My name is Franck Deroche, I’m 27 years old, I’m French and I’m living in South Africa (RSA) for two and a half years now.
Before settling down in RSA, I had the chance to travel all around the world and discover different cultures, landscapes and people. I first came to RSA in 1994, just after the first democratic elections. This trip was a kind of awakening for me. I enjoyed the natural environment and the people of RSA so considerably that I came back every year between 1994 and 2000, then did a three months field study for my Four Years Degree in human geography in 2001 and finally settled here in September 2004.
Thanks to all those trips and since I’m living here, I have visited numerous lodges and game reserves. The idea came to my mind that there is no tourism website really focusing on foreign people staying in RSA. The expatriate and diplomat communities travel a lot in RSA and in the neighbouring countries, and most of them are looking for original destinations and places to go to with their families and/or friends, to relax and/or to do different activities.
Then, it was very important for me to chose lodges and Tour Operators that are particularily concerned about protection of the environnement and social development. Ecotourism and responsible tourism is what I studied at University and I truly think that it is the future for the tourism industry and especially in countries like RSA.
I hope you will enjoy those places and tours as much as I did, and please don’t hesitate to email me for any comments...
Regards,
Franck
If you need more information or if you have specific questions, don’t hesitate to contact me : franck@isilo-voyages.com
Precisions about the words :
"Ecotourism" refers to nature conservation and protection of the environment, whether it is using alternative energy (solar, etc.), recycling, managing the use of water and the impact of human pollution, using local material and food, reintroducing game into areas where it had previously disappeared, controlling game and vegetation to create a sustainable balance...
"Responsible tourism" could also be called social development through tourism. It involves employing people from the surrounding local communities, training them on the field of tourism, funding local projects (schools, clinics, women association, trainings, etc.), implicating them in the management of the lodges, organising game drives for the children...
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