New eco glampsite opens in Wye Valley

Fans of vintage caravans, campfires, wild swimming and stunning views should get themselves over to the Wye Valley as a new glamping site opens this month.

Mad Dogs & Vintage Vans is a boutique campsite set in a pretty wildflower meadow with views of the Black Mountains. Guests can choose one of four vintage caravans – quaintly named Gertie, Elsie, Darcy and Gloria (“the girls”!) – that date from the 1930s to 1960s. Each caravan has been lovingly restored and fitted with period details such as vintage crockery and fabrics.

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Owners Jo Pilkington and Sacha Morley met through their children’s school and found they both shared a love of the great outdoors, vintage style and simple, natural pleasures such as camping under starlight, wild swimming and toasting mashmallows over an open fire.

Food

On arrival, guests are greeted with a scrumptious homemade cream tea, but after dark the main draw becomes the communal campfire where campers can come together to cook. If that’s not your thing (or if the weather gets the better of you!), you can order up homemade meals to enjoy back at your caravan.

Facilities

The ‘shower block’ is made entirely from upcycled materials and is located in a pretty copse nearby with hot water on demand. The whole campsite uses an eco-composting system, and guests are offered organic products free of charge.

Things to do

The glampsite is a tranquil getaway from town and city life so great for family adventures, yoga or writing retreats. Tennis courts are nearby and a wealth of activities including swimming, walking, pony trekking, climbing and canoeing in the Forest of Dean which owners Jo and Sacha are more than happy to help organise for you.

This season you can also join two foraging weekends – May 10-11 and October 11-12 – with “the Carluccio of the Wye Valley” (so says the Guardian) Raoul Van Den Broucke. Raoul will take glampers on a foraging walk to look for wild delicacies which will then be cooked over the campfire back at the site.

The 2014 season runs from April 11 to the end of October.

For booking and further information, visit www.maddogsandvintagevans.co.uk

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5 of the world’s best wildlife experiences

Imagine sitting in a safari hide at the crack of dawn, silence all around…then a lioness and her playful cubs come sauntering into view, oblivious to your presence. Or picture snorkelling on a coral reef, dipping your head underwater and seeing a technicolour marine world swimming around you.

Giraffes in Africa

Some of travel’s most memorable moments involve witnessing the world’s most incredible wildlife. Sadly, with the endangered species and habitats list growing ever longer, we are all too aware of how precious this wildlife is. Going on a wildlife holiday helps increase our understanding and respect for the natural world, but always remember to use a responsible tour operator for your trips.

Here are some of Goodtrippers’ ‘world’s best’ wildlife experiences:

Cruising the Galapagos Islands – This archipelago has attracted explorers for centuries. Its remote location and unique wildlife inspired naturalist Charles Darwin to write his theory of evolution. A trip today will bring you face-to-face with whales, dolphins, penguins, vast colonies of sea lions and birds, and real rarities such as the Galapagos tortoise, marine iguana and flightless cormorant. Flora includes mangrove, saltbush, cacti and carob trees.

Giant tortoise

Tiger watching in India – These beautiful and majestic big cats used to be found all over Asia in their hundreds of thousands. Today, there are barely over 3,000 left in the wild thanks to the destruction of their natural habitats and the illegal trade in tiger skin. However, a visit to some of India’s National Parks may reveal a rare and unforgettable sighting of species such as the elusive Bengal Tiger.

The ‘Big 5’ African safari – There are several countries, and several National Parks, where you can spot Africa’s ‘Big 5’ (i.e. lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard). South Africa’s Kruger National Park is one of the most well-known for a traditional safari experience – camping under the stars, exploring the bush and plains by Jeep, and keeping a pair of binoculars (and your wits about you!) at all times. The Big 5 are an awesome sight, but don’t bypass the rest of Africa’s natural wonders – watching a pack of wild dogs at night, bird-watching on a lake at dawn, or getting up-close to insect life are all unforgettable safari experiences. Try other spots including Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Green sea turtle

Diving on New Zealand’s Poor Knights Islands – Two-thirds of the Earth is ocean so an underwater experience has to make this list! There are countless top dive sites – Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Thailand’s Similan Islands being just two – but I’ve included one you may not have considered (even though the great Jacques Cousteau named it one of his top ten dive sites in the world). As the 11 million year-old landscape is volcanic in origin, the cliffs, caves and tunnels harbour a unique biodiversity making New Zealand’s Poor Knights Islands an outstanding Marine Reserve and Nature Reserve.

