Ever wonder what summer camp is like for African children? In many nations of southern Africa (including Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia), an organization called Children in the Wilderness provides camp experiences for African children that teach them the value of conserving their natural resources.

Through programs that focus on environmental protection and life skills, Children in the Wilderness educates African children about the important role that conservation plays in preserving the wild spaces in their countries. The goal of this organization is to develop future leaders who will promote the best interests of the land and wildlife around them.

Here’s a closer look at the Children in the Wilderness programs, each of which focuses on the environmental issues and challenges unique to its region.

Botswana

The first country to establish a Children in the Wilderness program, Botswana has hosted about 96 children each year since 2001, in camps located along the Okavango Delta. In addition to a six-day Environmental Stewardship Program that students attend in the wilderness, they can participate in Environmental Clubs at their schools, funded and organized by Children in the Wilderness.

Malawi

The 50 to 96 children who visit Malawi’s Myuu Camp each year stay on Lake Malawi. Because of their proximity to this water body, their lessons focus on water conservation efforts and methods for using the lake sustainably. Children here also learn to swim and get the opportunity to interview every staff member of the Malawi chapter of Children in the Wilderness. Graduates of Malawi’s program have established a tree nursery and fence protection and maintenance program nearby.

Namibia

Since is start in 2002, roughly 90 children have attended Namibia’s Children in the Wilderness programs each year. Many of the program’s graduates are now permanently employed with Wilderness Safaris, a guide group that offers Namibia safari tours.

South Africa

South African children can visit one of two wilderness camp locations, Pafuri Camp and Rocktail Beach Camp. With a total of 69 attendees each year, the South African chapter of Children in the Wilderness has expanded its reach with the Environmental Clubs it established in the Makuleke Community.

Zambia

Because poaching is a major concern in Kafue National Park and South Luangwa National Park, where Zambia’s wilderness programs are hosted, the curriculum here focuses on how to prevent that crime. In addition to the 90 children per year who get to visit the actual camp, Zambia’s chapter offers follow-up programs in the schools.

Zimbabwe

The 130 children who attend the program at Linkwasha Camp in Hwange National Park each year hail from villages around the park and from an AIDS orphanage located in the town of Dete. Instead of follow-up programs run in the schools, Zimbabwe’s programs run nutrition, literacy, and school facility upgrade programs, which leaders decided the Zimbabwean population needed more immediately than environmental follow-up.

Donate to Africa’s Conservation Efforts!

If you’d like to learn more about the work that Children in the Wilderness does for African children, or if you’d like to sponsor a child or make a donation, you can do so on the Children in the Wilderness website.

What conservation lessons do you think we need to start teaching?

Lori with the Maasai

Wholeheartedly supporting the motto “You can take the girl out of Africa, but you can’t take Africa out of the girl,” Lori Robinson has established herself as a huge advocate for conservation efforts throughout East Africa. Since her first visit to Africa in 1984, Lori fell in love with the people, environment, and nature of Africa and has made it her life’s mission to lend support and aid to East Africa through her grassroots projects.

We are honored to share with you our exclusive interview with Lori, where she discusses some of her projects and initiatives throughout East Africa and how individuals, just like you, can lend support:

1. Tell us a little bit about your amazing projects, including Africa’s Angels, Notes ‘N Totes, and your Plastic Bag Project. What inspired you to launch these projects and how do they benefit the people of Africa?

My conservationist heart led me to Africa, particularly Tanzania (because I lead tours there for the Jane Goodall Institute). In partnership with community leaders there and donors here (Africa’s Angels), we have built rain catchment systems for access to clean water, cleared the area of plastic litter (as seen in the video below), and done workshops on organic gardening and sustainable living concepts.

Next month 300 kids will participate in a Notes ‘N Totes exchange, which sets up pen pals between kids in America and Africa, focusing on environmental solutions. Kids learn from each other. The Africans in this program have no access to the Internet so the letters from America are an important means of connection. All of Africa Inside’s efforts support and encourage solutions developed in partnership with the local community.

