Grade 11

Term 3
Tourism
Study notes
Regional tourism in the SA developing community country
 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was formed in
1992, based on an older grouping of southern African countries called the
SADCC, Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference, which
was formed in 1980.

What is the Southern African Development Community?

 The Southern African Development Community is a regional association of
southern, central and eastern African countries, including Indian Ocean
island countries.
 Its objectives are to achieve development and growth, improve living
standards and promote peace and security among member countries in
the region.
 South Africa joined the Southern African Development Community in 1994.
 Tourism is considered by the Southern African Development Community
members to be one of the most effective ways to achieve the objectives of
the organization.

Regional tourism in the Southern African Development Community

What is regional tourism?
 Regional tourism refers to tourism that takes place in a defined or
particular area.
 It can be tourism that takes place in a part of the country, for example,
tourism in the Karoo in South Africa.
 In the above-mentioned example, regional tourism takes place in South
Africa, which is a part of a continent, namely Africa.
 South Africa is an area that is covered by the countries of the
Southern African Development Community.
  The role of the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA)
 The Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) is a
subsidiary organisation of the Southern African Development
Community, meaning that it is a part of the larger organisation.
 Its aim is to market and promote the region as a single but
collective destination and to build its image as a destination of
choice.
 The advantages of regional tourism for South Africa and the Southern
African Development Community member states
 There are many ways that SADC has identified to improve economies
in southern Africa.
 Tourism presents one of the best opportunities.
 This is because of the rich and largely unspoiled natural and cultural
heritage destinations in southern Africa.
 These destinations are accessible as the region has a fairly well-
developed infrastructure.
 Once tourism has been established in the region, there are many benefits
that will flow from this.
 Tourism is labour intensive, which means that a large number of people
will be employed in a successful tourist operation.
 They will be employed in the running and maintenance of the operation,
such as a game park, game lodge or adventure activity.
 This will result in the employees earning money which will be used to
better their standard of living.
 A further benefit that takes place will be in the skills training of individuals
and groups.
 Those workers will in time be able to start their own operations.
 Local communities near a tourist operation can become entrepreneurs
who can sell their handmade products to the tourists.
 The advantage of a subject like tourism in a tourism environment can
greatly benefit education and schooling.
 (It is important to consider that this is different to the above-mentioned skills
training, which is training and not necessarily education.)
 SADC countries, through RETOSA, can help each other to build their
tourism industries by sharing ideas, experiences and knowledge.
 They can also contribute to promoting tourism in all the Southern
African Development Community countries.

The 15 member countries of the South African Development community and

their capital cities
Country Capitals
Angola Luanda
Botswana Gaborone
Democratic republic of Congo (DRC) Kinshasa
Lesotho Maseru
Madagascar Antananarivo
 Malawi Lilongwe
Mauritius Port Louis
Mozambique Maputo
Namibia Windhoek
Seychelles Victoria
South Africa Cape town (legislative capital)
Pretoria (Administrative capital)
Swaziland Mbabane
Tanzania Dodoma (legislative capital)
Dar es salaam (administrative capital)
Zambia Lusaka
Zimbabwe Harare

Accessibility of Each Southern African development community

Angola
Accessibility
Air An international airport at Luanda, with
several smaller airports and many small
airfields
Road It is possible to travel by road to Angola,
via Namibia using the border post at
Oshikango
Sea Luanda is the main port with smaller
ports at Lobito, Cabin da and Namibe.
Boarder post Angola is accessed via Namibia using
the Oshikango border post.

Botswana
Accessibility
Air An international airport at Gaborone,
Maun, Francistown, Kasan e and
Selebi-Phikwe. There are many smaller
airfields.
Road The N18 goes north from Mahikeng
(also known as Mafikeng) through the
Ramatlabama bord er post. The N4
from Rustenburg (South Africa) enters
at Skilpad shek and goes north to
Gaborone on the A1 Botswana road.
Railway A railway line from Mahikeng through
Ramatlabama, which goes north via
Gaborone to Zimbabwe.
Border posts Ramatlabama on the N18/R503;
 Skilpad shek on the N4; Klopfenstein
and Derdepoort from the Madikwe
Game
Reserve and Grobler’s Bridge on the
N11.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Accessibility Air

Accessibility
Air An international airport at Kinshasa with
several small airports and airfields.
Border posts It is not possible to go directly to the
Democratic Republic of Congo by road
from South Africa. Access is at the
Kasumbulesa border post via
Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Lesotho
Accessibility
Air Moshoeshoe International al Airport at
Maseru and several small airfields.
Road The N8 from Bloemfontein (South
Africa) enters at Maseru Bridge and
goes to Maseru. There is also an entry
point at Ficksburg. Buses frequently
travel between the two countries.
Railway A railway line enters at Maseru Bridge
and proceeds to Maseru
Border posts Maseru Bridge; Peka Bridge (Ficksburg)
and Called onspoort (Fouriesburg).

Madagascar
Accessibility
Air An international airport at Antananarivo.
Sea Toamasina is the main port together
with a number of smaller ports.

Malawi
Accessibility
Air An international airport at Lilongwe, with
several other airports and airfields.
Road There is a regular bus service between
Blantyre and Johannesburg (South
Africa), via Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Boarder post Malawi is accessible indirectly from
 South Africa, via Zimbabwe and
Zambia through the Mchinji/Chipata
border post in southern Malawi.

Mauritius
Accessibility
Air Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
International Airport is the one airport
on the main island of Mauritius. The
island of Rodrigues, which is part of
Mauritius, also has an airport.
Sea the main port is Port Louis, where cruise
liners from South Africa call.

Mozambique
Accessibility
Air An international airport at Maputo,
Vilankulo and Beira.
Road There is an excellent road from South
Africa entering Mozambique not
far from Komatipoort at the Lebombo
border
Rail There is a railway line from South
Africa, entering at the Lebombo
Sea Maputo is the main port. Cruise ships
call there and at some of the islands to
the north, such as Portuguese Island.
Beira is a large port, but is not used by
tourists.
Border post Lebombo near Komatipoort is the main
entry point. There are two small borders
posts in the north of the Kruger National
Park, at Giriyondo and Pafuri.

Namibia
Accessibility
Air The Chief Hosea Kutako International
Airport is near Windhoek and is the
main airport. There is a smaller airport
in Windhoek, Eros airport, suitable only
for small aircraft.
Road There are two main entry points into
Namibia. On the N10 from Upington at
the Nakop border post and on the N 7
from Cape Town at the Noordoewer
border post
 Rail The railway line from South Africa stops
at Nakop. There is a bus from there to
Keetmanshoop to join the Namibian rail
system.
Sea Walvis Bay is the main port and
Luderitzis a smaller port. Cruise liners
seldom go to Namibia.
Border post Noordoewer on the N7 near Vioolsdrift;
Nakop on the N10 and Rietfontein in the
Northern Cape.

Seychelles
Accessibility
Air An international airport at Victoria
sea Port Victoria is the main port and all the
main islands have a harbour. Cruise
ships call regularly

Swaziland
Accessibility
Air Matsapha International Airport at
Manzini is the main international airport
Road The N1 7 from Ermelo (South Africa) is
the main road and it enters at the
Oshoek border post.
Border posts Oshoek on the N17; Emhlatini and
Bothashoop from Piet Retief; Josefsdal
from Barberton to Piggs Peak and
Jeppe’s Reef on the R570.

Tanzania
Accessibility
Air Julius Nyerere International Airport at
Dar es Salaam is the main airport.
Kilimanjaro International Airport is near
Arusha and there are also an
international airport on the island of
Zanzibar
Sea Dar es Salaam is a major port, with a
smaller port at Zanzibar City on the
island of Zanzibar.
Border post Tanzania is not directly accessible by
road from South Africa. The route is via
Zimbabwe and Zambia and enters at
the Tunduma border post in southern
 Tanzania.

