conservation to a group of school children. Photo by Marcela Torres

Los Flamencos National Reserve is located within the Atacama La Grande Indigenous Development Area, which was established in 1997 to promote sustainable development of the ancient territories of the Lickan Antay peoples. Since then, the Lickan Antay communities have strengthened their ancient rights to use of the resources, in many cases following traditional methods, and in others applying modern natural resource management techniques.

When the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) began charging entrance fees to visit the Reserve, at the begining of the 2000 decade, the Lickan Antay Community of Toconao cut off the access road to Laguna Chaxa, in the Soncor Sector, to demand that tourism, carried out in their ancient territories, also benefit the descendants of this ethnic group that live in the nearby town. Their action brought about a revision of the plan and CONAF and the Lickan Antay communities signed co-management agreements for four of the seven sectors of the Reserve: Soncor, Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons, Moon Valley and Tambillo.

Los Flamencos National Reserve harbors the three flamingo species found in Chile: the Andean Flamingo, the Chilean Flamingo, and James’ Flamingo. Photo by Hernán Torres

Income generated from the entrance fees to these sites, which attract national and foreign visitors, has allowed the communities to strengthen programs to aid elderly and disabled people in their communities. At the same time, a significant amount of this income is invested in the management of each sector and staff salaries. The inclusion of local community personnel in the management of these sectors has allowed CONAF to redirect its staff to sectors and activities that were previously left largely unattended due to the lack of personnel and resources that affect the institution.

First Sustainable Visitor Center

Because of the increasing interest shown by tourists arriving from the nearby town of San Pedro de Atacama, the community decided to improve the site’s infrastructure and visitor information. To that end, in 2006, it partnered with CONAF and the SQM mining company, which exploits lithium in the Atacama Salt Flat, to develop the first sustainable visitor center in a protected area in Chile.

The project included the architectural design and construction of the visitor center, incorporating techniques such as reuse of grey water and electricity generation through solar panels and windmills. The roads were also repaired and the parking lot expanded.

This was the first sustainable visitor center built in a protected area in Chile, using renewable wind and solar energy. Photo by Hernán Torres

At the same time, a group of local guides from the Lickan Antay Community of Toconao was trained in interpretation techniques to convey effectively to visitors the natural and cultural values of the area. To support this, five bilingual signs were developed for the interpretive trail and 18 for the inner hall of the center. A documentary video was also produced, in Spanish with English subtitles, to complement information provided to visitors.

The results could not have been better. Visitors to Laguna Chaxa comment that it is a pleasure to pay an entrance fee because you can see that the revenues are invested in the people and in improving the place, where you no longer find garbage lying around and there is good infrastructure. In addition, tourism has provided local people with a new source of income and each day more and more Lickan Antay Community members seek training to be part of the benefits of responsible tourism.

Part of Traventuria's clean 10-vehicle fleet in Bulgaria is a Mercedes Sprinter that can fit up to nine people. Photo courtesy of Traventuria

Green Transfers and Tours in Bulgaria

For more than 10 years, Traventuria has been providing reliable ground transportation that focuses on all of Bulgaria, but also extends to and from major airports in neighbouring Skopje, Macedonia and Thessaloniki, Greece.

But what really sets Traventuria apart is its fleet of well-maintained vehicles that comply with either Euro 4 or Euro 5 emissions standards, a measure of the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of vehicles sold in European Union. Traventuria’s cars have all been equipped with particle filters and use autogas, a mixture of propane and butane that produces fewer emissions than regular petrol.

More than just a transfer and transportation service, though, Traventuria is an independent tour operator that offers to travellers a suite of tour services. The company has an enticing menu of Bulgaria excursions – everything from active short breaks and wildlife and walking tours to spa and wellness trips. Traventuria can even arrange skiing and snowboarding tours, demonstrating that there really is no such thing as low season in Bulgaria.