2. How has Africa influenced your life? In other words, what has it taught you about yourself?

I am working on a book of stories from 30 years of traveling to and living in Africa. In the process, I’m exploring this question. Africa (its people, animals, and environment) has influenced me in so many ways, especially in my lifestyle choices. I now live simply, in a small dwelling (I sold my big house and most of the stuff in that house), make a concentrated effort to not consume more than I need, prioritize what makes me happy, and have slowed down so I notice others and nature more, and stay connected to nature, animals, and friends and family. I’m living more of a rural African lifestyle than American and in this way can say, I “walk my talk.”

3. You are good friends with Jane Goodall and each year you host a Jane Goodall trip. Tell us about these trips and how individuals can get involved.

Members of the Jane Goodall Institute who donate a minimum of $1,000 are invited to participate in the trips I lead for her. As a young girl (like many other girls my age) I wanted to be Jane Goodall. It has been a privilege working for her. I also design safaris for other non-profits, and lead trips for people who want to help.

Lori in front of the plastic litter

4. How can individuals donate or lend support to your projects?

The easiest way to make a donation is through CrowdRise. On a more involved level, people can join my annual trips that combine a quintessential safari experience with a meaningful community project.

5. Is there anything else you wish to add?

On my site, AfricaInside.org there are stories, safari itineraries, and descriptions of projects. I hope to connect to your followers there. I believe everyone needs to go to Africa at least once in their lifetime. It is truly life changing. But they also need to be prepared for it to get inside of them, too. I am thrilled to be connected to Hills of Africa because we are like minded and share the same passion for Africa. Thanks so much.

To learn more about Lori and her journeys, click here.

Image to the left taken from the !Khwa ttu website.

Does the thought of ancient tribes and cultures, anthropology, and history make your heart pound with excitement? If so, you will absolutely love an interactive tour with San tribe descendants at !Khwa ttu in South Africa.

Located an hour from the Cape Town city center is the fascinating !Khwa ttu—a unique San Education and Culture Centre. Not your average cultural center, !Khwa ttu will introduce you to the traditions, history, languages, hunting and survival skills, art, customs, and descendants of southern Africa’s first indigenous people.

This unforgettable experience is guided by a member of the San tribe who will provide you with a holistic view of the San culture, taking you back thousands of years ago to discuss the ancient customs of the San tribe and bringing you forward to the modern-day life of the San people.

Image to the right taken from the !Khwa ttu website.

Here is what you can expect on a guided !Khwa ttu tour:

Explore !Khwa ttu’s neighboring fauna and flora: To start off your tour, you will be taken through the rolling hills of !Khwa ttu via a tractor where your guide will discuss the various plant life and animal species that you  will witness during your drive. Some of the animals you’ll see on your minisafari include zebra, oryx, and springbok. One of the highlights of this portion of the tour is that your guide will discuss some of the ancient animal stories that were told via oral storytelling—a vital component of the San culture. The opportunity to hear one of the San tribesman share his ancestor’s stories on to you is one of the most honorable feelings in the world and something you will certainly cherish for the rest of your life.

Embark on an educational nature walk: If you ever get lost in the woods, I assure you, this highly informative nature walk will come in handy! During this walk, you’ll discover how the San tribe has survived for thousands of years using traditional hunting, gathering, and tracking methods. You’ll witness bird snare demonstrations, and discover how to store water in ostrich eggs. Your guide will also introduce you to medicinal uses for indigenous plant species.

Tour through a model of a traditional San village: From bow and arrow demonstrations to ornate jewelry displays, there is excitement around every corner in the San village replica. But it’s not all demonstrations—you’ll be able to take part in using traditional digging sticks, shoot a fire-tip arrow, and start a controlled fire using only the earth’s elements.

By the end of this portion of the tour, you’ll not only be educated in San culture, but you’ll also have the survival skills of Bear Grylls (host of Discovery channel’s Man vs. Wild)!

Image to the left taken from the !Khwa ttu website.

And to top the whole tour off, your guide will describe ancient trance dance rituals, healing rituals, and the egalitarian society in which the San tribesmen lived in.

Refresh your body and senses at the Boma and restaurant: After your exciting tour, enjoy views of Table Mountain as you sip a beverage at the Boma, or delight in some delectable food at the !Khwa ttu restaurant—either way, you’ll feel rejuvenated for your next adventure!