Zambia
Accessibility
Air The main international airport is at
Lusaka, with others at Livingstone and
Ndola.
Road There is a regular bus service between
Johannesburg and Lusaka and Ndola,
via Zimbabwe.
Rail The railway line to Zambia from South
Africa goes via Botswana and
Zimbabwe
Border posts Zambia is only accessible by road via
Zimbabwe, at the Livingstone border
post and farther north at the Kariba or
Otto Beitbridge border posts.

Zimbabwe
Accessibility
Air The main international airport is at
Harare, with smaller airports at Victoria
Falls and Bulawayo
Road The main entry point into Zimbabwe is
at the border post of Beitbridge, north
of Musina (South Africa).
Rail There is no direct rail link between
South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The railway line goes from Mahikeng
north via Botswana
Border post Beitbridge, north of Musina.

Angola democratic republic of Congo and Namibia

Top tourist attractions in Angola
 Angola has only recently emerged from a devastating civil war.
 During that war, which covered much of the country, many of the existing
game parks were neglected and poachers killed many of the animals in
them.
 It has been a long struggle to re-stock the parks and to repair the
ruined infrastructure.
 It is hoped that within the next 10 years Angola’s once vibrant tourist
industry will be in operation again.
Kissama National Park
 Location: Approximately 70 km south of Luanda, on the coast, in the north-
west of the country.
 Why it is a tourist attraction: It is the only game park in Angola that can
receive tourists as all the others are not functioning, because of the
recent civil war.
 During that time of unrest, nearly all the animals in the country’s parks
were poached and the parks were left with very few animals.
 In the early part of this century, a project called Operation Noah’s Ark was
set up.
 Animals from South Africa and Botswana were transported to Kissama
to restock it.
 The project was successful as there are now elephant, buffalo,
roan antelope, eland, bushbuck, waterbuck and even rhino.
 The birdlife is abundant.
 What to see and do: Game viewing and bird watching.
 Accommodation: There are thatched chalets, each with its own
ablution facilities.
Top tourist attractions in the Democratic
 Like Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been involved in a
particularly brutal civil war. In the case of the Democratic Republic of
Congo, however, the civil war has not entirely ended.
 There are parts of the country where the war still flares up from time to time.
Efforts are being made to encourage tourists to visit the three parks and
every precaution is taken to ensure their safety.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park
 Location: It is situated in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of
Congo, 50 km west of Bukavu, near Lake Kivu and the Rwandan
border.
 Tourists enter the park at Tshivanga on the eastern side
 Why is a tourist attraction: This is a World Heritage Site as it is the home
of one of the last groups of eastern lowland (Grauer’s) gorillas?
 Only about 230 individuals survive in this park.
 What to see and do: It is very rare to spot one of the gorillas as they are
shy and very wary of humans, who have, in the past, hunted and killed many
of them.
 There are specially trained guides who will take tourists into the forest
and hopefully they will encounter one of these elusive primates.
 Apart from the gorillas, there are many species of wildlife and birdlife to
be seen.
 These include elephant, antelope and forest hogs.
 Accommodation: Basic accommodation is available in the nearby towns
of Tshivanga, Bukavu and Cyangugu.
Virunga National Park
 Location: It lies in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
 It surrounds Lake Edward and covers the Ruwenzori Mountains. It borders
on Uganda and Rwanda.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: Virunga has been declared a World Heritage
Site because it has the greatest environmental diversity of any park in Africa,
with steppes, savannahs, lava plains, swamps, forests, alpine type
vegetation and ice fields.
 It is also the home to one third of the last group of African mountain gorilla
on the planet.
 There are two active volcanoes and a huge number of wildlife.
 Including elephants, buffalo and over 20 000 hippopotami.
 Eastern lowland gorillas, similar to those found in Kahuzi-Biega Park, are
also found here in small numbers, along with chimpanzees and other
primates
 What to see and do: Visits to the mountain gorillas, can be arranged
through the Congolese Wildlife Authority in Goma, at the southern tip of the
park Visitors can climb Nyiragongo volcano and spend the night at the top in
a small bungalow.
 This is an active volcano therefore there is a small lava lake at the top which
is spectacular to view after dark. Adventurers trek on the Ruwenzori
Mountain to see the snow- capped peaks of the mountains and the glaciers.
 This is only recommended for experienced mountaineers.
 Plans are underway to arrange treks to visit colonies of chimpanzees in
the park.
 Accommodation: Accommodation in the surrounding towns is plentiful,
as well as, on the peak of Nyiragongo.
Salonga National Park
 Location: Salonga is in the middle of the central basin of the Congo River.
It is very isolated and can only be accessed by water.
 Why it is a tourist attraction: It is a World Heritage Site because of its
unique tropical rainforest habitat. It is home to many endangered
species, including the bonobo (a dwarf chimpanzee), the forest elephant,
Congo peacocks and the African slender-shouted crocodile.
 It is hoped that its status as a World Heritage Site will protect these
animals from extinction.
 What to see and do: The unique wildlife and the spectacular tropical
jungle vegetation of the Democratic Republic of Congo can be seen here.
 This is Tarzan territory. However, because of its inaccessibility and
the possibility of armed gangs, very few tourists venture here.
 Accommodation: No accommodation is available.
Top tourist attractions in Namibia
 Namibia is a popular tourist destination because of its good overall
infrastructure, Excellent roads and hotels, unique attractions and huge
variety of fauna and flora.
 Namibia is regarded as one of the safest tourist destinations in Africa as
the incidence of crime and violence against tourists is virtually unknown.
 It is particularly popular with Germans as it was once a German colony
and German is still widely spoken in the country.
Fish River Canyon
 Location: It lies in the south of Namibia, not far from the South
African border.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: It is the second largest canyon in the world
(after the Grand Canyon in the United States of America and the largest
in Africa. The hot springs of Ai-Ai’s lie at its southern tip.
 In some parts, the canyon is 550 m deep and in all it is about 160 km
in length.
 The Fish River has been dammed higher up so there is very little water
that gets into the canyon, especially in winter, which is the dry season
 What to see and do: The hike is the thing to do, but it is not for everyone.
 One has to have a medical certificate and at least three participants in
the group must be over the age of 12.
 The actual hiking trail starts at Hibas in the north and ends 85 km later at Ai-
Ai’s in the south.
 Because it is done in the flat, dry riverbed, it is a very easy hike and it
takes between three and five days to complete.
 The scenery along the route is spectacular, with the trail winding through
the high, multi-coloured canyon walls.
 Hikers who have done the trail say the silence takes some getting used
to, but the sense of peace and quiet grows on you.
 Water is limited therefore there is not much in the way of wildlife here.
 Dassies and klipspringers are about all you are likely to see.
 The birdlife is more abundant, with herons, plovers and Egyptian gorse
being the most common.
 Accommodation: There is no accommodation whatsoever on the hiking
trail. Hikers skep in the open.
 Because it can only be done during the cool, dry winter months, there is
little chance of rain or water in the river.
 It is important that hikers take sufficient water and food for the entire trip.
Etosha National Park
 Location: Etosha National Park is in the far north of Namibia, close to
the border of Angola.
 Etosha man’s great white place or place of dry water because of the huge salt
pan at its centre.
  Why It is a tourist attraction: Etosha is famous for its excellent
game viewing especially around the waterholes which are floodlit at
night.
 Sighting game in many of Africa’s game parks is a hit and miss affair,
with many tourists not seeing much game.
 But here you are almost guaranteed to see abundant wildlife, even rare
black rhinoceroses and lions.
 Want to see and do: Game viewing is the reason tourists come here.
Surprisingly, however, there are no guided tours arranged by the
park.
 Tourists staying in the park have to arrange their own tours.
 Those who stay in the more expensive private accommodations outside the
park can have guided tours provided for them by their hosts.
 Black rhino, black-faced impala, tsessebe, gemsbok, elephant, giraffe and
lion art some of the many animals that can be seen here.
 Those who are lucky may see leopard and cheetah When good rains fall,
thousands of pink flamingos are attracted to the pan, which, for a few
days, fills with water.
 Accommodation: Accommodation both inside and outside the park
is plentiful.
