Urgent: the African Penguin is on the verge of extinction!
The African Penguin has just been classified as *Critically Endangered* by the IUCN, with fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs left. With a shocking 97% population decline over the decades, these iconic seabirds could vanish in less than 4,000 days unless we act fast.
What’s driving this rapid decline?
The main threat is a shortage of food, worsened by climate change and competition with commercial fishing near their breeding grounds. Even with "no-take" zones in place to help protect their food sources—sardines and anchovies—current measures aren't enough. Studies show that these zones need urgent improvement for real penguin conservation.
In just over a decade, African Penguins could be gone. Their loss wouldn’t just disrupt our marine ecosystem but also impact South Africa's economy and ecotourism. These beloved seabirds are a crucial indicator of ocean health, and they need our help now.
The time for action is now!
We help by booking our whale watching tours with a Fair Trade Tourism company that also operates a penguin rescue centre.
You can help by signing the petition that urges the South African government to take the necessary steps to help save one of the world’s most threatened penguin species and preserve the health of our ocean for future generations. Your support could be the key to making real, lasting change. Find it on https://only.one/act/save-african-penguins
🎞️Sanccob/Marine Blue Foundation
#AfricanPenguin #CriticallyEndangered #SaveOurSeabirds #Conservation #MarineConservation #talesfromafricatravel #sustainabletourism #wewalkthetalk #FTT
Place of loud noise
Far in the north of South Africa, where the Namib Desert meets the Great Karoo, you'll find one of the oldest landscapes in the world. It's so old that the BBC shot it's documentary series "walking with cavemen" here.
Here you find Augrabies, "place of loud noise" in the Khoisan language. The Orange River rushes through a narrow aperture into one of the deepest canyons in Africa. It's an almost surreal place where old volcanoes, rounded granite domes and the sound of rushing water in an otherwise dry landscape dominate your senses. It's magical. It's Augrabies. And we know the way there.
#uniqueexperiences #talesfromafricatravel #realpeople #ecotourism #SustainableTravel #realexperiences #carbonneutral #realsustainable #authenticexperiences #hiddengems #bespokeadventures
This World Lion Day, we're standing united with Blood Lions, FOUR PAWS South Africa, Humane Society International/Africa, and Voice4Lions to amplify a crucial message: "You’re killing them softly."
Every time a visitor or volunteer pays to play, bottle-feed, or hand-raise captive-bred predator cubs, uses them as photo props, or visits predator parks, they unknowingly support South Africa’s cruel captive predator industry. These cubs aren’t orphans; they’re bred solely for profit in an unethical and harmful industry.
TAKE A STAND: Choose responsible travel. At Tales from Africa Travel, we have a strict no-hands-on policy for animal interactions. We even turn away clients who request lion walks or cheetah petting.
Let’s protect our wildlife, not exploit it!
#WorldLionDay #EthicalTravel #Conservation #TalesfromAfricaTravel #responsibletourism #bespokeadventures #ecotourism #realexperiences #authenticexperiences #sustainabletravel
Tales from Africa commits to support the Ele-Collection! Today we have committed ourselves to support the Ele-Collection program in the Victoria Falls area - per direct. On each new booking we will add US20 or the equivalent as a donation to this innovative project. So where is your donation going?
The plastic problem:
Zambia produces 518 thousand tons per year, Zimbabwe 342 thousand tons per year. 310 tonnes of new plastic waste enter Victoria Falls and Livingstone every month. This equals to 430 grams of plastic per tourist per day. Elephant attacks in Victoria Falls are on the rise, attributed to a condition called Plasticosis, induced by plastic ingestion. This underscores the urgency to address plastic waste, not only for human safety but also for environmental preservation, since many more animal species are subjected to this.
The Solution:
A Plastic Fee is added to each traveller’s itinerary. This fee removes 50kg of plastic, equivalent to the daily plastic use of approximately 119 tourists.
This is done by all-female collection teams, who earn roughly 10x the average daily wage. The plastic is transported to our designated collection centre where it is sorted by type baled and stored before processing.