The restaurant at !Khwa ttu is located in a restored old farmhouse that serves world-class breakfast and lunch, using only the freshest local ingredients.

Although their menu is seasonal, here are just a few items you might find being served:

• Orange and goat cheese salad
• Pan fried prawn and garlic butter
• Traditional bobotie (a must-try local dish!)
• Chicken fillet on polenta and lemon cream sauce
• Springbok Carpaccio and paw-paw

Find charming souvenirs and artwork at The Arts and Crafts Shop: Every item sold at The Arts and Crafts shop is produced by the San people who live all across southern Africa, making each item completely unique and authentic. The profits made at The Arts and Crafts Shop goes directly back to the San artists to help them facilitate economic stability in their local communities. The San people can use !Khwa ttu’s shop as an avenue to sell their creations and make money for their family and communities.

Some of the most spectacular works of art sold in the shop include ostrich eggshell jewelry (handmade in the traditional manner), bags, bracelets, paintings, carved wooden statues, and more.

It is also important to note that !Khwa ttu is Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa certified, which means that they apply fair trade principles to all of their business practices, such as producing fair wages, satisfactory working conditions, ethical business practices, and respect for human rights and the environment.

For more information on Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa certified tour providers, contact us today.

I am thrilled to share with you an interview with one of my favorite responsible volunteer project coordinators in all of Africa, African Impact. Each of African Impact’s volunteerism opportunities and projects educates volunteers on the issues that much of Africa faces (including poverty and community development), and encourages a collaborative group mentality. Their projects also allow travelers to explore a world and lifestyle that is both enriching and powerful in its spiritual impact.

See below for my exclusive interview with Kim Houghton, Marketing Manager for African Impact (NOTE: ALL IMAGES THROUGHOUT THIS POST WERE PROVIDED BY AND ARE OWNED BY AFRICAN IMPACT):

African Impact offers a variety of exceptional volunteer programs. Which ones have proven to be the most popular? Why do you think that is?

The two primary areas of volunteer projects that we offer are wildlife conservation and community development. Both are equally popular, depending on the type of experience a volunteer would like to have. Africa is an incredible continent with a huge amount to see and discover.

African Impact’s popularity continues to grow at an amazing rate and we are seeing volunteers wanting to be involved in everything from Gorilla trekking to teaching in the townships. We are very fortunate to have a fantastic team of dedicated team managers, and office and field staff who have helped to build high-quality projects. Through careful sustainability planning at our project locations, we endeavor to increase the positive impact of our volunteers and operational practices on the social, cultural, and physical environment within which our projects are based.

Our most popular projects are undoubtedly our world famous lion projects. Based in Zimbabwe, this exceptional project is where it all began. We offer the unique chance to walk and work with lions and be involved in the research of lions’ behavior. Volunteers get the opportunity to work with us on the world’s only programme for their release into the wild.

For more information on our lion projects read HERE.

What are some of the benefits that volunteers leave with after participating in one of African Impacts’ volunteer programs?

Volunteering offers an opportunity to see and experience a culture in a way which is not possible through traditional travel. By visiting parts of the world not available as a normal holiday destination you become immersed into a local community. At African Impact we invite people to be more than a tourist. We invite them to be a traveler, a conservationist, and a humanitarian.

Here is some feedback from one of our past volunteers:

“The whole experience was absolutely incredible. It was uplifting, rewarding, challenging, grounding, heart-breaking, and soul-destroying in equal measure. To see the absolute joy on the faces of the children when we arrived to spend time with them, or their excitement at being given the opportunity to do something creative, was incredible. This is why I WILL do it again and why I would encourage anyone who is thinking about doing this to go and do it.” – Stuart Neath, UK.

Past Volunteer to our Mozambique project.

How does African Impact stand apart from other companies that offer volunteer projects?

African Impact is not just another ‘voluntourism’ organization. We pride ourselves in operating our volunteer projects in a way that gives the highest degree of long-term economic benefit to the host communities, whilst also maintaining and / or improving the environment.