Spotting orangutans in Sumatra and Borneo – These gentle red-heads are only found in Sumatra and Borneo, albeit in rapidly decreasing numbers as the animals are still hunted and their habitat destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations. Support local efforts to help protect these wonderful creatures by booking a trek through a National Park with a responsible tour operator, or volunteering at a rehabilitation centre. There’s nothing like looking up into the trees and spotting a flash of orange swing high over your head and catching your first glimpse of a wild orangutan!

The world is rich with wildlife experiences and our list barely scratches the surface! If you have a great wildlife experience to share, let us know. (This post by Goodtrippers was originally published on Frontier’s Gap Year Blog)

If that’s inspired you, browse our Amazon Affiliate store for some of the best wildlife books (buying via these links won’t cost you a penny more than using Amazon your regular way, but commission earned by Goodtrippers helps keep our site ticking along thanks to you!).

 





A kayaking adventure across the Okavango Delta

Looking for an African safari experience with a difference? Ecotourism experts Natural Habitat Adventures are launching a new tour that seeks to transport travellers back to the era of the early African explorers.

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Botswana: Kayaking the Okavango is a rare chance to paddle your way across 120 miles of the country’s Okavango Delta. Leaving the four wheel drive behind, travellers can expect to get up close with a range of wildlife, as well as explore this great African wilderness via the low carbon, and peaceful, means of kayak. Hear the rustle of wildlife in the reeds and the call of native birds, only to be broken by the sound of water dripping from your paddle.

The point-to-point trip, which Natural Habitat claims is the first of its kind, will explore the varied habitats of the delta from flooded marshes and dry islands, to seasoned floodplains which are home to many big game and predators. From your kayak you’ll enjoy an eye-level view of the plethora of birdlife living among the channels and lagoons.

The expedition will be led by Natural Habitat Expeditions CEO Olaf Malver who has designed this unique trip in conjunction with local partners in Botswana. From offering sea kayaking trips for the past two decades, he knows that travellers are likely to see a wealth of wildlife including hippo, crocodile, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, warthog, kudu, impala, lion and leopard. Fortunate guests may also spy the less frequently seen cheetah, sable and wild dog.

Itinerary

The 7-night/8-day trip takes place twice in 2014: 29 July – 5 August; and 12 – 19 August. The trip begins with a short chartered flight from Maun to Nguma Island in the permanently flooded northwestern Okavango Delta. It finishes at Moremi Crossing, followed by a return flight to Maun. The adventure accommodates 10 travellers with 5 nights of wild bush camping as you traverse the delta daily. Guests stay at a deluxe safari camp on the first night and final night of the trip. Paddlers should expect to kayak for around 6-7 hours a day over 6 days in the delta (with one layover day in the middle). If you wish, a 4-day/3-night luxury safari camp extension can be booked if you want to stay a little longer.

Recommended for… Those who love a challenging, sporty adventure in a wilderness environment.

Be aware that… A reasonable level of fitness is required as you will be kayaking for several hours a day almost daily.

‘Good’ credentials:

  • A low carbon, low impact opportunity to experience African wildlife
  • Natural Habitat Adventurers (NHA) are the world’s first 100% carbon-neutral travel company offering responsible travel and eco-conscious expeditions across the world since 1985
  • NHA is a travel partner of WWF

 

For more information, including prices and booking, visit www.nathab.com/expeditions

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Competition time! Win a holiday to Tanzania

It’s 2014 and our friends at NGO Frontier are celebrating 25 years of conservation, volunteering and adventure holidays (Happy Birthday Frontier!). To celebrate they’re giving you the chance to win a two week volunteering holiday for two people to the beautiful country of Tanzania.

Choose from either a beach conservation, wildlife conservation, or teaching and beaches volunteer holiday on Frontier’s original project site of Mafia Island, Tanzania.