Bansko is one of Bulgaria's premier ski resorts that Traventuria services, and one of the pristine alpine landscapes that it cares to conserve

Grounded in Responsible Tourism

Through both transport services and tours, and drawing on years of experience as tour leaders and travelers, the staff of Traventuria demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism, going green being something in which Green Path Transfers sees great merit.

“Lots of companies juggle with words like ‘responsible’ and ‘sustainable’ travel, converting them into clichés while giving them vague and broad meanings,” observes Atenas Zahariev of the Traventuria team. “As travellers ourselves, we believe that first-class experiences and unforgettable memories are granted in isolated communities, authentic cultures, preserved habitats and lively traditions. Naturally, we want to protect them for future generations.”

As this awareness of and concern for a sustainable future guides much of Traventuria’s growth, the company is always thinking of new and better ways to act on its guiding principles and to set examples for other tour operators. For example, Traventuria has supported a number of local and international nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in Bulgaria: as active partners with the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) in Bulgaria, they help conserve the precious ecosystems of the lower Danube River area; they also work with the Cooperation for Voluntary Service in Bulgaria to encourage international exchange and volunteering in Bulgaria; three other partnerships are with the Regional Environmental Center, the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation and the Balkani Wildlife Society.

“We’re involved with basically every NGO that works with nature conservation and protection in Bulgaria,” says Zahariev.

A Traventuria vehicle drops off passengers at the Sofia airport in Bulgaria. All the petrol vehicles in the fleet have been converted to use Autogas LPG. Photo courtesy of Facebook.com/Traventuria

A Bright Partnership

Traventuria has high hopes for Green Path Transfers and the mission to turn more people on to greener forms of transit and transport.

On having joined the innovative Green Path Transfers network, Zahariev says, “We are looking forward to collaborating with Green Path Transfers in Bulgaria to help them extend their presence worldwide, and to help us broaden the number of travellers serviced.”

“We couldn’t have found a better fit for our partner criteria in Bulgaria than Traventuria,” Adrian Cordiner, founder of Green Path Transfers, comments. “They really embody the kind of tourism and transit that Green Path Transfers is about.”

To learn more about Green Path Transfers and the carbon-neutral transfer services it offers growing number of destinations around the globe, visit www.GreenPathTransfers.com.

Such too were the reasons why whl.travel, the global online travel-booking network of mindful local travel experts, stepped up to sponsor it, working from within its extensive network of local partners to find fitting ecotourism prize material for the winners.

Participants were given a limit of 1,000 words and five evocative photographs through which to tell their stories. They were also required to provide tips about ecotourism in their selected destinations or reflections about how they might help better preserve that particular destination through ecotourism practices.

See the promotional video here:

.

.

And now the winners have been identified. From dozens of submissions, a shortlist of 10 finalists (determined by public vote) was reviewed by a panel of judges that included representatives from The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), Tourism Concern, MyNatour and the WHL Group, the parent company of whl.travel.

Ethan Gelber, the Chief Communication Officer of the WHL Group, said (see the video directly below) that he was looking for three qualities when determining the best of the ecotourism travel blog contest finalists: the first was “how much time and effort was taken by the person to think about what an ecotourism experience is”; the second was “how carefully they made a choice of the experience they wanted to live through”; and the third was “whether or not the experience was as rich as they thought it would be.”

And now the winners have been announced and decided on their prizes:

.

.

FIRST PLACE: A Garden Lady in India’s Cold Mountain Desert by Shivya

As her prize, Shivya will escape to the highland region of the Albanian Alps. Hosted by Outdoor Albania, the whl.travel local connection in Albania, Shivya will set off on a five-day guided trek through some of the country’s most vivid scenery. With overnights spent in the traditional houses of the Albanian highlanders, daytime activities include a ferry trip along Lake Koman, a visit to the Valbona Valley and a trek to the Theth Valley surrounded by high mountain passes and peaks.