The project fee paid by volunteers to join us on our projects is used to fund the ongoing maintenance and development of those projects. In addition, we make any further funding and donations available to our projects through The Happy Africa Foundation, our UK-registered charity.

We are immensely proud to be winners for the second year running of the prestigious South African Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards in 2011 and 2010, as well as shortlisted for the Virgin Responsible Tourism award and The British Youth Travel awards 2011.

Achievements last year: In 2010, we facilitated over 1700 volunteers to over 50 different projects across Africa. This is roughly 341,210 hours of work that volunteers were helping in clinics, communities, and conservation projects, as well as other specialized projects.

Across the 6 different African countries African Impact built 2 new schools, offering 300 children the chance of education. Ten schools were supported and refurbished, providing safe and secure areas for the children.

Educational assistance was supplied to 14 schools and 10 children centres–allowing us to help over a thousand children in education last year.

Much needed support was provided to overburdened staff in 12 different hospitals and clinics across Africa and over 2,623 patients were visited at their homes and given basic medical care.

Using education as a tool for empowerment, African Impact has facilitated over 700 attendees to 14 different HIV education awareness programs and taught over 86 adults in 5 different skill learning courses.

Where are African Impacts projects based? Does African Impact have any plans to expand or add additional programs in the future?

Our family-run organization has been built with passion and pride. Since its humble beginnings at our Antelope Park Lion Rehabilitation Project in Zimbabwe in 2004, this family-run organization has grown into one the largest on the ground facilitators of African volunteer travel. Operating volunteer programmes throughout Southern and Eastern Africa, from South Africa right up to Kenya,  African Impact continues to grow and develop.

In 2008 we launched a UK-registered Charitable Trust, The Happy Africa Foundation, which is our supporting arm for the sustainable and accountable manner in which we aspire to manage our projects.

Is there anything else you’d like for us to know about African Impact and its mission?

African Impact hopes to achieve the following when working with volunteers:

• To educate volunteers on issues of development, Africa, culture, etc.
• To share our principles of development / conservation
• To encourage continual reflection of the volunteers role and the impact they leave behind (positive or negative)
• To ensure volunteers become aware and understand the bigger complexities of poverty, community development, and the potential harm that can be done
• To encourage a do with mentality and not a do for
• To create a culture of serving and empowerment not productivity and instant reward

We believe that volunteering is a mutually beneficial experience for community members, volunteers, and staff.  Whilst volunteers get the opportunity to help make a difference in someone’s life, they are introduced to new cultures.

This is an essential part of volunteering and as a result, for each of our destinations we give local language lessons and local food, and cultural experiences. As part of their voluntourism experience, these are all facilitated by local staff members who share and impart their rich cultural diversity. We encourage our volunteers to see and experience the surrounding local cultures and learn some of the local languages (eg: Zulu, Xhosa, Swahili, etc.). In this, we hope to encourage local people to see that their culture is something to hold on to, as well as educating volunteers to respect them.

“I have been able to experience local life and customs which I could never have done if I had just come as a visitor. I have also made new friends and pushed myself into doing things that I thought I would not have had the confidence to do. My whole time here has been brilliant and it is one of the best things I have ever done! Thank you all for making it so enjoyable.” -Carole Ann Ferguson, British

For more information about African Impact visit us at www.africanimpact.com. Speak to us on: Cape Town Office: +27 (0)21 7854319 | USA Toll Free: 0877 253 2899 | UK Toll Free: 0800 0988 440. Or check us out on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/africanimpact / Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/African_Impact

We would love to hear from you!

First, it’s important to address what it means to be a responsible traveler:

Being a responsible traveler means that you support fair business practices, low-environmental-impact activities, and local communities through your travel choices. Not only do responsible travelers create a beneficial and measurable impact on the destinations that they visit, but they also enjoy a highly authentic experience that is filled with exciting and memorable moments, sights, and experiences. Responsible travel is truly a win-win for all parties involved in its impact.

Below are 6 tips to help you plan your next responsible African safari vacation:

Tip 1: Address the fair tourism policy and business practices of your selected travel planner. Many travel providers are members of or are certified in fair trade practices, organizations, and associations. Some accreditations to look for include Fair Trade in Tourism, Better Business Bureau, The Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa, etc.