This initiative will give all types of plastic a value, allowing the project to employ women’s collection teams and set up deposit banks for members of the community to exchange trash for cash. Plastic burning contributes to 7%-10% of global CO2 emissions. Because the plastic will be repurposed and not burnt, the impact on the environment is enormous in more ways than one.
Your donation goes towards all of this. Another way how we practice sustainable tourism. Because we believe we walk the talk.
#TalesfromAfricaTravel #responsibletourism #bespokeadventures #ecotourism #CarbonNeutral #authenticexperiences #travelife #FTT #fairtradetourism
You heard about the extremely heavy rains in Kenya and Tanzania, flooding the lower areas of some cities? The loss of human life is devastating to us, but fortunately there is better news from the wildlife front.
Most of the camps and lodges are built higher than the floodlines, but some have suffered. Most have closed for now so that their staff can assist their families in the nearby villages. We will adjust your holiday to make sure you stay in the lodges that will reopen again. Contrary to what most people think, this is actually the time to book a holiday to East Africa and support the rebuilding of the countries!
And the wildlife itself? Since they are mobile, they have largely moved to higher places when the rivers started overflowing. There are casualties, but it's a low number. The attached video by Natural Selection gives an amazing impression of what the rains look like for the wildlife.
#TalesfromAfricaTravel #realpeople #realexperiences #realsustainable #authenticexperiences #Kenya #Tanzania #Uganda
You heard about the extremely heavy rains in Kenya and Tanzania, flooding the lower areas of some cities? The loss of human life is devastating to us, but fortunately there is better news from the wildlife front.
Most of the camps and lodges are built higher than the floodlines, but some have suffered. Most have closed for now so that their staff can assist their families in the nearby villages. We will adjust your holiday to make sure you stay in the lodges that will reopen again. Contrary to what most people think, this is actually the time to book a holiday to East Africa and support the rebuilding of the countries!
And the wildlife itself? Since they are mobile, they have largely moved to higher places when the rivers started overflowing. There are casualties, but it's a low number. The attached video by Great Plains gives an amazing impression of what the rains look like for the wildlife.
#TalesfromAfricaTravel #realpeople #realexperiences #realsustainable #authenticexperiences #Kenya #Tanzania #Uganda
Visiting local communities is full of unexpected surprises. Some fishing communities go out together on a free day to catch small sardines. These are then distributed to all who join in, salted for a couple of days and then pickled. This way everyone can have pickled fish for Easter, a South Africa tradition. It tastes like 'rolmops'.
Come and discover the unexpected with one of our community experiences. We know the way.
#talesfromafricatravel #realpeople #realexperiences #realsustainable #ecotourism #responsibletourism #bespokeadventures #africa #communityexperiences #meetthelocals
Today the largest metered cycling tour in the world to place in Cape Town. Every year over 39,000 (!) cyclists ride 108 km over the most scenic roads of the Cape peninsula.
Do you love cycling? Plan your next holiday for 2025 so you can take part in this amazing event! You got to do the riding withing 6 hours, we take care of the rest! Places go real quick so book now...
We know the way.
#talesfromafricatravel #realpeople #realexperiences #realsustainable #ecotourism #responsibletourism #bespokeadventures #africa #cycling #bicycleride #capetowncycletour
Embark on an unforgettable 12-day rail odyssey with the Rovos Rail Namibia Safari. From the iconic Big Hole in Kimberley to the vastness of the Kalahari Desert, this journey is a feast for the senses.
Indulge in all kind of included excursions and safaris, wine tastings, explore historic towns, and marvel at the Great Fish River Canyon. The train also runs in reverse order.
Book with us for exclusive perks and a seamless experience from airport to airport. On certain dates in April and May 2024 you even get two nights free accommodation in Walvis Bay, Namibia, AND a free flight back between the departure and end point of the train! T&C's apply. Don't wait to book, places are limited...
🎞️ Rovos Rail
#TalesfromAfricaTravel #realpeople #realexperiences #realsustainabale #bespokeadventures #epictrainjourneys #rovosrail #luxurytrain #allinholiday