 There are three well-established camps within the park and a lot of
private, sometimes luxury, accommodation outside the park.
Namib Desert
 Location: The entire coastline of Namibia is covered by the Namib
Desert, which is how the country got its name.
 The desert is wide and in places it stretches 200 land in land.
 The name means vast place in the Nama language.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: This is the oldest desert in the world,
being about 80 million years old.
 In Namibia, at Sossusvlei, the highest sand dunes in the world are found.
 What to see and do: Tourists come here precisely because it is so dry
and different.
 Unlike other deserts, which are far away from civilisation, the Namib Desert
in Namibia is always close to civilisation of some sort.
 There are many organised and perfectly safe safaris into the desert
which allow adventurers the opportunity to experience something that few
other people can.
 The harsh, brutal beauty of the desert is what they want to see
and experience.
 The hot, dry air is perfect for hot air ballooning, which allows you to see
the vastness of the desert.
 Another popular activity is quad bike riding up and down the dunes
at Sassusvlei.
 Then there are those who just want to get away from everything
that civilisation represents.
  They want to appreciate the absolute silence, the lack of anything that is
manmade and become part of the silence and tranquillity that is the
Namib Desert.
 Accommodation: Walvis Bay and Swakopmund are at the centre of
the Namib Desert and offer accommodation to suit all pockets.
 There are many camps and lodges throughout the region offering
everything from basic to luxurious.
Kalahari Desert
 Location: Southern and Castern Namibia, although it stretches
beyond Namibia into all the surrounding countries.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: The Kalahari is not a true desert, because
it receives more rain than a true desert and has a good deal of shrubs and
grass on its surface.
 It is therefore classified as a semi-desert.
 It is in fact the longest continuous stretch of semidesert in the world,
covering parts of seven countries.
 This is the last home of the San-Bushmen who once roamed the entire sub-
continent of Africa.
 They have been displaced from their original living areas and it is here, in
Namibia, and neighbouring Botswana and Northern Cape, South Africa
that they have found refuge.
 What to see and do: The rock paintings of the San-Bushmen, painted over
many thousands of years, are plentiful in this region and tourists make the
trip into this hot and dry art to marvel at them.
 There is no formal par les or reserves in this region of Namibia as the land
is mostly privately owned.
 There are, however, numerous guest farms and the owners will gladly
give tourists permission to see the paintings that are located on their
farms.
 Accommodation: On the many guest farms located throughout the
Skeleton Coast
 Location: It is part of the Namib Desert, along the northern coast of Namibia.
 Why it is a tourist attraction: According to the San-Bushmen, this is The
Land God Made in Anger and the ancient Portuguese sailors knew it as The
Gates of Hell It is very dry and inhospitable, with very little plant or animal
life and rain seldom falls here.
 It is called the Skeleton Coast because of the numerous whale and seal
skeletons that used to litter the coast, during the days when whale hunting
in these waters was legal.
 There are also the skeletons of over a hundred ships that were wrecked
along this coast.
 This is because the coast is often blanketed in a thick layer of fog, caused
by hot air from the desert meeting the cold offshore Benguela current.
  There are only a few lighthouses along the coast and in the thick fog
they cannot be seen.
 There are many stories of shipwrecked sailors having to walk hundreds
of kilometres through the desert to reach civilisation.
 Many did not make it and added their skeletons to those already there.
 What to see and do: Despite its cruel reputation, or perhaps because of
it, adventurers come here to experience this harsh and unforgiving terrain.
 The fog, ironically, is what allows the few animals and plants that live here,
to exist.
 When the fog condenses, droplets of water form which these plants and
animals collect.
 The Skeleton Coast Park has two rest camps on the coast, at Torra Bay
and Terrace Bay which are used by the many fishermen who come here.
 Fishing along this coast is excellent and good catches are
virtually guaranteed.
 There is a large colony of seals at Cape Cross, in the south of the park,
which is worth a visit, but be warned, it is known as the smelliest place in
Namibia.
 A larger colony exists in the north at Cape Fria, but it is only accessible
by air.
 A short distance inland, in the Brandberg National Reserve, is a rock
face where you can see the painting of the famous White Lady This is
not a destination for average tourists.
 Only true adventure tourists will come here, and leave stunned
and exhilarated by the spectacular experience.
 For those who would only like a taste of this unforgettable region, day trips
can be arranged, starting at Henties Bay in the south or Springbokwasser
in the centre.
 Accommodation: In the actual park, there is a campsite at Torra Bay
and bungalows at Terrace Bay.
 There are guest houses and two large rest camps at Henties Bay, on
the southern border of the park.
 Inland, in Damaraland, there are many lodges, some of them quite luxurious.
Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland
Top tourist attractions in Botswana
 Botswana has a lot to offer tourists who are interested in wildlife and
unique environments.
 From the lush water oasis of the Okavango to the bone-dry Kalahari there is
an extraordinary diversity of habitats that are home to a wide range of animals
and birds.
 The unique rock art of the San-Bushmen is also on display in abundance
in Botswana.
Okavango Delta
 Location: The Okavango Delta is found in northern Botswana.
  Why It is a tourist attraction: The Cubango River, which starts in Angola’s
western highlands, flows south-cast into Botswana where its name changes
to the Okavango River.
 Millions of years ago it used to flow into what are now the Makgadikadi Pans.
 Geological forces caused it to change its course and it now flows into
the Kalahari Desert, where it has formed a vast oasis that is home to a
large variety of plant and animal life.
 The delta varies in size according to the seasons. After the floods caused
by the summer rains in Angola, the delta reaches a maximum area of 16 000
sq.km and then, during the dry season, it shrinks to less than 9000 sq.km.
 It is at its peak size in June and July.
 This body of crystal-clear water in the middle of a desert is quite unique
and there is nothing else like it on earth. Lush vegetation grows as the flood
waters fan out and this attracts many species of birds and animals which
would not normally be found here.
 Elephants, buffalo, wild dogs, crocodiles, hippos, many species of buck and a
wide diversity of birdlife can be found here.
 What to see and do: A water safari in a mokoro (a canoe carved out of a
tree trunk) makes game viewing in Okavango so special.
 Your trained guide will glide you silently through the still waters of the
delta and point out interesting birds and animals.
 There are 4x4 game viewing safaris on the large, main islands.
 Night viewing in a 4x4 vehicle is not allowed in the national park, only in
the private parks outside the main park.
 Walking safaris are also available, and this is an exciting way of coming
close to the birds and animals of the delta.
 An exhilarating, but expensive safari is by light aircraft or helicopter,
but unfortunately, the noise of the machines often scares away the
game.
 Randall Moore’s Abu Camp offers the most unusual safari; game viewing
from the back of an elephant.
 Accommodation: There are many fine lodges and camps
scattered throughout the delta and its surrounds.
 Their numbers have been kept down so that the natural environment of
the data docs not become overcrowded.
Chobe National Park
 Location: East of the Okavango Delta, in the north-eastern corner
of Botswana, close to the Zimbabwe border.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: Chobe National Park is famous for its
large herds of elephants and the concentration of a wide diversity of
animal and birdlife.
 There are an estimated 1 20 000 elephants in the park, along with a large
number of buffalos, zebra and giraffe. Nearly all the major game species can
be seen here, as well as lion, sable, impala, hyena, jackal, wildebeest and
even cheetah and wild dogs.
  The leopard is perhaps the only animal that is not found here.
 What to see and do: Game viewing is the major activity in the park Over a
period of three or four days it is possible to see nearly all the main species
of game present in the park.
 This is why it is so popular with keen game viewers Because of the large
number of wild animals, it is best to do the game viewing from the back of
a 4x4 vehicle in the company of a trained ranger.
 All the main lodges and camps have trained and experienced rangers who
will make sure you see the maximum amount of game in the shortest time
 Accommodation: There are many camps and lodges both in and around the
park.
Tsodilo Hills
 Location: There are four distinct hills, located in the remote north-west corner
of Botswana.
 Three arts named: Male, Female and Child.
