Demand Reduction Campaign Launched to Save Rhino

14-Apr-2014 via investec.ie

The Wilderness Foundation, as part of their Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative, this past weekend hosted Vietnamese pop stars Thu Minh and Thanh Bui in Port Elizabeth.

 

Dr Will Fowlds of Investec Rhino Lifeline with Vietnamese pop stars Thu Minh and Thanh Bui.

The visit formed part of a Demand Reduction Strategy developed in order to assist in addressing the rhino poaching crisis by reducing demand for rhino horn in user countries.

The rhino poaching crisis (as well as other wildlife crime) is of national and international significance and affects all levels of society. Wildlife crime is the fifth most profitable illicit trade in the world, estimated at up to $10 billion annually. The Wilderness Foundation recognizes this and is working in partnership with various organisations to address this issue.

Until 1970 rhino populations worldwide were relatively stable with minimal poaching incidents. Subsequently with the oil price soaring and per capita income in the Yemen increasing seven-fold, elaborately carved rhino-horn dagger handles became a prized symbol of status and wealth. Within a single decade, half the world’s rhino population had disappeared, and all of the rhino species were either threatened with extinction or endangered.

Since then, thanks to various conservation efforts and improved security measures, the black rhino white rhino populations have increased. But these gains are in danger of being reversed by a resurgence of poaching. Now also peddled as a cancer cure, the demand for the horn is rising, along with the price. Contrary to widespread beliefs, the rhinoceros horn has no proven medicinal or aphrodisiac qualities. The horns consist of agglutinated hair or keratin, the same type of protein that makes up human hair and fingernails.

In 2007, South Africa only lost 13 rhino to poaching. This number increased to 83 in 2008, 122 in 2009 and more than doubled in 2010 to 333. In 2011 we lost 448 rhino and in 2012 we thought we reached the turning point at 668. But 2013 was the worst at 1004 rhino killed for their horns.

Andrew Muir, CEO of the Wilderness Foundation states that demand reduction strategies are developed with an aim to reduce the demand for rhino horn (and other wildlife products) in the countries in which they are used. This is achieved through education and awareness about the properties of rhino horn as well as the impact on rhino populations. Demand reduction is seen as complimentary to law enforcement and anti-poaching activities that take place on the ground and in combination are hoped to tackle the rhino poaching crisis.

“Demand reduction is campaign based and makes use of public service announcements, bill boards and video clips, often using well known celebrities to get the message across. The visit and hard work by Thu Minh and Thanh Bui this past weekend will assist us, in collaboration with international conservation NGO Wild Aid, to produce the material for distribution in South Africa and Vietnam in the next few weeks”.

Thu Minh is passionate about saving the rhino. “In Vietnam we have to understand how important it is to protect the environment, wildlife, and our heritage. The whole world is looking in horror at what we are doing to the Rhinos. It has to stop for the sake of the Rhinos and for the honor of Vietnam. In the past few days, I have experienced the horror of what we are doing to the rhino, as well as the majestic beauty of this species”.

Thanh Bui, supporting this plea further encourages the public to stop wasting their money on the killing of innocent animals for no gain.

The Wilderness Foundation is working in partnership with WildAid, the Shamwari Group; Investec Rhino Lifeline, Mantis Collection and Tusk in order to implement this demand reduction campaign in Vietnam and South Africa.

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See The World This Weekend At The Travel And Vacation Show

Come join us this Saturday and Sunday at the long-awaited annual Travel and Vacation Show. Held this year at the spectacular new Ottawa Convention Centre, you’ll find special vacation promotions – from weekend getaways to exciting overseas destinations. In a few hours you can walk around the world!

This, the 20th annual show, boasts more than 200 travel and vacation exhibits with over 50 countries represented by their tourist boards or embassies presenting their countries and cultures in a colorful festive atmosphere that will surely make you dream. They, together with tour operators, agencies and resorts will answer your questions and provide you with a wealth of information. And don’t forget to take advantage of the free educational travel seminars and special promotions for show attendees only.