To enter, all you have to do is ‘Like’ the Frontier Official Facebook page, then enter your email address into the sweepstakes. But hurry, you have until 31st January 2014. The winner will be notified by email. Good luck!

teach

Established in 1989 as a non-profit conservation and development non-governmental organisation (NGO), Frontier has been an innovator in creating quality volunteer programmes across the globe. Frontier’s first projects started in Tanzania as a partnership with the WWF to create the world’s first successful multi-user marine park in a developing country, a marine park which volunteers still work in today and one that exemplifies Frontier’s aim of creating long lasting and sustainable results. Since then, Frontier’s has grown to operate over 330 capacity building projects in over 60 countries spanning 5 continents, making Frontier a truly international organisation with a global impact.

kate montgomery tzm 14.1

Namibia: Volunteering in the world’s largest conservation area

Guest blogger Kat Ogilvie, of NGO Biosphere Expeditions, profiles one of their award-winning trips

Namibia is a leading example in the field of nature and wildlife conservation and the protection of animals and the ecosystem, not only in Africa, but in the world. Almost half of Namibia is under some sort of protection, whether it’s through national parks, communal conservancies or private game reserves. All of the work undertaken by Biosphere Expeditions contributes to the rich biodiversity of Namibia.

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The work – safeguarding big cats, elephants and other species of the African savannah

This expedition will take you to the beautiful Khomas Hochland (highlands) in central Namibia to conduct a survey of elephants and African cats, mainly leopard, but also cheetah and carcal, and their interrelationship with humans and prey animals such as giraffe, eland, kudu and zebras. As part of a small team you will learn some bush skills and then follow elephants and cats on foot or in the expedition vehicles to record information about the animal’s behaviour patterns. You will also set camera and live traps, conduct game counts and you may assist with the cat capturing and collaring, All this in effort to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and create a sustainable future for all.

Accommodation – comfortable bush camp style

The base consists of stone chalets with beds, linen, mosquito netting and furniture. There are hot showers, toilets, a communal lounge, rest areas with hammocks, and a kitchen.

Biosphere Expeditions has amassed several awards and this trip in particular has been honoured by National Geographic Traveller magazine’s Tours of a Lifetime list. It has also been honoured in the Wall Street Journal’s Best Volunteer Travel list and the Business Insider’s Best Volunteer Vacations list. Biosphere carefully select long-term projects always run by local scientists that make a significant conservation impact.  They don’t just go there once; they keep going back until the work is done, even if it takes years. By contributing, the work you put in is the reason why the research can be carried out.

Recommended for… Anyone looking to take part in award-winning conservation projects that make a difference. You don’t have to have any experience or qualifications and there are also no age limits so anyone can get involved.

Be aware that… Most of the work will be done from vehicles; however, you also need to be able to walk for at least 5km, even when it is hot and in broken, mountainous terrain for some of the activities.

‘Good’ credentials:

  • One of the expedition’s scientists was made a laureate of the environmental prize Trophée de Femmes of the Yves Rocher Foundation for work on this project.
  • Data collected by expeditions in Namibia has helped local and international partners make arguments that have led to the declaration of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, or KAZA TFCA.
  • The KAZA TFCA is the world’s largest conservation area spanning five southern African countries; Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, centred around the Caprivi-Chobe-Victoria Falls area.
  • As a result of this on-going project, fewer lions, leopards and cheetahs have been killed in farmer-predator conflict due to the extensive data collection.

 

For more details, prices and booking visit www.biosphere-expeditions.org 

About the author: Kat Ogilvie writes on behalf of Biosphere Expeditions, an NGO dedicated to genuine achievements in conservation and real transparency through expedition reports and scientific publications. Find out more about Biosphere Expeditions’ wildlife volunteer projects.

10 of the best travel books

You can’t go far wrong with choosing a good book as a present. Whether they prefer reading on a Kindle or a good ‘back to basics’ paperback, here are some of the best books around for travel and outdoor fans…

If they love the sea….

Wild Swimming Coast: Explore the Secret Coves and Wild Beaches of Britain
– by Daniel Start

In the depths of winter, it’s nice to dream of hazy summer beach days – salty air, sand in your picnic food, and a bracing dip in the sea. This book, the follow-up to Wild Swimming, takes a look at Britain’s secret coves and wild beaches across Scotland, Wales and England. This isn’t about ‘Kiss Me Quick’ hats, deckchair strewn promenades and fish and chip shops – this is a celebration of rock pooling, catching your own seafood supper, swimming with aquatic beasties, coasteering and enjoying Britain’s wonderful natural coastline and maritime heritage. The book is handily laid-out with information including swimming difficulty, access, nearby food and camping for each location, plus safety tips for new wild swimmers. It’s also peppered with beautiful photography making this a great book to browse through on a cold winter’s afternoon.