 The fourth is unnamed.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: The Tsodilo Hills is a World Heritage
Site because of its profound cultural significance.
 It is the home of some 4 500 San-Bushman paintings, by far the
greatest concentration of these paintings anywhere in southern Africa.
 Some of these paintings are at least 30 000 years old, making this one of the
oldest places of human habitation in the world.
 It is also a place of immense spiritual importance to the San-Bushman
and the: local inhabitants.
 There is a remarkable aura of spirituality about the place, felt by most visitors.
 Some however, find themselves unable to cope with this and cannot
stay, while others are enchanted by the almost magical feeling.
 Laurens van der Post, the famous humanitarian and anthropologist, tells of
going to the Tsodilo Hills and along the way, against the advice of their
local guide, members of his party shot and killed several animals.
 When they got to the Hills, they found that their cameras were jamming
repeatedly, their tape recorders would not work, and on several
occasions, they were attacked by swarms of bees.
 It was only after they had made a written apology to the spirits of the hills
for the animal killings that these misfortunes stopped
 What to see and do: Today there is a good gravel road to the Hills.
 There are walking trails with signs which cover the four Hills.
 Trained local guides accompany tourists, and they are able to show them
the many fascinating rock paintings.
 The most famous paintings are: Whale Two rhinos and Lion Most of
the paintings are on the Female hill.
 Accommodation: There is a campsite between the Male and Female hills
which has ablution facilities. There are other campsites at Shakawe, about
50 km away.
Top tourist attractions in Lesotho
 Lesotho is a mountainous kingdom completely surrounded by South Africa.
 For many years it was known primarily as a destination for hikers, but in
recent years, with the development of the interior due to the Highlands
Water Scheme, other tourist activities are possible.
Lesotho Highlands
 Location: The highlands are in the central and norther parts of Lesotho.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: The Lesotho highlands is where adventure
tourists, who are adrenaline ankle’s gone to get their thrills. Here one can
participate in several extreme sports, which art not available anywhere
else. Only the experienced and physically fit should venture into the central
highlands, and only in a 4x4 vehicle.
 The northern parts of the highlands are more accessible.
 What to see and do: The scenery is rugged and spectacular and perfect
for extreme sports.
 Mountain climbing, abseiling, mountain hiking, mountain biking and
motor cycling on specially adapted motorcycles are some of the activities
that extreme sports enthusiasts do up here.
 This is not something for the average leisure tourist.
 Those who partake in these sports are experts at what they do.
 On the slopes below the Mahlasela Pass lies the Afri Ski resort, one of
only two ski resorts in southern Africa. (The other is at Tiffindel in the
Eastern Cape, South Africa.)
 A machine to manufacture snow is on hand if there is not enough natural
snow.
 This is in the northern section and is accessible with an ordinary vehicle.
 Trout fishing is also popular in the northern part of the highlands
 Accommodation: There are several lodges and chalets located over
the highlands offering from basic to very comfortable accommodation.
Basotho pony trails
 Location: Basotho pony trails are found throughout Lesotho, but the best
and most accessible trails are located in the Mafikeng district, near the Free
State border.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: The sturdy little Basotho pony can go where
no 4x4 vehicle would dare to go.
 That is what makes these trails so unique.
 One can go deep into the mountains over seemingly impassable tracks
and truly experience the spectacular views on offer.
 While these trails are only for the physically fit and adventurous tourist,
there are other, well established pony trails that are more suited to the
average leisure tourist.
 In fact, one can arrange a pony trail just about anywhere in Lesotho.
  What to see and do: The most popular and well-known pony trails art
centred around the village of Mafikeng, in the Western part of
Lesotho.
 There are trails into the Malkhaleng valley, others to see the
spectacular Botsoela Waterfall and SanBushman paintings.
 Their art trails (or treks as they prefer to call them) to suit just about
anyone, from the beginner to the most experienced riders.
 Accommodation: In the Mafeteng region accommodation of all
descriptions is available.
Katse Dam
 Katse Dam and Lesotho Highlands Water Project Location:
 This is in central Lesotho, deep in the mountains, It was once accessible
only by Basotho pony or 4x4 vehicles Today a magnificent tarred 150 km
road joins the Katse Dam to Ficksburg in South Africa, making it accessible
even for day-trippers.
 There is another tarred road from Mauser to the Mohale Dam, also part of
the Highland Water Project.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: The Katse Dam itself is a wonder of
modern construction, over 180 m high.
 The scenery is magnificent. Twenty years ago, it was virtually impossible for
the average tourist to experience these spectacular views, but now, thanks to
modern engineering, just about anyone can partake of this breath- taking
experience.
 What to see and do: The beautiful scenery and the gigantic dam are
the main attractions.
 There are daily tours of the Katse Dam wall and the dam itself.
 For those who spend time here, there is pony trekking on the sure-footed
and sturdy Basotho ponies.
 Trout fishing is excellent in the many rivers and streams.
 For the more energetic, there are some truly awesome mountain hikes.
 Accommodation: With the opening of the Kats Dam and the tarred
road, several lodges and camps have opened in the region.
Sani Pass
 Location: This is the most easterly entrance into Lesotho from South
Africa and is the only access point into Lesotho from KwaZulu-Natal.
 Why It Is a tourist attraction: The gravel road rises over 1 200 m in a
matter of 8 km in a series of extremely steep zigzags.
 Until 1948, it could only be negotiated using donkeys and Basotho ponies.
Today, it can be driven on by 4x4 vehicles, but should only be attempted
by experienced off-road drivers. Because of this, it is a challenge to many
motorists, who long to boast about having successfully driven on the roof of
Africa’s the pass is known.
 What to see and do: Aside from the actual road and the Sani Pass, there
is the incredible scenery.
  This is Lesotho at its most rugged and spectacular.
 Not far away is the highest point in southern Africa, Thabana Ntlenyana, at
3 482 m. Hikes and pony treks to the summit can be arranged from Sani
Top, which is at the top of the pass, 15 Km away.
 The pub at the chalets at Sani Top is the highest in Africa.
 There are frequent 4x4 treks from the bottom of the pass, to the top and on
to the Kats.
 Dam, for those adventurers who want to take full advantage of the
spectacular terrain.
 Mountain bikes and motorcycles can be hired for the treks. Local tribes’
people can take tourists on pony treks in the area and they also sell
their crafts at Sani Top.
 Accommodation: There are chalets at Sani Top. In KwaZulu-Natal, at the
bottom of the pass, there are many hotels, guest houses and campsites.
Top tourist attractions in Swaziland
 Like Lesotho, Swaziland is landlocked, that is, it has no coastline. Whereas
Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa, Swaziland is
surrounded by South Africa on the north, west and south, and by
Mozambique on the cast. It is Africa’s last absolute monarchy and has a
very conservative, traditional culture.
Hlane Royal National Park
 Location: In the north-eastern part of Swaziland about 67 km northeast
of Manzini.
 Why It Is a tourist attraction: This is Swaziland’s largest game park.
 The name means wilderness and it is home to many species of
wildlife, including lion, wildebeest, white rhino, elephant, bra and
impala.
 It has the highest number of nesting white-backed vultures in Africa.
 This is also the southernmost reach of the Marabou stork which
annually migrates here from Europe.
 What to see and do: Game viewing and bird watching art the main activities.
 Tourists can go on self-drive tours of the park, but it is better to take one of
the guided walking safaris, mountain bike trails or open 4x4 game drives
that are organised by the Hlane Royal National Park
 Accommodation: This is available in cottages and thatched huts in the park.
Royal Swazi Sun Hotel
 Location: In the Ezulwini Valley, a short distance from Mbabane, in the
western part of Swaziland. It is sometimes called the Royal Swazi Spa, and
some may think that the spa and the hotel are two separate entities, but
they are one and the same.
 This resort must not be confused with the Ezulwini Sun and the Lugogo
Sun Hotels which are in the same valley.
 Why It Is a tourist attraction: This is Swaziland’s premier hotel resort.
  It consists of a hotel, a spa, a casino and a conference Centre.
 All have facilities of the highest international standards.
 What to see and do: This is where tourists come to relax and be spoiled
by the attentive and hospitable Swazi staff of the resort.
 The spa offers therapeutic treatments, delivered by a large staff of
health specialists.
 There is a golf course, regarded by many as easy and unchallenging.