Go Touch Down Travel & Tours will be there en force, with thrilling onsite presentations of South Africa and an exciting opportunity for you to enter to win a South African safari or Cape Town Tour for two.

You’ll discover the untamed, spectacular and pulsating rhythm of the African bushveld in one of the most captivating places on earth. Witness herds of Wildebeest graze and Cheetah cubs learn to hunt, take an elephant-back safari; uncover the mysteries of the bush. Explore The Mother City… Cape Town, a rare cultural gem. Take in breathtaking views of Cape Point, the romantic meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Embrace the people of South Africa. They will surely touch your heart. Our luxury, all-inclusive 8-day / 7-night tours depart weekly.

Be sure to visit us at Booth # 300. Hope to see you there!

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The Music and Message of South Africa Comes to Sarasota

Join us at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for a dance-in-your-seat musical extravaganza!  United in their South African heritage, three-time Grammy® Award-winning vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Zulu-pop crossover artist Johnny Clegg perform this Sunday, March 23rd at 7 p.m. In a very special evening, celebrating years of camaraderie between these fine musicians, audiences will be treated to a rhythm-filled Ladysmith Black Mambazo performance, followed by a soul-stirring set by Johnny Clegg and his band.

Two drawings for $500 gift vouchers to Touch of Africa will be held at the end of the performance with Johnny Clegg announcing the winners. Guests may also enter to win a South African Safari for two. Winners will be announced a week later on March 31^st. Concert tickets are still available! Purchase them online or call the Box Office at Box Office at 800-826-9303 or 941-953-3368.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is actually an all-male musical group; the name “LadySmith” refers to their hometown in South Africa. Since 1960, the singers and musicians of the group – who were friends with Nelson Mandela – have been singing untiringly of love and harmony. Lyrics such as “Wenyukela – Raise Your Spirit Higher” are exemplary of the religious singers, to whom violent conflict is anathema.

During apartheid in South Africa, the choral group became the voice of peace. Today, Ladysmith Black Mambazo is considered part of the country’s national heritage as their singing embodies the oppressed traditions of old South Africa. Ladysmith Black Mambazo accompanied Nelson Mandela to Oslo in 1993, when he received the Nobel Peace Prize. The group also sang at his presidential inauguration in 1994.

Johnny Clegg

Johnny Clegg and his band Savuka composed “Asimbonanga – We Have Not Seen Him”. They sang it in Zulu, the language of many townships, and of course they were singing about Mandela during his exile. Music was Clegg’s weapon against apartheid.

Both of Johnny’s bands, Savuka and Julukia consisted of both white and black musicians, which was considered an affront to the racist regime that frequently forbade public performances by the bands – and repeatedly imprisoned their members.

Today, Johnny Clegg is one of South Africa’s most celebrated sons. He is a singer, a songwriter, a dancer, anthropologist and a musical activist whose infectious crossover music, a vibrant blend of Western pop and African Zulu rhythms, has exploded onto the international scene and broken through all the barriers in his own country.

Over three decades, Johnny Clegg has sold over five million albums of his brand of crossover music worldwide. He has wowed vast audiences with his audacious live shows and won a number of national and international awards for his music and for his outspoken views on apartheid, his perspectives on migrant workers in South Africa and the general situation in the world today. Johnny Clegg’s history is as bold, colorful and dashing as the Rainbow Nation which he has called home for more than 40 years.

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Why Hippos Don’t Eat Fish

We love this charming folktale and so do kids on safari. As the story goes, when God was giving each animal a place in the world, the pair of hippos begged to be allowed to live in the cool water which they so dearly loved.

God looked at them, and was doubtful about letting them live in the water: their mouths were so large, their teeth so long and sharp, and their size and appetites were so big, He was afraid that they would eat up all the fish. Besides, He had already granted the place to another predator – the crocodile. He couldn’t have two kinds of large, hungry animals living in the rivers. So God refused the hippos’ request, and told them that they could live out on the open plains.

At this news, the two hippos began to weep and wail, making the most awful noise. They pleaded and pleaded with God, who finally gave in. But He made the hippos promise that if they lived in the rivers, they must never harm a single fish. They were to eat grass instead. God said that they were to show Him every night, that they were only eating grass. The Hippos promised solemnly, and rushed to the river, grunting with delight.

