Southern Africa - Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - page 173

Fair Trade Holidays

South Africa has the world's first fair trade tourism scheme, with a growing range of
places involved. The following ten experiences offer much of the best South Africa has
to offer - from wildlife-watching to townships to wine tasting - plus you'll know that
the local communities benefited from your visit. For details of all the participants in the
scheme see W www.fairtourismsa.org.za.

223 Walk with rhinos at leshiba
Because there are no lions or elephants on the
plateau that surrounds Leshiba lodge, you're
encouraged to go out on unguided walks. The
leopards are too shy to bother you and the
rhinos don't see or hear well - and so long as
you're upwind, won't smell you either. If one
approaches, stay still and let it pass; if that
doesn't work, make lots of noise; if all else fails,
get up a tree.
Leshiba's luxury lodge is a synthesis of
traditional Venda mud-brick building techniques
and modern design. It runs community
programmes revitalizing traditional skills to
ensure the Venda people don't lose touch with
their heritage. This is also the philosophy behind
the unguided walks - it's about experiencing the
bush as the Venda's ancestors always have.

The high wire through the
Tsitsikamma Forest 222 Whizz through the forest at

storms river
If you've ever watched monkeys swinging
through the trees and wondered how it feels,
try the Storms River canopy tour in the
Tsitsikamma Forest. Twenty metres up in the
treetops, you slide in a breathless rush on steel
cables between wooden platforms, learning from
your guide about forest ecology at each stop.
Over a thousand local children (including AIDS
orphans) get a free ride each year - but it's hard
even for grown-ups not to feel like a kid as you
zip through the trees, then wait for another go.

Need to know Leshiba is an hour's drive west
of Louis Trichardt on the N1, five hours' north of
Johannesburg. Further info on rates and activities
at W www.leshiba.co.za; T [phone].

224 Kayak with whales in
Plettenberg Bay
In the waters around Plettenberg Bay, the
whales come so close to the shore on their
annual migration that you can paddle out to
see them. The best whale-watching operator
in the area is Ocean Blue - and thanks to its
conservation work you can approach to within
50m of the whales (the usual limit is 300m).
Lolling gently in the waves, you'll hear them
clear their blowholes, and feel rocked by the
thwack of their tails against the water.

Need to know Storms River is just off the N2
motorway, 65km from Plettenberg Bay. For prices
and bookings see W www.stormsriver.com; T +27
(0) 422 811 836.