 There is also a bowling green, squash and tennis courts and horse riding.
 Guided hikes are available for the more energetic and game drives to
the nearby Hanc and Mkhaya Game Reserves can be arranged.
 The casino is there to tempt the gamblers and evening shows,
highlighting Swazi culture are put on regularly in the hotel.
 Children are particularly well catered for, with their own playground,
playroom and Kamp Kwena to keep them entertained.
 Accommodation: The hotel has 149 rooms offering a full range of
options, from a standard twin room to a royal suite.
Mkhaya Game Reserve
 Location: In central-eastern Swaziland, about 40 km east of Manzini
 Why It is a tourist attraction: Mkhaya has been referred to as the jewel in
the Swazi Kingdom’s crowns because of its incredible success in saving
threatened and endangered animals. Its primary success has been in
saving the Swazi Ngunt breed of cattle from extinction.
 Endangered local wildlife such as black and white rhino, buffalo, roan
and sable antelope, tsessebe and elephant are also cared for here.
 The reserve is manned entirely by local Swazis and is fully self-supporting.
 Its income comes entirely from the tourists who visit.
 Everything is kept natural as possible at Mkhaya.
 Visitors comment that when they are there they feel as if they are in real
Africa’s, not some over-commercialised and over-sophisticated game
park
 What to see and do: All game drives are pre-arranged and are manned by
local, experienced rangers who ensure that tourists sec the maximum
number of animals during the open 4xel game drives.
 No self-drive excursions are allowed, nor art children under the age of
six years allowed into the reserves.
 Apart from the rhino, which are the star attraction, there are many species
of birdlife to be seen.
 Accommodation: Available in Stone Camp in a forest on the banks of a
dry riverbed in semi-open stone and thatch cottages.
 This gives tourists the opportunity to get back to nature, especially since
there is no electricity in the camp.
Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles
 Madagascar is only recently coming to the attention of South African
tourists. This is because for many years South Africans were not permitted
to go to
 Madagascar the coming of democracy and world acceptance has led us to
discover our neighbour across the Mozambique channel.
 We can now experience what a unique island it is.
Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve
 Location: It is on the central west coast of Madagascar.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: This is a World Heritage Site because of its
unique limestone rock formations called stingy its man grove forests,
unique birds and threatened lemur populations.
 Lemurs art ape-like creatures unique to Madagascar, where several species
are to be found, all of which are threatened because of human
encroachment.
 What to see and do: The southern part of the Bemaraha Reserve is open
to tourists, but the northern part, the Strict Nature Reserve, is closed to
tourists. Only scientists and researchers with special permits may enter.
 In the southern part, hikes are organised and are accompanied by
trained guide.
 There is a short cay-hike called the small Tsingy and a longer one,
lasting several days, called the big Tsingy, on both hikes one gets to see
the incredible limestone formations, which are like closely packed
bunches of long. upright, flat, white spears.
 They are sharp and hard, and one has to wear thick soled shoes and long
pants when walking through the formations. In these areas there is very
little animal or birdlife, mainly insects.
 In other parts of the reserve there are lush green forests which are home
to abundant birdlife and several species of lemur.
 The well-informed guides can point out many plants that are used
for medicinal purposes.
 Accommodation: There is accommodation in the towns and
villages surrounding the reserve.
Royal Hill of Ambohimanga
 Location: It lies about 24 km east of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar
 Why it is a tourist attraction: This is a World Heritage Site because of
its significance as a cultural and unifying symbol of the Malagasy nation.
 The site consists of a royal city, royal burial tombs and a series of
sacred places.
 It is a place of sacred pilgrimage for all those who identify with the spirit
of Madagascar.
 Tourists should be aware of this sacredness and be very respectful
when visiting the Royal Hill.
 What to see and do: The ruins of the royal city and the burial places of
the royalty of the Imerina can be seen here.
 The Imerina were the ethnic community who rose to power in the 1800s
and united much of Madagascar.
  It has purposefully not been developed in order to preserve it much as it
was over a hundred years ago.
 Many worshippers visit the site and tourists should respect their privacy
and not interrupt their prayers.
 There are official guides who accompany tourists and explain the significance
of the site.
 Accommodation: In nearby Antananarivo.
Top tourist attractions in Mauritius
 Mauritius is not just sun, sand and sea.
 It is a vibrant, very hospitable, multicultural island.
 People are very tolerant and accepting of each other’s culture and religion.
 This has spilled over into their warm acceptance of the many visitors to
their island Mauritius is world famous for its warmth, hospitality and
remarkably crime-free society.
 The favourite saying of most Mauritians is no problem and on this happy
little island, that is very true.
Port Louis
 Location: This port is the capital city of Mauritius, situated on the central
west coast of the island.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: Port Louis is a busy, bustling, vibrant,
multi- cultural city where the old and the new, traditional and modern co-
exist happily.
 In all this activity and movement, there art smiles everywhere.
 What to see and do: The Caudan Waterfront is a new development next
to the harbour, featuring a casino, shops and a hotel.
 The Bazaar, a vast and magical marketplace, is a must-see for tourists.
 Just about any item that can be sold is available here, from tomatoes and
fruits, to the traditional sari dresses, to jewellery, and foods of all
descriptions. It is a kaleidoscope of smells, sounds, tastes and sights.
 It is essential that tourists wander through the town, taking in the many
and varied sights.
 There are mosques, Chinese temples, Hindu shrines and
churches everywhere.
 Each culture has its own distinct neighbourhood. Chinatown is
particularly worth a visit.
 There is the Natural History Museum, where a stuffed dodo, extinct since
the late 1600s, can be seen.
 Nearby is the Blue Penny Museum and Mauritius Stamp Museum,
featuring famous stamps of Mauritius.
 Old Mauritian stamps are among the most valuable in the world.
 There is also a racecourse which dates back to 1812 and still regularly
holds horse races.
  Accommodation: Available to suit all tourists, from backpackers to the ultra-
wealthy and sophisticated.
Grand Baie
 Location: It is a large bay on the north-west comer of the island.
 Why It Isa tourist attraction: This is perhaps the best-known village in
Mauritius because of the many beaches and tourist accommodations in
the area.
 It is also one of main ports for the local fishing industry.
 The dear, emerald waters of the bay are clean and safe for swimming.
 The village itself has everything a tourist would need, from food tonight life.
 What to see and do: The white sand beaches attract holiday makers in
their hundreds, and they spend time sunbathing and relaxing.
 There is a large variety of water sports, including water skiing,
sailing, windsurfing and snorkelling.
 Deep sea fishing trips can be arranged, as well as helicopter excursions.
The village shops offer fashionable clothing, local crafts and curios, there are
many restaurants that feature unique Mauritian cuisine, which is an exotic
blend of Western and Eastern foods.
 For those who seek exciting night life, some of Mauritius best bars and
night clubs are located in Grand Baie.
 Accommodation: There is a full range of accommodation, from
backpackers, to self-catering, to luxury hotels.
 Particularly popular are the self-catering cottages as tourists can obtain
all their food from the stores in the village quite cheaply.
Chamarel Falls and coloured earths of Chamarel
 Location: In southwest Mauritius on the Bel Ombre Sugar Estate
 Why It is a tourist attraction: The waterfalls (there are three closes
together) at 83 m are the highest in Mauritius and the coloured earths are
quite unique.
 What to see and do: From a distance the colours of the rolling mounds of
earth appear to be made by shadows but coming nearer one sees that there
are seven distinct colours-red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow.
What makes them truly unique is that if you take a handful of each colour
and mix them all up.
 they will eventually settle into seven stripes, one of each colour.
 Scientists believe the colours were formed by volcanic rocks that cooled off
at different temperatures, yielding small pebbles of different weights and
properties.
 The coloured earths have been a top attraction for many years, and it is a
fascinating sight to see, especially at sunrise or sunset when the sun’s
rays strike the mounds at an angle and emphasise the different colours.
 The waterfalls art set in an area of lush greenery and drop into a
beautiful shrub-lined pool.
  A wooden walkway along the side of the road allows a good view of