And to this day, hippos always scatter their dung on the river bank, so God can see that it contains no fish bones. And you can still hear them laughing with joy that they were allowed to live in the rivers after all.

From: When the Hippos were Hairy and Other Tales from Africa: Nick Greaves

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Top 10 Experiences in South Africa

The lure of the exotic; the mysteries of the unknown, the confluence of cultures… South Africa has a universal, seductive appeal.

1.    Scenic splendor

South Africa has some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery in the world. Expect miles of golden beaches and unspoiled coastline; dramatic mountains and mountain passes; 19 national parks; game reserves teeming with big game and hundreds of birds; ancient forests; semi-deserts; oceans and rivers; rolling grasslands, and natural flower fields – all waiting to be explored.

2.    Winelands

South Africa’s vineyards have been producing some of the best wines in the world for more than 300 years. Wine regions stretch from the Western Cape to the Northern Cape, where you can sample wine at world-famous estates or little-known gems. Where there’s great wine, there’s also great food – so Bon Appétit!

 3.    Safaris

South Africa has some of the best and most accessible safari destinations in the world. You can luxuriate at a world-class private lodge and go on guided jeep, walking or elephant-back safaris.

4.     Kruger National Park

The size of Israel or Wales, Kruger is one of the world’s oldest and most famous game reserves and is teeming with game.

Here’s where you’ll find the famous Big 5: buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and rhino.

 

5.    Struggle sites, rock art and historic battlefields

You can visit our top Struggle sites and museums and follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest freedom icons in modern history, such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Mahatma Gandhi. South African rock art is among the best in the world and historic battlefields abound.

 6.    Marine magnificence

Where else can a person sail beside a whale, or watch whale mothers and babies bask and roll; go eye-to-eye with different kinds of sharks; cage dive with great whites; be charmed by friendly penguins and leaping dolphins; experience some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world; watch giant turtles lay their eggs on deserted beaches; or see the hatchlings making their desperate run for the sea?

7.    Getting to know the locals

You can spend time in a city township you’ll be amazed at the activities and experiences on offer.

Spend some time at a Zulu cultural village, admire the intricate beadwork, metal neck rings and unique geometric mural art of the Ndebele people; enjoy the hospitality of a South African farm.

Take the opportunity to chat with the locals – South Africans are known for being warm, friendly and welcoming to visitors.

 

 8.    Outdoor rush

Gorgeous, sunny weather most of the time, spectacular locations, loads of mega-thrill adventures (including the highest commercial bridge bungee jump in the world), river rafting, abseiling, hiking, horse riding, hiking, paragliding and 4×4 routes – South Africa is known as the adventure Capital of the World.

9.    Indulge the senses

Relax and rejuvenate the South African way. Visitors will find health and wellness retreats – many of them globally award-winning – throughout the country.

Many use indigenous oils and ingredients to help clients de-stress and wind down – by the beach, in the bush, at a hotel, or wherever they are.

10.    Urban rhythm

Experience the unique rhythm of our cities when feeling the beat of live kwaito, hip-hop or jazz at a local nightclub, bar or township shebeen (tavern).

Be entertained in our theatres; play at our ritzy casinos; visit our unique museums and art galleries.

Shop in glitzy shopping malls or African craft markets; or dine in our fabulous restaurants.

Our itineraries highlight the best of South Africa. Click here to learn more!

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Rivers of Fortune?

You may have heard of or even experienced the beauty of Bourke’s Luck Potholes, a magnificent miracle of nature. The turbulent convergence of the Truer and Blyde Rivers formed these magical cylindrical potholes over a period of millions of years.

But did you know the history behind the names of these ancient geological features? The story goes that when the first settlers were traveling from the Cape into the interior of South Africa, they got as far as the river and then decided, that before venturing further, the men should go ahead to scout the area. They left their wives and children camped by the river awaiting their return.