If they love camping…

Extreme Sleeps: Adventures of a Wild Camper
– by Phoebe Smith

Being spurred on by a ‘my country’s better than yours’ argument with an Australian, author Phoebe Smith decided she needed to leave her relatively comfortable backpacking routine and get out of the hostels and into the wilds. So began a journey that involved sleeping under the stars at Ayres Rock, staying with a group of Bedouin in Jordan, and wrapping up in reindeer skin in the Finnish Arctic. And it didn’t stop when she came back to the UK – Extreme Sleeps chronicles her nights spend wild camping in the most northerly area of Scotland to southernmost England, proving that the UK could provide as exhilarating an experience as anywhere in the world.

If they’re looking for adventure…

Fodor’s The Complete Guide to African Safaris (Fodor’s Complete African Safari Planner)
– by Fodor’s

Fodor know what they’re talking about so you can expect this book to be comprehensive and inspiring when it comes to embarking on the ultimate adventure holiday – an African safari. The book is crammed with maps and information about the national parks and wildlife areas across the whole continent – from the stunning Victoria Falls to the tropical paradise of the Seychelles. With handy lists covering best wildlife experiences, most luxurious lodges, best locations for meeting the locals and more, this guide is aimed at those who respect local wildlife and cultures but aren’t experienced field guides and so need a bit more about enjoying the safari travel experience.

If they’re looking for a career break…

Gap Years for Grown Ups: Because gap years are wasted on the young
– by Susan Griffiths

The term ‘gap year’ is synonymous with 18 year olds backpacking around the world, partying hard and living off beans and beer for months on end. But there are plenty of older generations with itchy feet and a bit more money (and wisdom) seeking out worthwhile travel experiences. ‘Gap Years for Grown Ups’ provides advice and inspiration for those looking to take the plunge and tackles all the practical concerns (dealing with your property, job, family and relationships), to essential kit, safety on the road, and how to readjust when you return. Inspiration comes from chapters on the different types of trips to take (boat, air, bike), spiritual journeys, travel involving study, volunteering projects and more. They’ll be booking their one-way ticket in no time!

If they’re a foodie…

Food Lover’s Guide to the World: Experience the great global cuisines (Lonely Planet Food and Drink)
– by Lonely Planet

If the massive Christmas dinner hasn’t put them off thinking about food, this book will have them salivating. Lonely Planet cover some of the world’s most enticing cuisines and some lesser known delicacies, alongside sections dedicated to the best food markets, jewish dishes, coffee, and cheese. Gorgeous photography will have your belly rumbling as you read about the expected gastronomic hot-spots of the Mediterranean or southeast Asia, but also the food of the deep south of the USA, Nepalese mountain fare, or where to eat an authentic Maori hangi. History, recipes and restaurant recommendations are punctuated throughout.

If they like ticking off a list…

1000 Places to See Before You Die
– by Patricia Schultz

This no.1 New York Times best seller has been updated to include 25 new countries (including Qatar, the Maldives and Greenland) plus a re-write and review of all the places included in the book. So many places are included, it is a little text heavy but the information is thorough and detailed enough to inspire at least a few trips, and ensure you can’t resist flicking through to read about your own home town or favourite place to see what the author has to say about it. Contact details for accommodation, eating out, events and more are all included making this a great ’round the world’ companion.

If they love good design…

Exotic Retreats: Eco Resort Design from Barefoot Sophistication to Luxury Pad
– by Julia Faiers

Hopefully, regular readers of Goodtrippers will know that eco-friendly accommodation and luxury need not be mutually exclusive. This photography book is full of images of glossy, luxurious eco retreats around the world to prove the point, including locations and contact details if it’s inspired you to make a booking. For real design junkies, architect details are also included. Perfect coffee table fare for fantasy holiday dreamers.

If they love a good view…

501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders (501 Series)
– by D. Brown, A.Brown, A. Findlay

Caribou migration, the Hoodoo Mountains, Madagascar, the Scottish Highlands…they’re all here in this storming book that has plenty of wonderful photography to make you ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at how amazing Planet Earth is. Updated for 2013, it provides enough advice and information to encourage you to leave your armchair and explore some of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights. But this book isn’t about serving up the planet for mere entertainment – a serious ecological message is present throughout; help save these magnificent places before it’s too late.