the waterfalls.
 Accommodation: Tourists usually visit the falls and coloured earths on a
day trip from their resort or guest house.
 Mauritius is not a large island and no place is more than two hours’ drive
from another.
Tamarin Bay
 Location: On the west coast of Mauritius, south of Port Louis, at the mouth
of the Black River.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: This is one of Mauritius top surfing spots.
 Because there is no coral reef at this point, the waves can sometimes get to
a height of a metre or more.
 This is unlike most of the beaches in Mauritius, which are protected by
coral reefs and have no waves at all.
 What to see and do: Apart from the surfing, which is enjoyed all year
round, there is the beach and the village.
 The beach consists of white sand and fine pebbles and is clean
and unspoiled.
 The little village is largely undeveloped, so that you have an idea of
what traditional life in Mauritius is like.
 Tamarin Bay is a very popular gathering place for the local people
over weekends when they organise lively beach parties.
 Such is their natural hospitality that they invite any tourists who may
be staying in the village.
 Accommodation: Simple accommodation can be found in the village and not
far away art many guest houses, self-catering units and up-market resorts
and hotels.
Top tourist attractions in Seychelles
 The Republic of Seychelles includes 115 islands representing an
archipelago of legendary beauty the main island of Mahe is home to the
international airport and the capital, Victoria, and not far from the satellite’s
islands Praslin and La Dique.
 Together, these inner islands form the cultural and economic centre of
the nation.
 They contain the majority of Seychelles tourism facilities as well as its
most spectacular beaches.
Beaches and leisure activities on the islands
 Location: Seychelles is a group of islands lying just south of the
equator, 1 800km off the coast of Kenya, in the northeast Indian Ocean.
 There are three main islands, Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.
 There is a total of 115 islands, most of which are uninhabited
  Why It is a tourist attraction: Seychelles is home to some the
finest beaches and clearest seas in the world.
 Legend also has it that the Carden of Eden was located at Ville de Mai, on
Praslin which is now a World Heritage Site because of its incredibly beautiful
and diverse flora and fauna
 What to see and do: Enjoying all that the beaches and the sea have to
offer is what brings tourists from all over the world to this paradise.
 The beaches are beautifully clean, unpolluted and uncrowded.
 Many tourists go no further than the beaches, choosing to relax and
unwind during their stay on the islands.
 This is perhaps a mistake, because the Seychelles is a paradise for
ecotourism and the natural wonders of the islands should be explored and
appreciated. The government of the Seychelles has set aside nearly 50%
of the landmass of the islands as conservation areas.
 This means that the unique flora and fauna are well protected and
will continue to be enjoyed for many generations to come.
 There are plants and animals of all descriptions on the islands, from the
enormous seeds of the Coco de Mer palm in the Vallee de Mai, to giant
tortoises, to the paradise flycatcher and the countless fish in the surrounding
ocean.
 There are several hiking trails on the main islands that take tourists on
a journey of discovery through the lush green forests.
 For those who wish to explore the wonders of the sea, there are snorkelling
trails, scuba-diving expeditions and adventure trips in glass bottomed
boats.
 Deep-sea fishing trips can be arranged, and some spectacular catches
have been made in these waters.
 At night, there are many interesting pubs and restaurants to explore,
where you can enjoy the relaxed night life of the islands.
 Accommodation: There is accommodation to suit all pockets, from
budget self-catering cottages to the ultra-luxurious.
 Seychelles is expensive, but efforts are being made to offer
affordable accommodation.
Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania
Top tourist attractions in Malawi
 Malawi is situated on the western shores of Lake Malawi.
 Its advertising slogan is the warm heart of Africa and it certainly lives up
to that name with its hospitality and excellent service to tourists.
 Much of Malawi is undeveloped and this adds to its charm, as the pace of
life is slow and relaxed.
 Tourists do not have to rush around and deep looking at their watches.
Here they can literally sit back and relax.
Lake Malawi
 Location: It is the southernmost of the great lakes of Africa.
  It is shared by three countries: Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique In
Tanzania it is known as Lake Nyasa and in Mozambique it is called
Lake: Niassa.
 It is also called the Calendar by the local people, because it is 365 miles
long and 52 miles wide.
 Why It Isa tourist attraction: This is in an unspoiled region of Africa
where tourists can see traditional, rural Africa at its best.
 The beaches along the short of the lake art clean and unpolluted and
the water of the lake is pure and clear.
 It is one of the deepest lakes on earth.
 There is a World Heritage Site in the southern part of the lake La
Malawi National Park.
 It is a World Heritage Site because of the unique and huge population (over
1 000 species) of cichlid fish (known locally as Mbana).
 It is also the last refuge of freshwater corals.
 What to see and do: In addition to visiting the World Heritage Site and
learning about the Cichlids, tourists can enjoy the beaches and water
sports that the numerous hotels and resorts along the shores have to offer.
 Fishing, scuba diving water skiing, sailing and bird watching are
other activities in which visitors can take part.
 Game viewing is also popular and there are many species of monkey to
be seen.
 Hippos and crocodiles are also plentiful.
 Accommodation: In addition to the usual tourist accommodation,
Lake Malawi has a few house boats which are like floating guest
houses.
 They are very popular as they go up and down the lake and allow tourists
to see several different places on one trip.
Liwonde National Park
 Location: South of Lake Malawi on the banks of the Shire River, about 40
km north of Zomba.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: Liwonck National Park is well populated with
game, including thousands of hippos and crocodiles, elephants, antelope
and zebra.
 There is also abundant birdlife in the area.
 What to see and do: There are experienced and well-trained guides on
hand to take visitors on game walks, boat trips and night drives.
 They specialist in recounting stories and local legends about the
many animals that one encounters on these tours.
 Tourists who prefer to remain in camp will be rewarded with sightings of
many birds.
 It is not unusual to spot more than 200 different species of birds during a
two day two-night stay.
 This is not a highly commercialised park. It is a low-key, relaxed destination
where visitors can unwind and enjoy the peace and quiet of the African bush.
  Accommodation: There are two camps in the park, Mvuu (which
means hippo) and Chinguni Lodges. They are comfortable and well
managed.
Top tourist attractions in Mozambique
 Mozambique was previously a Portuguese colony with an established chain
of trading posts and forts for ships sailing to the East.
 After gaining independence civil war broke out and it was not until 1992 that
a democratic government was in place for the first time. Since then
Mozambique has, and is, slowly becoming one of Africa’s success stories.
 Tourists can take advantage of Mozambique’s extremely long coastline of
warm tropical water and experience the reef stretching along the entire
coast.
Cahora Bassa Dam
 Location: On the Zambezi River, in north-western Mozambique.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: It is the second largest dam in Africa
(the Aswan Dan in Egypt is larger) and one of the biggest in the world.
 It is being developed for tourists as part of Mozambiques plans to revive
its once flourishing tourism industry.
 What to see and do: Water sports, such as speed boating,
canoeing, kayaking and sailing can be enjoyed here.
 It is a vast dam and is best explored by boat, stopping off at the
numerous little villages located all around its coastline.
 A camping trip to one of the small islands in the dam is a great
adventure option.
 At Songs, a small town close to the dam wall, at the eastern end of the
dam, there are opportunities to visit the dam wall itself, a nearby waterfall
and the hippo pools.
 What excites most visitors are the fantastic fishing opportunities here.
 The aggressive and hard-fighting tiger fish lure many anglers to this
dam. There are many fishing camps all along the dam.
 Accommodation: Available in Songa and at many camps and villages
along the shores of the dam.
 As the area becomes more developed, more accommodation
establishments are becoming available.
Lake Niassa
 Location: This is the lake that is known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and
Lala Malawi in the country of that name.
 It is in the northern part of Mozambique, bordering on Tanzania and Malawi
 Why It Is a tourist attraction: The Mozambican part of the lake is not as
developed as the Malawian side, however it does have a number of
luxury lodges, the most famous being Nkwichi Lodge, 15 km south of