Also, be sure to ask your travel planner how they participate in responsible tourism, whether they donate to organizations in Africa, have started their own foundation, or volunteer in Africa.

Tip 2: Purchase local art and souvenirs. Lend a hand in influencing local economic growth and help locals provide for their families by purchasing your souvenirs from local artists. Africa is home to an enormous population of talented artists who live off of the artwork that they sell.

Depending where you visit in Africa, you can purchase tribal textiles, woodcarvings, beaded sculptures, tribal masks, leather jewelry, paintings, musical instruments, clothing, and so much more. Keep in mind that there are still products produced from poachers and unfair business practices. So be sure that you are conscious of the materials used in the products that you purchased and ask locals where the products were created and who created the products. Stay away from purchasing any items that consist of ivory, horns, and skin.

Tip 3: Book with accommodations that practice and support low-impact activities and business practices. These accommodations are often built using sustainable materials that have a very low impact on the environment. Some other features of sustainable accommodations include recycling practices, solar panel usage, local gardening (cuisine is produced using ingredients from the garden), local employment (many professional guides are locals from nearby communities).

There are also a great deal of accommodations that have established their own conservation funds, trusts, and projects. Therefore, when you stay in these camps and lodges, part of your boarding and activity payments go toward the accommodations’ funds and trusts, which in turn, supports the local economy, communities, and environment.

Tip 4: Recognize cultural differences and learn as much as possible about the culture from locals during your stay.  Also, share your own experiences and lifestyle with the locals. When you return home or travel to a new destination, share the experiences you had with friends, family, and new individuals that you meet, and explain the cultures you came in contact with.  Spreading awareness for these cultures is the best way to encourage personal growth, tourism, and philanthropy.

Tip 5: Participate in low-impact activities such as bicycle tours and walking safaris. Reduce your carbon footprint by enjoying the local sights via bicycle or by foot. You’ll enjoy a slower-paced experience and have the flexibility to absorb the sights that pique your interest the most and interact with the locals. If you are in the bush on safari, a walking safari will enable you to soak in nature at its purest and view your surroundings with complete awareness.

Tip 6: Prep before your departure by reading up on your destination, the people, the customs, and the language. Knowing a little bit about each country you visit will help you prepare for local customs and cultural differences. Understanding these elements before your departure helps you to feel more comfortable in your destination and it allows you to be prepared with the many differences you will face. When you show locals that you understand their customs and even part of their language, it is often seen as a sign of respect.

Interested in learning more about low-impact African safari vacations? View some of our previous blog posts on sustainable travel or contact Hills of Africa to learn about sustainable itineraries.

From endangered wildlife to poverty-stricken communities, and uneducated children to unsatisfactory medical facilities, there is no doubt that many of the people and wildlife living in southern and eastern Africa are in desperate need of financial, emotional, and physical support.

So if you are passionate about helping the people and wildlife of Africa in every way you can, then here are some fun ways to spread awareness for and raise money for some of the leading non-profit organizations in southern and eastern Africa:

Host a Movie Night: If you live in a community that has a club house or small outdoor field, speak to the managers of these areas to see if you can host a movie night where you show a documentary or a film related to Africa. One of the best Africa movies is Gorillas in the Mist, a movie that chronicles the life of Dian Fossey.

Documentary films are also great to feature and one of our all time favorites is National Geographic’s Africa’s Lost Eden: Gorongosa. This film does a phenomenal job at depicting the fascinating history of the area and the restorative efforts that are going on today to help bring Gorongosa back to its once glorious conditions.

Hold a Garage Sale: Looking to get rid of some furniture, old bicycles, kitchen accessories, and home décor items that you no longer use? Hold a garage sale where all profits you earn go toward your favorite non-profit in Africa. When you advertise your garage sale, be sure to mention that all money you receive during the garage sale will be donated to your selected organization. This might encourage more people to attend your garage sale and purchase from you. It also might discourage individuals from trying to negotiate lower prices on your items.