SECOND PLACE: Reef to Rainforest by Hobbers

Hobbers will head deep into Estonia’s Soomaa National Park (soomaa translates more or less as ‘land of the bogs’). Surrounded by vast floodplains and crisscrossed by rivers, she and a companion will enjoy a wilderness experience in an area known for its canoeing, ‘bog-shoeing,’ beavers and berry-picking – all courtesy of Soomaa.com, an operator based out of Estonia.

THIRD PLACE: My Trip to Mali – Halt in Terya Bugu by Mario Difra

Mario will travel from his home in Italy to southwest Laos, a region replete with jungles, raging rivers and outstanding cultural heritage. Once there, he will embark on a high-flying treetop adventure by zipline, followed by a Mekong cruise to the World Heritage Site of Wat Phou – all made possible by Teamworkz, the whl.travel local connection in Laos.

.

The three ecotourism packages that were not selected were a rainforest adventure in Ecuador made possible by the Yachana Lodge, the whl.travel local connection in Quito; a Galapagos Island tour through Yacu Amu Experiences, the whl.travel local connection in the Galapagos; and a visit to Sana’a and Soqotra in Yemen with Eternal Yemen, the whl.travel local in Yemen.

Praia do Barra is one of Mozambique's most popular beaches, right at the tip of the peninsula in Inhambane Province. The nearby waters are famous for their huge populations of whale sharks and manta rays. Photo courtesy of Riëtte Stoltz

A trip only a few kilometres outside of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique and a large port city, leads to a number of quiet hidden beaches perfect for snorkelling, diving and fishing. And across Maputo Bay, just far enough to be beyond the horizon, are islands like Portuguese and Inhaca, where isolated retreats provide hours of opportunity for quiet walks and tranquil reflection.

Alternatively, when you feel like sinking your feet into something other than sand, there’s a world of African wildlife waiting in the south of country. Right on the South African border, 100 kilometres south of Maputo, lies Kruger National Park, one of the best places in Africa to spot the ‘Big Five’ – lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinoceros – animals that old-time hunters used to risk life and limb to shoot.

Of course, there are plenty of things to see and do in Maputo itself. With impressive colonial architecture, the city lends itself to wandering along cobblestone streets, sipping coffee at local cafés and perusing colourful downtown markets. A tour of the Mafalala district opens windows onto Mozambique’s more recent and turbulent past, putting the country’s rich ethnic and cultural diversity into historical perspective.

A beautiful sunset behind the Matola Rio Bridge. Linking the Matola suburbs with Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique, the bridge is heavily used by both commuters and by travellers on their way to neighbouring Swaziland and South Africa. Photo courtesy of Riëtte Stoltz

As Mozambique continues to navigate its post-war development, effort is being put into building better infrastructure, like the good mix of Mozambique accommodation. Many Maputo hotels, like the Cardoso Hotel, realise the importance of connecting business development with community development and are actively involved in the local Maputo non-profit sector. A number of Mozambique spas and resorts are gaining popularity as well. Resorts like Indigo Bay balance diving and other water-sport activities against community involvement, an important part of creating successful ecologically and socially minded enterprises.

Natalie Tenzer-Silvia and her team at Dana Tours, the new whl.travel local partner in Mozambique, are no strangers to the community development that is so central to Mozambique’s success. In addition to organising a number of Mozambique tours and running their own Mozambique transport company, Dana Tours is actively involved in hosting volunteers through programs that connect North American students with hands-on learning experiences in Mozambique orphanages.

In Mozambique, a mother does her washing in the river near the Pequenos Libombo dam with her baby asleep on her back. The dam, near the Swaziland border, is a popular spot with the local community. Photo courtesy of Riëtte Stoltz

Dana Tours has been in operation since 2002 and Natalie is very excited to be expanding her business with the whl.travel family. “One of the attractions of joining whl.travel is that I will be dealing with the clients directly,” says Natalie. “So often we don’t get a feel for what the client really wants because there are agents in between us who don’t really know much about Mozambique and what it has to offer – though this is no fault of the agent. There is not much available in the way of tourist information about Mozambique. By dealing directly with the client, we can elicit exactly what he expects to accomplish, and ensure that we realise his dreams.”