Cobuc. Everything that tourists can do on the Malawi side can be done
here
 Want to see and do: Tourists can marvel at the thousands of cichlid fish,
the freshwater corals and numerous species of birds.
  Fishing and all water sports are offered here.
 There are ferries that travel up and down the shores of the lake and tourists
can travel on them to explore the many fishing villages that line the shores.
 The privately-owned Manda Wilderness Reserve, where Nkwichi Lodge
is situated, offers exciting big game viewing, as do all the other luxury
game lodges in the region.
 This is a backpacker’s paradise, especially for those who love rough it
and experience the lifestyle of the local inhabitants.
 There are opportunities to overnight in several of the villages along the shore.
 Accommodation: There are backpackers in the villages and
accommodation for the more affluent tourists in several luxury lodges.
Bazaruto Archipelago
 Location: This is a group of five tropical islands off the southern coast
of Mozambique
 Why It is a tourist attraction: The islands are part of the largest
marine conservation area on the cast African coast.
 Access to the islands is strictly controlled and the islands rich
ecological heritage is being closely protected.
 What to see and do: This is known as one of the most beautiful
and unspoiled coastal regions in the world.
 Here you find pristine, white beaches, stunning multicoloured tropical
corals, the endangered dugong (a slow-moving seal-life creature) and
hundreds of different birds and fishes.
 The wealth of sea life is quite stunning, and this is where serious scuba-divers
and snorkelers love to go.
 One of the smaller islands, Santa Carolina, is known as Paradise Island,
for obvious reasons, and is at the centre of the breath-taking Marine Park.
 Big game fishing is a major pursuit here, and fishermen are taken out into
the Mozambique Channel where they can catch barracuda, sailfish, tuna and
swordfish.
 The seafood, sourced from the surrounding seas, is on offer at the lodges
is of the finest in the world.
 There are no roads, no shops, no tourist traps on these islands, just
pure, natural beauty at its finest. Even the luxury lodges on the island’s
art kept simple and natural to blend in with the exceptional scenery.
 Accommodation: There are four lodges on the two main islands and
several on the mainland, in and near the town of Vilanculos.
Island of Mozambique
 Location: On the northern coast of Mozambique.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: It is a World Heritage Site because of its
rich historical links with the Portuguese sea routes to India and the Far
East.
 For several hundred years it was the capital of the Portuguese colony
of Mozambique.
  It was only in 1898 that the capital was relocated at Lourenco Marques,
now Maputo.
 Its architecture, in particular, is quite unique.
 What to see and do: It is a small island connected by a 3 km long bridge
to the mainland.
 The island itself is only about 3 km long and can be explored in a day.
 The magnificent stone buildings, all built in the same architectural style are
what fascinate many tourists. These buildings, among them the Palace and
Chapel of Sao Paulo, the Museum of Sacred Art and the hospital, are
clustered at the northern end of the island. Before the arrival of the
Portuguese, the island was used as a trading post by Arabs and Indians
and there are several mosques and a Hindu temple in the town.
 The opening of the Suez Canal in the late 19th century caused the
island’s downfall.
 It was no longer a stopping point for maritime trade to the Fast and the
island began to fall into decay.
 Fortunately, with its declaration as a World Heritage Site, the island is being
restored and conserved, largely through international donations.
 Accommodation: On the mainland at Lumbo. Cruise liners from South
Africa stop here regularly in the summer sailing season.
Top tourist attractions in Tanzania
 Tanzania is world famous for Mt Kilimanjaro and some of the finest game
parks in Africa.
 The tourism industry is well developed and well managed and is supported
by good infrastructure.
 The country itself is well governed and crimes against tourists are very rare.
 Tourists to Tanzania can look forward to a relaxing.
 interesting holiday, wherever they go.
Mount Kilimanjaro
 Location: In north-eastern Tanzania, near the border with Kenya.
 Why It Isa tourist attraction: Kilimanjaro National Park and the
mountain itself are world Heritage Sites.
 This is the highest mountain in Africa. It is also the world’s tallest free-
standing mountain, which means that it is not part of a range of mountains but
rises on its own from the surrounding land.
 This is because it was a volcano, but it has been dormant (inactive)
for hundreds of years.
 The highest point on Kilimanjaro is Uhuru peak, 5 895 m above sea level.
 What to see and do: Nearly 30 000 adventurers climb Kilimanjaro
every year, using one of six official routes.
 Most routes are relatively easy to climb and no oxygen tanks art
necessary, which is why it is so popular.
 However, because of the high altitude, climbers must not go up too fast.
  They must take it relatively slowly in order to become acclimatised to the
lack of oxygen at the top.
 About one third of climbers who attempt the climb turn back at some
point because of altitude sickness, which is characterised by severe
headaches and difficulty in breathing.
 While it is possible to get to the top in a matter of hours, climbers are not
permitted, by park authorities, to take less than five days to get to the
top.
 It is recommended that six to eight days is the best climbing time.
 On the way up, climbers pass through nearly every type of vegetation,
from Savannah, to forest, to mountain desert, to ice peaks.
 This is one of the main reasons this area has been declared a World
Heritage Site.
 Accommodation: Only one of the routes to the top has huts where
climbers can stay overnight.
 On the other routes, climbers sleep in tents. There are many guest houses
and lodges in the towns and villages surrounding the mountain.
 These range from backpackers to luxury establishments.
Serengeti National Park
 Location: In north-western Tanzania, on the border with Kenya and
near Lake Victoria.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: The annual migration of millions of grazing
animals from the northern parts to the south, and back again, is what
makes this an extraordinary place.
 Every year, vast herds of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra, followed by the
predators (lions, jackals and hyena) that prey on them, make the trek across
the savannah.
 Nowhere else on earth can such enormous numbers of game be seen at
one time in one place.
 It is because of this unique annual natural event that the Serengeti has
been declared a World Heritage Site.
 What to see and do: The best time to view the migration of the wildebeest,
gazelle and zebra is during May and June when they trek back into the
park from the southern grazing areas.
 However, this is not the only attraction that keeps visitors coming to Serengeti
National Park.
 The park is populated with animals of all the species that occur in Africa
Game drives through the park result in tourists seeing a greater variety
of animals in one day than in most other African game parks.
 This is why many tourists consider this to be the best game park in Africa
There are large numbers of lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo,
giraffe and hippo.
 Unfortunately, the rhino numbers have decreased in recent years due
to poaching.
  There is also an abundance of birdlife in the park There are ostrich, eagles,
vultures and secretary birds, to name but a few of the more than 500
species that occur here.
 Accommodation: There are several fine game lodges within the park and
in the surrounding areas.
Stone Town of Zanzibar
 Location: In the town of Zanzibar on the island of Zanzibar (known locally
as Unguja), off the coast of Tanzania, north of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
main city.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: This is a World Heritage Site because of
its historical importance.
 Zanzibar was once one of the most important trading centres in the
Indian Ocean region.
 During the 19th century wealthy Arab merchants built the grand houses
of stone that dominate Stone Town.
 What to see and do: Stone Town is the old part of Zanzibar city and is
its cultural heart.
 Many of the old buildings have been renovated and visitors can spend
hours wandering through the maze of narrow streets and alleys, exploring
them. Their omate wood and brass doors art of particular interest.
 There are several large museums, including the Peace Memorial
Museum, the Palace Museum and the House of Wonders.
 All tell the story of Zanzibar’s past, particularly about the sultans who used
to rule the island.
 The market is where every tourist should go.
 It is a vibrant, colourful place where everything imaginable is bought
and sold.
 The brightly coloured and patterned cloths (Khangas) are items that many
tourists cannot resist buying and are an appropriate souvenir of a visit to
Stone Town.
 The Old Dispensary is an especially grand old building that is
frequently visited.
 It is four stories high and has some magnificent balconies.
 Today it is in own as the Stone Town Cultural Centre
 Accommodation: Nearly all the major hotels art in buildings that have
been renovated.
 To stay in them is like stepping back in time.