Exercise your crafting and creativity skills: Do you love to paint, sew, or take photographs in your spare time? Why not sell these items and donate all profits to your favorite African non-profit organization? It’s a win-win for everyone—you have fun crafting, the consumer enjoys your work of art, and the people and / or wildlife of Africa benefit from your creations.

Participate in a Sponsored Athletic Event: Do you frequently participate in marathons, running events, regattas, or other competitive competitions? Ask individuals who you know, as well as local businesses, if they would be willing to sponsor you. All your proceeds could then go to your selected African organization. And if you happen to win and acquire a cash prize, donate that prize to your selected organization.

Interested in learning about our sustainable safari itineraries? Click here.

Image above taken from the African Impact website.

A voluntourism trip is a getaway that combines community service activities and leisurely vacation elements.

So what are some of the benefits of a family voluntourism trip to Africa?

• Make a measurable impact on those in need.
• Build lifelong friendships with locals and travelers from around the world.
• Introduce your family to different cultures and world issues.
• Bond as a family over goodwill efforts.

We often partner with African Impact—the biggest responsible volunteer project facilitator in Africa—for creating our voluntourism itineraries. They are one of the best volunteer project providers in all of Africa and have been assisting the local African communities and travelers to Africa for more than 5 years. Although they are a fairly young organization, they have raised the bar for volunteerism and prove time and time again that they are leaders in producing measurable impacts on the local communities and on travelers alike.

All of our clients who have participated in African Impact’s volunteer and intern projects have returned home with nothing but great things to say about the organization and the people of Africa. We are delighted to partner with them and know that everyone who volunteers with them will experience a highly rewarding volunteering opportunity and create a significant impact on the locals and wildlife of Africa.

Below is just a taste of what you might expect on a family voluntourism trip to Zambia:

Day 1—Explore Livingstone: Once you arrive in Livingstone for the beginning of your trip, you will check into your accommodations at Sussi & Chuma. Afterwords, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the beauty of this charming town, which is known for its early-colonial architecture, the Livingstone Museum, and Maramba Market—a fun cultural scene where local works of art, vegetables, and other local merchandise are sold.

Sussi & Chuma

Day 2—Your First Day of Volunteering! Today you’ll enjoy an amazing day working at the Medical and Community Project in Livingstone. Each day is different from the next; therefore, activities are always subject to change, but some things you might take part in while volunteering include assisting nurses in clinics, working in home-based care, participating in health education and talks, and assisting the elderly.

During the afternoon, you may be assigned to additional community projects that include helping to restore schools and clinics, or lending assistance in the reading club, art club, or adult literacy club.

Days 3 – 5 Volunteering: For the next three days you will take part in the same programs as day 2: assisting the local Livingstone community, helping out in clinics, education programs, elderly homes, and home-base care projects.

Day 6—Travel to Victoria Falls: Today, you’ll travel to the neighboring Victoria Falls where you’ll check into your accommodations, The Victoria Falls Hotel. Afterward, you’ll enjoy an afternoon touring the Falls, learning about the history of the area and the residential wildlife.

Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and is more than twice the height of Niagara Falls!

Victoria Falls

Day 7—Another Splendid Day at the Falls: Today, you can enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities, including white water rafting, a sunset cruise on the Zambezi river, a helicopter ride over the Falls, elephant-back safaris, and much more.

Start creating your dream trip to Africa now. Click here to download our PDF on Your Unique Guide to Southern & Eastern Africa.

In one of last week’s blog posts, How to Get Closer to Your Favorite African Animals than Ever Before, I discussed some activities and accommodations that enable travelers to get closer to their favorite animals in Africa than ever before. Specifically, I spotlighted Giraffe Manor—a boutique property that’s perfect for giraffe lovers—and ConservAfrica and African Impact—two organizations working to conserve the cats of Africa.

Today, I spotlight some of the best activities to get up close and personal to elephants and primates:

If you love elephants . . .

Then you’ll love a visit to the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage and The Elephant Sanctuary!

In a tireless effort to help orphaned elephants find the strength to continue their journey in the wild, the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage works to rescue and rehabilitate baby elephants and rhinos. Each day the elephants enjoy bathing, feeding, and playing, as visitors watch in awe.