If they’re a bird watcher…

A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All
– by Luke Dempsey

You don’t have to be a ‘birder’ to enjoy this book, although those who do like to spend their free time in the great outdoors with binoculars glued to their face will recognise the fanaticism and mad excitement that the author communicates. Following the escapades of Luke and his friends as they travel across the United States to spot birds (the feathered variety), this funny book is as much about relationships as birding.

If they’re scared of flying…

Flight Free Europe (Time Out Flight Free Europe)
– by Time Out Guides

Europe, with its myriad countries and cultures, is a great continent to explore without having to set foot inside an airport – great news for flying phobes, and for the planet. This Time Out guide is split into short two hour trips, longer day trips, overnighters, and revokes the idea of the Grand Tour (Baltic ferry-hopping or the Orient Express anyone?). It’s not just about trains too with inspiration for boat, bike and walking trips, even a nod to car hire (with ‘green’ car hire options increasing in number).

All of the Amazon links in this article link to the Goodtrippers Amazon Affiliates site – this is at no additional cost to you (prices are the same as going direct to Amazon) but Goodtrippers receives a small percentage from sales when you purchase using these links. Many thanks for your support.

For more Christmas gift ideas see The Goodtrippers Christmas Gift Guide – Part 1

A luxury stay at Costa Rica’s Lapa Rios Eco Lodge

Guest blogger Bev Sninchak reviews a luxurious eco resort nestled in the rainforest of Costa Rica…Macaws at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

Tucked away in the Costa Rican rainforest, eco lodge Lapa Rios, which means ‘River of Scarlet Macaws’, is a green resort which oozes luxury. According to a Stanford University study published in the Journal of Ecotourism, Lapa Rios offers significant eco-tourism benefits to the region, in addition to offering economic boosts to the area.

Accommodation

Nestled in a private rainforest wonderland of beaches and wildlife, Lapa Rios touts its destination as the place to be for tourists who insist on the ultimate green travel, combining ethereal luxury with environmentally friendly practices that put the goal of sustainability as the top priority. What’s more, the land can never be developed to ensure the forest remains untouched, based on a conservation easement signed by owners John and Karen Lewis.

Facilities

At 930 acres, Lapa Rios’s Eco Lodge features 16 luxurious rainforest bungalows set right in the middle of the rainforest. Awaken to the sound of macaws and enjoy being surrounded by delightful jungle animals such as toucans, sloths and howler monkeys. You can take in a Pacific Ocean view directly from your bed, and when you’re ready for a meal, saunter down to Lapa Rios’s award-winning Brisa Azul restaurant.

Food

Focusing on eco-friendly fare, Brisa Azul serves dishes featuring grass-fed beef, organic chicken, locally caught seafood, and fresh vegetables and fruits produced from the local region alongside organic wine.

Horse riding at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

Activities

This stunning location in a private rainforest set on the Osa Peninsula reserve that stretches a thousand acres provides visitors with active participation in sustainable eco-tourism. Guided tours with trained local guides teach about the biodiversity of the area. Access to waterfalls as well as three beaches provides a wealth of experiences for lovers of sand and surf, including boating trips, horseback riding along the beach, kayaking, and surfing.

Recommended for…Those who want to completely ‘unplug’ there is no internet, air conditioning, telephone, or television at Lapa Rios.

Be aware that…Lapa Rios is a private rainforest reserve located 45 minutes from the closest airstrip in Puerto Jiménez, and driving takes seven hours from San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.

‘Good’ credentials:

  • Lapa Rios was the first Costa Rican hotel to receive the highest status for sustainability from the Costa Rica Tourism Board.
  • Provides both organic and biodegradable shampoo, soap, and lotion.
  • Eco-friendly grooming products are produced locally.
  • Serves to educate about biodiversity through the use of informative materials located in a guide hut.

 

For additional information and to book your trip, visit www.laparios.com

About the author: Bev Sninchak is a veteran freelance writer with 16 years of experience producing content for various publications. She writes about many subjects, from managing your social media platform to Reputation.com testimonials.