A sorrowful journey

The women waited for a month and when the men didn’t return, they began to make their way back. They named the river “Treur” (River of Sadness in Afrikaans) to commemorate their loss.

And there was much rejoicing

However, the men hadn’t died; the trip had merely taken longer than anticipated. When they finally did return to the camp, they followed the tracks of the wagons. They were ultimately led the banks of another river, where they celebrated a joyful family reunion. They named this river the “Blyde” River (River of Happiness in Afrikaans).

If it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all

Tom Bourke was an Englishman who came to South Africa to make his fortune in the gold rush. He was hired by others as a prospector, and was instrumental in creating quite a few affluent men. When he had saved enough money, he scouted around and found a plot of land on which there were many quartz deposits (a sign that there is gold), and bought a farm, thinking that his fortune was assured. However, to his vast disappointment, his property only contained signs of gold, and he never hit it rich. So “Bourke’s Luck Potholes” were name after him.

If you enjoyed these fun tidbits, like us on Facebook for a daily dose!

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The Story of Jabulani

Once upon a time – in 1997, actually – a young elephant found himself stuck in the silt mud of a dam. After attempts to free him, his mother and the rest of the herd were forced to leave the three-month old calf to the elements. And that might have been the end of another story in the African bushveld, where only the fittest survive.

Enter Lente Roode – owner of Camp Jabulani and founder of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. She took in the exhausted, malnourished and very frightened calf, and offered him sanctuary at the Center and the elephant was slowly nurtured back to health. She named him Jabulani – the isiZulu word for “happiness” or “rejoice”, and that indeed describes Jabulani: always in the lead, with bouncing gait and mischievous eye. Over the years he adapted to the ways of his human friends. All attempts to reintroduce him to the wild failed. He thought of himself as one of us, though in reality he needed his own kind.

All too soon the calf grew into a five year old bull, and a unique opportunity arose to give him a family of his own kind. A rather special herd from Zimbabwe had to be relocated to South Africa to ensure its survival. These elephants had been trained, with patience and kindness, to safely carry people.

Lente Roode launched the rescue mission in March 2002 when Zimbabwe was preparing for an election. She learned that the future of these elephants, and their handlers, was in jeopardy when war veterans began invading farms, including the game farm on which this trained herd was located.

The rescue succeeded, and the herd and its handlers arrived at Kapama. Anxiety ruled the day as Jabulani was introduced to the herd. To great relief the Matriarch “Tokwe” immediately adopted Jabulani as her own. He has become part of this close family. He’s their mascot, and their affection for him is obvious.

Today the herd consists out of 13 full-grown elephants accommodated at Camp Jabulani on the Kapama Game Reserve. Camp Jabulani is the first to offer a luxury elephant experience in South Africa.

 

An elephant-back safari is a life-changing event and one that you will experience on safari with Go Touch Down Travel and Tours.

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World Heritage Wonders

Ancient kingdoms, diverse ecosystems, an invasion from space, and a modern-day freedom struggle… all these are celebrated at South Africa’s World Heritage Sites.

World Heritage sites are determined by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee. The committee seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding universal value to humanity.

South Africa is home to eight official sites – four cultural, three natural and one mixed (cultural and natural). Starting with the first South African site added to the list, ending with the latest, these are:

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park comprises eight interdependent ecosystems and an overwhelming diversity of flora and fauna. The park, formerly known as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, is a prime destination for those looking for a combination of marine splendor and pristine beaches.

Robben Island

At times a leper colony, mental hospital and defense training base, the Robben Island World Heritage Site is more famed as the prison to which anti-apartheid activists, among them former president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, were banished. A “university of the struggle”, its graduates went on to lead South Africa into democracy.

Cradle of Humankind

About 31 miles northwest of Johannesburg is the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, an area of undulating grassland, rocky outcrops and river courses typical of the Highveld before it was overtaken by urban sprawl. It’s a place that draws visitors from around the world for the fossil record that lies in the network of limestone caves beneath the surface.

 uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park

The uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park is renowned for its stunning river valleys and rocky gorges, where many threatened indigenous plant and animal species are found. The mountains are also home to about 600 rock art sites created by the nomadic San people.