The feeding takes place at different times of the day with orphanage team members feeding the elephants a unique milk formula that David’s wife, Daphne, created to provide rhinos and elephants with nutrients they need to grow and remain healthy.

Located in Kenya’s Tsavo National Park, the elephant orphanage allows elephants to enjoy the beauty and openness of nature, while still assuring their safety before being completely released into the wild.

The Elephant Sanctuary, on the other hand, has three locations in South Africa, which include Hartbeespoort Dam, Plettenberg Bay, and Hazyview. All of these locations work to rescue and lend assistance to orphaned and injured elephants. Each of the three sanctuaries offers guests different activities to choose from that enable them to interact with the beautiful residential elephants.

The sanctuary at Plettenberg Bay, for example, offers elephant brush downs—which allow guests to lend a hand in grooming the elephants—and one-hour trunk-in-hand programs—which educate guests about elephant behavior and lifestyle, and allow guests to touch the elephants.

If you love primates . . .

Then you’ll love a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and a visit to Monkeyland in South Africa!

Covered in lush green vegetation and thick rainforests abundant with exotic wildlife, Uganda is a nature-seeker’s sanctuary. With a variety of primates to witness, including gorilla, chimpanzee, black-and-white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, and baboon, Uganda is one of the most celebrated destinations by primate lovers.

A Golden Monkey

On a gorilla trekking safari, you’ll travel to these lush rainforests in search of the elusive gorilla. Once your party has arrived at a gorilla group, you’ll have one hour to watch and admire their movements, behavior, and unique social and eating skills.

For even more primates, visit Monkeyland in South Africa. Internationally known for their free-roaming atmosphere, Monkeyland does not cage its various primate residents; therefore they are free to move wherever they wish throughout the sanctuary. Some of the primate species that live in Monkeyland include lemurs, squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, gibbons, and more! Visitors to Monkeyland can enjoy an interactive guided walk through the sanctuary.

Below are 5 of the best ways to witness Africa as a family:

1. Victoria Falls: How amazing would it be to view one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World as a family? Well you can do just that when you visit Victoria Falls.

Known as “the smoke that thunders” by locals, Victoria Falls is more than twice the height of Niagara Falls. From adventurous white water rafting excursions to exciting nature tours and relaxing sunset cruises to delightful elephant-back safaris, Victoria Falls has something unique to offer each and every family that visits. Families can also enjoy private helicopter rides above the thundering falls, enjoying a panoramic view of the land that makes up and surrounds this fascinating natural phenomenon.

2. Philanthropic Cultural Tour: Your children can’t explore the world just by sitting in a classroom or watching primetime news. The real personal growth and learning happens outside of the classroom, when you immerse yourself into different cultures and environments.

Uthando’s Philanthropic Cultural Tours enable you and your family to discover unique cultures and witness the world from a completely different perspective. These tours expose you to conservation projects and community initiatives that work to bring hope and happiness to South Africa.

During these tours, you and your family will gets hands-on experience in projects such as Abalimi Bezekhaya—an urban agriculture program that provides education and resources for sustainable food production among the poverty-stricken individuals in Cape Town; Hout Bay Music Project—a project that works to provide impoverished children with musical skills and bring light to their lives; and the Volcano Arts Project—a program involving locals and children into community theater.

All of Uthando’s cultural tours are customizable, so you and your family can choose which projects you’d prefer to visit.

3. Cape Town: Arguably Africa’s best family-oriented destination, Cape Town, South Africa has some amazing activities, sights, and attractions for all ages. Whether your children are toddlers, teenagers, or young adults, you’re sure to find something that caters to your preferences!

If you wish to bring your toddlers or teenagers to Africa, you’ll definitely want to check out Ratanga Junction—an exciting theme park with more than 30 attractions and 23 rides. And after a fun-filled day in Ratanga Junction, enjoy an interactive African drum or dance lesson at the community center in Langa. During these lessons, you and your children will be able to interact with locals, and take part in and learn about their traditional music and dance culture.

Table Mountain is another Cape Town attraction, perfect for all ages. Enjoy a leisurely ride up the side of Table Mountain in a rotating cable car as you look down on the beautiful Mother City and search for dassies (furry gopher-like creatures that call the mountainside home).