Why responsible travellers should beware of lion parks

Guest blogger Erin Sparks, Placement and Volunteer Manager at PoD Volunteer, reveals the hidden shame of lion cub attractions

For many people, the idea of getting to play with, cuddle and even bottle feed lion cubs comes high on the ‘to do’ list lion cub (PoD Volunteer) when travelling to Africa and offers a once in a lifetime opportunity. However there is a darker side to this attraction.

This form of petting tourism is becoming increasingly popular, especially across South Africa, both to tourists who visit a lion park for a couple of hours and to volunteers who choose to spend a few weeks helping at these parks. Visitors and volunteers are told that they are saving lions in the wild by supporting these parks – but here are just some realities to make you think twice…

Problems for hand-raised lions

Many park owners claim to be releasing their hand-raised lions back into the wild. There are numerous issues with releasing hand-raised lions into the wild. These lions will always associate humans with food (as they have always been provided with food from humans while they have been growing up). Hand-raised lions will still have their natural instincts; however they will not have the same natural fear of humans that wild-born lions have, which will make them more likely to come into conflict with humans after their release.

Welfare of lion cubs

These lion parks make a considerable amount of money from tourists who pay for interactions with cubs. Generally, cubs that are aged between one and three months are used as these are most ‘suitable’; they are small, photogenic and at an age where the size of their teeth and claws mean that the damage they could do to tourists is limited. However, young animals (like humans) need a lot of rest and sleep whilst growing. On busy days when there are a lot of tourists wanting their chance to play with a lion cub, the cubs are not given time to rest. Regular interaction with humans can also cause health problems with the cubs. Many cubs in these facilities have been known to die of stress-related diseases and they can suffer injuries by being incorrectly handled by inexperienced staff, volunteers or tourists.

Damage to health

In order for the parks to be able to offer interaction opportunities with cubs, they are taken from their mothers after just a few days to a few weeks (depending on the facility). This can lead to viral, respiratory and nutritional problems with are common amongst hand-raised predators due to substandard milk formulas being used to replace the mother’s milk. This can lead to lower immunity and the regular contact with humans can cause the cubs to contract diseases such as ringworm (often passed from visitors’ own domestic cats at home).

Pressures on lionesses

The removal of cubs from their mothers at a young age also leads to problems for the mother herself as the lioness can go back into oestrus sooner than she should. This allows the park owners to breed from the lionesses at a much more regular rate than lionesses in the wild would reproduce. This in turn allows a constant supply of cubs that can be used for interactions.

The lion breeding industry is growing and with it so are concerns of welfare issues for these lions. Most volunteers and tourists who go to these parks do so unknowingly and with the best of intentions. When questioning the conservation ethics of them, they are told that they are helping to increase numbers of lions in the wild, but evidence of this is hugely lacking.

Canned hunting

Male lion (PoD Volunteer)These facilities need a constant supply of cubs at the right age for interactions, where they are still cute for photographic opportunities, small enough to cuddle and of little danger to visitors, which begs the question, what happens to these cubs when they are too old for interactions? There is no straightforward answer to this but there are a number of agreed possibilities that are widely accepted within wildlife circles. Many of the lions are sold to private collectors but the most commonly acknowledged destination for these lions is into the canned hunting industry. Canned hunting refers to the highly controversial act of raising an animal within a confined area and then hunting the animal within a confined area in order increase the likelihood of the hunter obtaining a kill. Therefore visitors and volunteers at such facilities are unwittingly supporting the canned hunting industry.

There is a lot of money in this industry as people are willing to page large amounts of money to shoot a lion, and canned hunting makes this possible for people who have limited time and hunting skills as the animal is in a confined area. The money that can be generated from selling lions into this industry is enough for lion parks to sell their lions that have previously been used as interaction cubs to canned hunting facilities where tourists can have the ‘ultimate hunting experience’ by shooting a lion.

Avoiding the worst

It is of paramount importance that PoD only works with projects which are sound in their conservation ethics, where the project is truly needed and where volunteers are needed to assist with their work. We do not believe in working with projects which offer nothing towards the conservation of the species that they work with or where they simply offer an ‘experience’ for the volunteer such as hand-raising and cuddling lion cubs, especially when the future of these cubs is so bleak.