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape

About the time of the Dark Ages of Europe, the royal court at Mapungubwe in Limpopo welcomed traders and men of influence from Arabia and the Far East. Only in recent decades have archeologists pieced together the fascinating details of this ancient city by sifting through stones, bones, and artifacts.

Cape Floral Region

Occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, mostly in winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas, South Africa’s fynbos vegetation is a miracle of survival in adversity and makes up the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest region of its kind in the world.

Vredefort Dome

Imagine an asteroid the size of Table Mountain heading for earth at a speed of 13 miles per second. Packing more punch than multiple nuclear bombs, it penetrates 11 miles deep into the Earth, and leaves an impact crater so large it’s been declared a World Heritage Site. Thankfully the meteorite collision that formed the Vredefort Dome happened more than two million years back, before life as we know it.

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape

The Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape, which encompasses the /Ai /Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, is an area of extraordinary biodiversity, ranging from small succulents to giant aloes, from African wild cats to antelope and many rare bird species endemic to the region. It is also one of the areas in southern Africa that is still home to a group of nomadic herders.

For more insights into the treasures of South Africa, like us on Facebook. Better yet, join us on a tour of South Africa!

 

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J&B Met… The Cape’s Famous Horse Race and Fashion Event

Racing Photo Courtesy Cape Town Tourism                   What to Wear?

 

February 1st is blocked out in the diaries of horse racing fans all over South Africa, as they make their way to CapTown’s Kenilworth Racecourse for the J&B Met – the Cape’s most glamorous racing event and an über-chic photo opportunity for fashionistas.

The 50,000 available tickets are snapped up within days of going on sale each January. Facilities include a marquee village with a crowd capacity of 5,000 and dozens of picnic sites. As it is a gambling event, under-18s are not invited.

As part of the race’s contribution to the Cape’s natural heritage, a portion of each sale is donated to the Kenilworth Conservation Area, which is in the middle of the racecourse. This small area of unspoiled Cape Fynbos has conservation significance as the habitat of a variety of protected species of fauna and flora.

Once their tickets are tucked away in a safe place, the fashion conscious toss and turn through sleepless nights as they ponder the matter of what to wear, much like polo in the states. Luckily the organizers come up with exciting themes to help punters put together a drop dead gorgeous look.

However, the real stars of the day are the horses, whose beauty surpasses anything else seen on the day. Originally called the Metropolitan Mile when it was first run in 1883 – and won by Sir Hercules – the race had a checkered history until establishing itself as one of South Africa’s “big three” races in the 1960s. Today the Met holds its own alongside the Vodacom Durban July and the Sansui Summer Cup in Gauteng. In 1978 the Met was given a new lease on life. Sponsors J&B stepped in with prize money in the millions and the J&B Met exploded onto the race circuit as a must-do social and racing event.

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A Whale of a Good Time

Did you hear a very large splash?  You bet you did! Your Cape Town Experience includes the thrilling spectacle of whale watching in Hermanus, the Whale Watching Capital of the World. Whale watching is a close encounter of the Hermanus kind, where people and our marine visitors get to know each other up close and personal.

From June to November southern right whales arrive off the coast of Hermanus in the protection of Walker Bay to rest, mate and give birth to their calves. Their daily arrival is heralded by the one and only world-famous whale crier, who sounds his horn to proclaim the good news.

He blows his horn to alert the throngs of tourists who arrive annually to view the whales, which come very close to shore. His sandwich board tells whale watchers how to interpret the morse code of the horn to find where the whales have been sighted and how many may be seen.

The anticipation and excitement is touchable…. standing on the shore and scanning the seas for any sign of the familiar V-shaped spray. Then, right before you, a southern right whale lifts its head out of the water are stares at you! This is a humbling and awe-inspiring experience that you will remember and cherish for the rest of your life.

The quaint village of Hermanus, though quite famous, is a charming and unpretentious stop during your tour, with shops, restaurants and a warm and welcoming vibe. It’s literally a whale of a good time. Reserve your Cape Town Experience today!

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