The new Mozambique Web portal at www.tourmozambique.travel joins a growing list of whl.travel websites in Southern Africa.

A gorgeous sunset at Kagaba Beach, in Lughu Bay, which is the gateway to Solomon Islands' East Rennell World Heritage Site (Lake Te'Nggano). Photo by Rennell World Heritage Site Tours

Can this precarious balance be achieved? Can an island like Rennell, which is the highest raised coral atoll in the world, expand its tourism offering while still maintaining its precious ecological integrity? After all, there is more to Rennell’s natural heritage than its inherent value to the environment; it is also Rennell’s main tourism asset.

The Vision of Rennell World Heritage Site Tours

Attempting to strike this balance are the local leaders at Rennell World Heritage Site Tours. They established their tour company with the clear goal of enlightening local stakeholder (including business owners, the provincial government and the national government) about Rennell Island’s potential as a national tourism asset and of turning it into a significant contributor to the country’s economy. They aim to raise Rennell’s profile as a popular destination in the Solomon Islands and in the South Pacific. At the same time, the new tour operator is careful to capitalise on existing infrastructure and attractions so as to leave the island’s special natural conditions as unaltered as possible.

A boat transfers tour passengers to Tuhugago Beach after a morning of bush trekking from Niupani Village on Rennell Island, part of the Solomon Islands. Photo by Rennell World Heritage Site Tours

As its name makes clear, Rennell World Heritage Site Tours is a local specialist in adventure circuit tours on Rennell Island, including trips to Lake Te’Nggano World Heritage Site (also known as Tegano and Tungano, the largest freshwater lake in the South Pacific). Their guides are very experienced in the terrain and know how to make each visit comfortable and memorable. They take great pride in exploring the unexplored with their guests, so much so that some of the sites they visit have never even been photographed, meaning their guests may be the first to frame them.

Low-Impact Activities and Lodging

The itineraries of trips organised by Rennell World Heritage Site Tours focus on immersive and low-impact activities. On the Lake Te’Nggano tour, for example, guests enjoy swimming in the lake, interacting with the friendly local people and just enjoying the singing of the birds in the early morning. In fact, given its huge number of endemic bird species, all of Rennell is a prime birdwatching destination.

On the Solomon Islands' Rennell Island, a trail from Tuhugago Beach leads into the lush foliage of the interior. Photo by Rennell World Heritage Tours

On the Niupani Village to Tuhugago Beach tour, bush treks lead guests to scenic vista points such as the unforgettable Tuhugago Lookout. Closer to (and below) sea level, adventurous travellers can glimpse the underwater world while swimming and snorkelling in the clean crystal sea at the Tuhugago and Kagaba beaches. Anyone interested in diving can even opt to explore the underwater shipwreck of the US WWII PBY Catalina at Hutuna Village.

On their tours, Rennell World Heritage Site Tours is careful to partner with ecolodges that are owned and operated by local people. Meals consist mainly of fruit and Rennellese local-style cuisine, including the plentiful and fresh seafood. Toilets and bath facilities rely on basic but effective rainwater catchment systems, also used for drinking and cooking.

A fuzzy lake bird looks back at travellers trekking to Niupani Village on Rennell Island of the Solomon Islands. Photo by Rennell World Heritage Tours

“A True Natural Laboratory”

East Rennell (Lake Te’Nggano) was listed by UNESCO as a natural World Heritage Site in 1998. It is the only one belonging to Solomon Islands in this subregion of the Pacific, which also includes sites in Australia and New Zealand, as well as two other official sites – Easter Island and Henderson Island – under the auspices of Chile and the U.K., respectively.

East Rennell is described by UNESCO as “a stepping stone in the migration and evolution of species in the western Pacific, and an important site for the science of island biogeography.” Due to the great biodiversity, not to mention its status as the largest insular lake in the Pacific and as the largest raised coral atoll in the world, “East Rennell is a true natural laboratory for scientific study.”