Another great family-oriented attraction in Cape Town is Robben Island, which is famous for its rich history and its role in South Africa’s apartheid. You and your family can take a boat trip to Robben Island where you’ll learn about the island’s history as a leprosy colony centuries ago and as a jail for famous political leaders during the apartheid, including South Africa’s first president, Nelson Mandela.

4. Sans Bushmen Tour: Interacting with new cultures that are completely foreign to your own are some of the most rewarding experiences to be had. And what’s even more rewarding is sharing these adventures with your family. The Sans Bushmen tours in Botswana enable you to explore one of the world’s rarest and most fascinating cultures. During these tours, you and your family can enjoy a private experience with the Sans tribesmen, learning about their traditional lifestyle, survival techniques, artwork, and their inspirational view on Africa’s delicate wildernesses.

You’ll visit a local Sans village where you’ll be able to interact with the Sans people and observe their amazing language, which is comprised of a series of clicking sounds.

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What’s your favorite African animal? Some of us love the elegant giraffe; others of us are drawn to the irresistible cuteness of elephants, while others find indescribable beauty in the cats of Africa.

Although all of these animals can be seen at fairly close proximity from the comfort of a safari vehicle, wouldn’t you love to toss those binoculars and get even closer to these magnificent creatures and truly immerse yourself into their world? Some of the best ways to get up close to your favorite animals is on specialty safaris, at conservation facilities, and in some of Africa’s most unique accommodations!

Recently, I took a poll of my clients and social media followers, asking them what their favorite African animals are and the most common responses included giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and primates. Below I’ve outlined some activities and accommodations that enable travelers to get closer to their favorite animals than ever before:

If you love giraffes . . .

Then you’ll love Giraffe Manor! This boutique hotel never ceases to amaze its guests. With free-roaming residential giraffes sprawled across a 140-acre property, Giraffe Manor allows guests to interact with the giraffes on a very personal level.

In fact, the experience is so personal that you might want to cover up after getting out of bed or the shower as these curious creatures love to stick their heads in guests’ windows to see what’s on the agenda for the day! You’ll even find yourself dining with these lovable animals as they pop their heads in the dining room windows and walk about the pristine estate grounds.

Image above taken from the Giraffe Manor website.

Oh, and don’t forget to visit The Giraffe Centre, which is a nearby breeding center for the Rothschild Giraffe and also serves as a conservation school to educate local Kenyan school children. The Centre is surrounded by a wildlife-lush nature trail that passes through the Ololua and Nogong forests in Kenya. Here, you’ll witness everything from exotic birds to playful warthogs, hyenas to leopards, and, of course, giraffes.

If you love lions, leopards, or cheetahs . . .

Then you’ll love a ConsevAfrica safari or African Impact volunteer trip!

ConservAfrica’s Wildlife Conservation Safaris enables travelers to immerse themselves into a highly interactive safari, while helping to perform research and conserve the populations of species throughout southern Africa. One of their most popular safaris deals with helping to curb inbreeding amongst lion populations in the Madikwe Game Reserve. This allows travelers to get hands on experience in the field and assist researchers.

African Impact is another organization that enables travelers to get up close with the cats of Africa. They offer a variety of conservation projects including the Hands-On Lion Rehabilitation Project, which enables you to work closely with African lions, perform research, collect data, and assist in the upbringing of lion cubs; the Large Predators Research & Conservation Project, which allows you to monitor animal behavior and movements; and the Antelope Park Lion Research Photography Project, which enables you to photograph lions, record lion behavior, photograph cubs and their interactions, and work closely with scientific researchers.

Some of African Impact’s other big cat volunteer projects include the Big Cat, Elephant, & Rhino Conservation Project, the Masai Mara Big Cat, Wildlife Research, & Conservation Project, the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, and a variety of Lion Rehabilitation Projects.

If you love elephants and primates, stay tuned for next Wednesday’s post, which focuses on specialty activities that enable you to get up close and personal with these amazing creatures.

Have I forgotten to mention your favorite animal? Leave a comment on this post, telling us what your favorite animal is.