THE SAVVY TRAVELLER implemented their Trees For Travel initiative, where you can sponsor a tree and ease your air-mile-clocking conscience. Trees sequester carbon, provide habitats and reduce air and water pollution. One tree costs R120, so try to plant one every time you fly: www. greenpop. org / gift-trees
4. Sponsor a penguin house
African penguins are in trouble. Endemic to the South African coast and with a lifespan of between 10 and 15 years, populations are steadily declining. In 1900, it was estimated that about 1.5 million birds lived on Dassen Island, an uninhabited South African island in the
Atlantic Ocean. There are now only around 18 000 breeding pairs left in the world.
The reasons for the rapid decline in population are egg and guano harvesting as well as the reduction of their food source due to overfishing and pollution. When guano is removed, penguins are forced to nest in the open on rocky island surfaces, at the mercy of the elements and predators, leaving them at high risk of extinction.
One solution comes in the form of artificial nests that provide vitally important shelter for breeding penguins on Dyer Island near Gansbaai. They are designed to mimic natural guano burrows and increase the survival chances for adults and chicks. Sponsor a penguin home for R500: www. dict. org. za
5. Adopt a chimpanzee at the Jane Goodall Chimp Eden
We have Jane Goodall to thank for creating awareness around the plight of the chimpanzee in central and eastern Africa. Her influence is far reaching. In 2006, she opened Chimp Eden Chimpanzee Sanctuary on the 1 000-hectare Umhloti Nature Reserve outside Nelspruit.
Carrying her name, the goal of the chimpanzee sanctuary is to rescue chimpanzees that have survived the bush meat trade, being orphaned, traded in the illegal pet market, or were used for entertainment in circuses, beach resorts and nightclubs. The chimpanzees at Chimp Eden are the lucky ones, living out their lives in a risk-free environment and being provided with the necessary attention to recover from the trauma they experienced. Adoption packages start at R600 a year: www. chimpeden. com
6. Educate a child
There are many heartwarming projects doing wonderful work in supporting and educating orphaned children throughout Africa, like the Lubasi Home in Livingstone, Zambia. AIDS affects about 30 % of adults in Livingstone, leaving many orphans in its wake. Lubasi provides residential care for these orphans and other vulnerable children, who have no family.
Lubasi admits children over five years old and aims to care for them until they are able to sustain themselves or are taken into families. By employing mothers to care of the children, they have developed a homely atmosphere, help with schoolwork and provide communal dining and play areas. One of the things to be admired is how the children are supported through their high school years and encouraged to pursue tertiary education. It is run entirely by volunteers, who raise funds and ask for sponsorship.
It costs $ 150 per child per month for food, board and education, but any contribution is welcome: www. lubasihome. org
7. Shelter a rescued lion
The Drakenstein Lion Park was established in 1998 to provide lions in distress with a sanctuary where they can live free from abuse and persecution and be treated with the compassion and respect they deserve. Situated in the Cape Winelands on 20 hectares of adapted lion habitat, the team is committed to improving the quality of life
Travel Update | issue 9
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