To explore the natural heritage of Rennell Island, contact Rennell World Heritage Site Tours.

Nestled into the southeastern coast of Brazil, the island of Vitória promises visitors immersion in the quiet beauty of the Atlantic coastline while simultaneously experiencing the electrifying buzz of contemporary and cosmopolitan Brazil. The capital of the island, Vitória City – which includes as part of its greater metropolitan area the smaller mainland city of Vila Velha – is also the capital of the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. Anchored around three large ports, Vitória is a central fixture of the Brazilian economy, propelling the export of Brazilian coffee, oil and steel.

In the city of Vitória, Brazil, Camburi Beach is a six-mile stretch of coast that has been urbanised and integrated into the city. The boardwalk has tracks for running, biking and other activities, while the water is great for sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Photo courtesy of the City of Vitória

In addition to its industrial and economic importance, the island of Vitória abounds in natural beauty. The city and environs are integrated into jagged green hills, rocky waterfronts and rich mysterious mangroves. The best place to take in the scenery is from one of the six sleek bridges linking Vitória Island to mainland Brazil. Peaking at over 70 metres above the waterline, the Darcy Castelo de Mendonca Bridge, also known as the Third Bridge, offers particularly excellent panoramic views of this scenic coastal city.

With a city-wide emphasis on green space, ecological conservation and recycling, Vitória has been ranked by the United Nations as the fourth best state capital in Brazil. It also has some of the highest living standards in the country, a measure that often comes with great opportunities for a Brazil holiday, something for which Vitória is well renowned.

Inaugurated in 2009, the Passagem Bridge is a milestone in the development of Vitória, Brazil. It combines modern design and functionality, greatly improving the flow of traffic in the city. Photo courtesy of the City of Vitória

For example, hiking in the mountains, walking along the coast or simply relaxing in a Vitória park are all qualities of a perfect Vitória vacation. Visitors can even appreciate the island from the direction of the sea via boat tours through the abundant mangroves or night tours that take in the lights of the city illuminating the rocky cliffs.

Of course, sustaining peace and rest between Vitóra tours and adventures is an abundance of Vitória accommodations, many of which strive to meet the same high standards of green living and conservation that the city promotes. Hotels like Comfort Hotel Vitória Praia and Champagnat Praia Hotel have developed extensive recycling and reuse programs to minimise waste, including plans to collect and reuse old kitchen oil.

With some of the best bars and restaurants in the city, Praia do Canto is one of the cutest neighbourhoods of Vitória, Brazil, an area central to its nightlife. Outdoor sport enthusiasts will love the area too as it is close to Praca dos Namorados, the perfect place to get some exercise. Photo courtesy of the City of Vitória

BWT Operadora is pleased to be joining forces again with whl.travel – it already operates the whl.travel local travel portal in Pantanal Sul – in presenting www.vitoria-vilavelha-hotel.com as the latest whl.travel destination in Brazil. Company president Adonai Aires de Arruda commented that “We like the idea of joining whl.travel because it is one of the most well-known Internet sites offering local tourism services. We are glad to give more tourists the chance to meet the beauties of our region of Brazil, and to give them the comfort of reserving tours and accommodation with just one click.”

As part of the larger Higi Serv Group, the team at BWT Operadora operates the Serra Verde Express, the centenary railroad running between Curitiba and Paranaguá. The historical train line is a top tourist attraction in the Paraná State, transporting nearly 150,000 people each year through one of the world’s most important coastal ecosystems. Higi Serv and its affiliates are one of Brazil’s largest partnerships devoted to such projects of preservation and conservation; it brings great strength to the extensive network of whl.travel destinations in Brazil.