To view PoD’s carefully selected animal placements click here: www.podvolunteer.org/animals.html

To read more about PoD’s responsible travel policy click here: www.podvolunteer.org/responsible-travel-policy.html

Have you had an experience of one of these lion parks or projects? How do you separate the ‘good’ from the ‘bad’ in terms of animal conservation projects? Let us know in the comments below, or on Twitter using @Goodtrippers.

 

Sponsored Video: The Weather Channel launches new wildlife series

Here at Goodtrippers, we want to hear more about courageous eco activists standing up and fighting for endangered species. So we were more than intrigued when we received news of The Weather Channel’s brand new series ‘Brink’.

Brink 3‘Brink’, the first series to premiere on the HD online channel ‘Weather Films’, follows the tales of six eco heroes battling to save species and habitats from extinction – from the ice-floes of New Foundland to the jungle of South America.

The short films, all around three minutes long making them perfect to catch during a tea-break or on your journey to work, include stunning imagery of our natural world. But beware – these stories can’t help but move you if you care about wildlife. Sadly, a lot of the stories derive from human’s desire for animal meat, fur or other derivatives. But all the films are ultimately positive – there are brave people out there who care enough to do something extraordinary to help our animal cousins.

The six episodes, available to view now, include:

Episode 1 – ‘A Boy’s Promise’

Striving to save the Central and South American jaguar.

Episode 2 – ‘Caged for Nothing’

Rescuing moon bears caged in an illegal bear farm in China.Brink 5

Episode 3 – ‘Public Slaughter’

Battling the seal hunters in Canada.

Episode 4 – ‘Poacher Hell’

Protecting the black rhino against poachers in Africa.

Episode 5 – ‘Dolphins for Dinner’

Ending the dolphin slaughter in Japan.

Episode 6 – ‘It’s About Love’

Saving sea turtles in Mexico.

Hopefully, each of these short videos will highlight a conservation issue that you can help support, or at least be aware of the next time you visit that country.

You can view The Weather Channel’s series ‘Brink’ online here, or watch on your smartphone or tablet here.

This post is sponsored by The Weather Channel, but all editorial views are Goodtrippers’ own.

Nicaragua’s Morgan’s Rock helps define what ‘community tourism’ really means

Guest blogger Andrew Lisa reviews an eco-resort in the heart of the Nicaraguan jungle…

On a vast, 4,000-acre spread located deep in the Nicaraguan jungle, 15 bungalows await holiday-makers like us, who want to enjoy the natural wonders of the jungle without disturbing them. Imagine a private tropical beach, white sand, nesting sea turtles, and perfect weather – that’s Morgan’s Rock, an island paradise that is the pinnacle of luxury and eco-friendly planning.

Nicaraguas Morgans Rock, pic by uncorneredmarket.com

Accommodation

The bungalows at Morgan’s Rock are the pinnacle of sustainability. Half of the 4,000 acres on which they sit is government-protected land. The other half is reserved for low-impact, sustainable agriculture.Each bungalow is perched on a cliff and comes with its own terrace. All the wood and furniture is sustainable and recovered from what would have gone to waste.

Food

The ultimate in locally grown, farm-to-table dining, about 60 percent of the cuisine you’ll enjoy at the restaurant is grown right there on the sustainable farm. Visitors can also visit the farm, milk the cows, and select their own eggs.

Facilities

Chill out in a beachside hammock and indulge in fresh fruit from the local organic working farm. Enjoy an exotic massage and marvel at the bizarre and beautiful wildlife that shares the jungle with you. A beautiful seaside restaurant and straw-thatched huts await you whenever you’re ready to leave your room.

Activities

Learn to surf in the surrounding warm waters. Tour the oldest city in Nicaragua, and marvel at its colonial architecture and design. Or, Howler monkeys at Morgans Rock, pic by uncorneredmarket.comfor the more adventurous, check out an active volcano. Zip across the canopy of the dense, primitive Nicaragua jungle; go fishing, cruising, kayaking, horseback riding, or walking at night.

Recommended for… The tourist who wants a slow, measured pace in an ancient jungle.

Be aware that… The city is two hours away. The bungalows are hidden on purpose, isolated on a private jungle island.

Good credentials

  • Sustainable agriculture used on site
  • Virtually no environmental footprint on protected land
  • Solar-powered hot showers
  • Salvaged wood and furniture

For more information and booking, visit www.morgansrock.com

About the author: Andrew Lisa is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. He writes about travel and Spokeo Removal.

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