Initially begun in 1928 as a ground procession to honour the Feast of St. Peter, the parade took to the water with the arrival of 200 Azorean fishermen and, since the 1970s, shifted from rowboats to motorboats. One highlight is the blessing of the hooks, which takes place on the high seas. Photo courtesy of the City of Vitória

———-

EM PORTUGUÊS / IN PORTUGUESE:

As cidades de Vitória e Vila Velha agora presentes na rede whl.travel no Brasil

Situada na costa sudeste do Brasil, a ilha de Vitória promete imersão aos visitantes na beleza tranquila da costa atlântica e ao mesmo tempo na eletrizante agitação do Brasil contemporâneo e cosmopolita. A capital da ilha, Vitória – que inclui como parte de sua área metropolitana a cidade de Vila Velha – é também a capital do estado brasileiro do Espírito Santo. Ancorada em torno de três grandes portos, Vitória é um dispositivo elétrico central da economia brasileira, impulsionando a exportação de café brasileiro, petróleo e aço.

Além de sua importância industrial e económica, a ilha de Vitória está cheia de belezas naturais. A cidade e seus arredores são cercados por montes verdes e manguezais. O melhor lugar para apreciar a paisagem é de qualquer uma das seis pontes que ligam Vitória ao continente. Atingindo um máximo de mais de 70 metros acima da linha d’água, a ponte Darcy Castelo de Mendonça, também conhecida como a Terceira Ponte, oferece particularmente excelentes vistas panorâmicas sobre a cidade costeira.

Handmade clay pots are some of the greatest expressions of culture in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Artisans are linked to the Association of Paneleiras, located in the District of Goiabeiras. Two typical meals, the moqueca capixaba and toria capixaha, are traditionally served in clay pots. Photo courtesy of the City of Vitória

Com ênfase em espaços verdes, conservação ecológica e reciclagem, Vitória foi classificada pelas Nações Unidas como a quarta melhor capital de estado no Brasil. Ela também tem alguns dos mais altos padrões de vida no país, uma medida que muitas vezes vem com grandes oportunidades para umas férias no Brasil, algo para o qual Vitória é bem conhecida.

Por exemplo, passeio pelas montanhas capixabas, caminhar ao longo da costa ou simplesmente relaxar em um dos parques da cidade. Os visitantes podem ainda apreciar a ilha vista do mar através de passeios de barco pelos manguezais ou passeios noturnos que levam nas luzes da cidade iluminando os paredões rochosos.

E para manter a paz e descanso entre passeios e aventuras ha uma abundância de hoteis em Vitória, muitos dos quais se esforçam para atender os altos padrões de vida que a cidade promove. Hotéis como Comfort Hotel Vitória Praia e Champagnat Praia Hotel desenvolveram reciclagem extensa e programas de reutilização de resíduos, incluindo planos para coletar e reutilizar óleo de cozinha.

Vitória, the second-oldest capital of Brazil, is formed by an archipelago of 33 islands and a mainland port. The city is unique for its natural beauty, traditional cultural groups and remarkable economic growth. During the summer high season, the city’s landscape is altered by docked luxury ocean liners. Photo courtesy of the City of Vitória

A BWT Operadora ) tem o prazer de juntar forças novamente com a whl.travel – que já opera o portal de viagens no Pantanal Sul – para apresentar www.vitoria-vilavelha-hotel.com como o destino mais recente whl.travel no Brasil. Presidente da empresa, Adonai Aires de Arruda, comentou que “Gostamos da idéia da whl.travel e estamos contentes em oferecer aos turistas a oportunidade de conhecer as belezas da nossa região, e dar-lhes o conforto de reservar passeios e hotéis com apenas um clique.”

Como parte do maior Grupo Higi Serv, a equipe da BWT Operadora opera a Serra Verde Express, a ferrovia centenária que funciona entre Curitiba e Paranaguá. A linha de trem histórica é uma atração turística no Estado do Paraná, transportando cerca de 150 mil pessoas a cada ano através de um dos mais importantes ecossistemas costeiros do mundo. Higi Serv e suas afiliadas são uma das maiores parcerias do Brasil dedicado a projetos de preservação e conservação; traz, portanto, uma grande força à extensa rede de destinos whl.travel no Brasil.