 There are many affordable bed and breakfast establishments in the town
and in Zanzibar city itself.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
 Location: Southeast of Serengeti, in north-western Tanzania.
 At its centre is the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, an area of relatively
flat grassland encircled by the high hills that form the rim of the crater.
  Why It Is a tourist attraction: This is a World Heritage Site because of
the Olduvai Gorge where the earliest known specimens of the human
genus Homo habilis were found.
 They lived here over the million years ago.
 It is therefore in this region that the species which preceded true
modern humans first made their appearance.
 (Sterkfontein in South Africa is called the Cradle of Humankind because it
is here that the very earliest species of man-like apes was discovered.)
 It is also a World Heritage Site because of the Ngorongoro Crater, the
remains of a colossal volcano that erupted here several million years
ago.
 It is in this crater, which covers about 260 sq.km that a
spectacular concentration of game can be found.
 This area is the Southern point of the annual Serengeti animal migration.
 What to see and do: Game viewing is what draws tourists to this
area, especially during the annual migration.
 The migrating animals arrive in December see and art in May or June,
came viewing is excellent throughout the year especially in the actual crater,
because it forms a natural enclosure, keeping the animals within it.
 The Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo) can be seen here.
 The Olduvai Gorge is not open to the public. It is a sensitive research
area which would be disrupted and possibly destroyed by tourists entering
and walking around.
 Accommodation: Within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are several
fine game lodges and there are others in the surrounding parks and
reserves.
Zambia and Zimbabwe
Top tourist attractions in Zambia
 Zambia is not as well developed, from a tourism point of view, as
its neighbours, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
 However, because of the recent political problems that Zimbabwe has
faced, many tourists who would have gone there have gone to Zambia
instead.
 This has resulted in an increase in tourist numbers and the long-
awaited development of Zambia’s tourism industry.
Victoria Falls and Zambezi River
 Location: The Victoria Falls are on the Zambezi River in southern
Zambia, where the river forms the boundary with Zimbabwe.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: Victoria Falls is famous as the widest curtain
of water in the world about 1,7 km wide.
 It is a World Heritage Site because of its natural uniqueness.
 Along with Niagara Falls (in North America) and Iguaçu Falls (in
South America) it is one of the three most impressive waterfalls in the
world.
 The Victoria Falls were known as Mosi ca Tunya (the smoke that thunders)
by the local people.
  During the rainy season, when the falls are at their greatest, the plume of
spray formed by the falling water can be seen from a distance of 50 km
away. The Zambezi River is the fourth largest river in Africa, after the Nile
River, Congo River and Niger River.
 What to see and do: The main viewing point of the Victoria Falls on
the Zambian slide is at Knife Edge.
 From there one has an unobstructed view of the entire width of the falls,
which is not possible on the Zimbabwean side, because of the rain forest.
 At the bottom of Knife Edge, reached by a steep but easy descent, is
the Boiling Pot.
 Here the Zambezi River crashes over the falls and the water then
swirls headlong into the narrow Batoka Gorge.
 The Devil’s Pool is a famous feature accessed via Livingstone Island.
 It is above the falls at the very edge of the falls. It is safe to swim there
because a wall of rock prevents people from being swept over the
edge.
 It is an incredibly exciting experience Above the falls is a small museum, the
Field Museum, which tells how the falls were formed over many thousands
of years.
 Not far away is the Lookout Tree, which gives a good view over the
main falls.
 Crafts and curios can be purchased and bartered for at the Mukuni
Victoria Falls Craft Village.
 The Mosi ca Tunya National Park spreads along the banks of the Zambezi
for about 12 km on either side of the falls.
 Giraffe, zebra and antelope can be seen there.
 The Zambezi River provides opportunities for white water rafting,
canoeing, river boarding and jet-skiing.
 The steep sides of the gorge art ideal for abseiling and rock climbing.
 Farther downstream, the Zambezi flows into Lake Kariba, which is dealt
with in another section.
 Accommodation: Along the banks of the Zambezi, quite close to the
falls, are several luxury hotels and lodges.
 There is more modest and affordable accommodation in the nearby town
of Livingstone.
Livingstone
 Location: In southern Zambia, close to the Victoria Falls and
the Zimbabwean border.
 Why It Isa tourist attraction: It was the capital of Northern Rhodesia
(Zambia’s colonial name) until 1935 and many of the town’s fine
buildings date back to that period.
 It is now the headquarters for the Zambian tourism industry in the south
of the country.
 What to see and do: Livingstone is gaining a reputation as an
African adventure centre.
  There are numerous adrenaline sports and outdoor activities that can
be easily accessed from the town.
 These in dude white water rafting in the gorge below the falls, canoeing in the
upper Zambezi River, abscising off the cliffs of the gorge, game safaris in the
Masi oa Tunya Park, jet boating on the Zambezi and fishing for the fierce
tiger fish in the upper Zambezi.
 Most tourists visiting Victoria Falls from Zambia use Livingstone as the
base for their stay.
 For those who prefer a more relaxed holiday, there are the two museums
in the town, Livingstone and Railway, which highlight the history of the
town.
 There are also several relaxed walking trails through the town
and surroundings.
 Accommodation: Accommodation to suit all budgets is available in
and around the town.
Lake Kariba
 Location: On the central part of the Zambezi River, shared by Zambia
and Zimbabwe
 Why It Is a tourist attraction: It is the third largest lake/cam in Africa,
after Aswan in Egypt and Cahora Bassa in Mozambique.
 What to see and do: Tourists come here for the abundant fishing, great
water sports, spectacular scenery and breath-taking sunsets. Sport fishing
is the main attraction and the major lodges supply boats and fishing gear.
 In May, the annual Tiger Fishing Competition takes place at
Sinazongwe, which attracts anglers from all over southern Africa.
 A holiday on a houseboat is a truly unique and relaxing way to enjoy
the wideness of Africa that can be experienced at Kariba.
 Swimming in the lake is not recommended because of the crocodiles, so
most houseboats are equipped with swimming cages for that cooling dip into
the water.
 The combination of big game and sport fishing in a largely
undeveloped setting is what males Zambia’s Lake Kariba so special.
 Accommodation: Camping facilities are available at several places along
the short.
 There are also a few lodges. Guest houses are located in Sinazongwe
and Kariba town.
Kafue National Park
 Location: West central Zambia, west of Lusaka and north of the
Victoria Falls.
 Why It Is a tourist attraction: Kafue is not easy to reach and getting around
it is also difficult.
 This is because it has deliberately been kept under-developed to protect
the natural environment.
  The result is that this area supports some of the largest concentrations
of game in Africa.
 What to see and do: Game is plentiful here, especially those species which
are rare in other parts of Africa. Here you have a better chance of seeing
wild dogs, cheetah and leopard than in most other game parks.
 There is a wide range of habitats, from seasonal flood plains to tree
covered plains and river and dam environments.
 This is what accounts for the amazing variety of wildlife to be found in
the park.
 It is not advised that visitors drive on their own in the park because of the
poor state of the roads, especially during the rainy season.
 The few excellently managed and equipped lodges in Kafue National
Park offer well conducted guided tours.
 The Itezhi Tezhi Dam in the south-eastern part of the park covers an area
of 370 sq. km and attracts many water birds, such as fish eagles,
cormorants and heron.
 Elephant, buffalo, wildebeest and bra drink along its shorts.
 The dam is also the location of an annual fishing competition.
 Accommodation: available in the park and in the surrounding eastern side
of the park.
Top tourist attractions in Zimbabwe
 Zimbabwe is slowly recovering from a 10-year period in the early part of
this century when tourism to the country fell drastically.
 This was during a time of political and financial turmoil, which is
gradually coming to an end Zimbabwe is world famous for its hospitality,
friendly citizens, excellent game parks and good infrastructure.
 This is once again being appreciated by the many tourists who are
returning to the country or who are discovering it for the first time.
Victoria Falls and Zambezi River
 Location: The Victoria Falls are on the Zambezi River in western
Zimbabwe, where the river forms the boundary with Zambia.
 The Victoria Falls were known as Most as Tunya (the smoke that
thunders) by the local people.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: Victoria Falls is famous as the widest curtain
of water in the world, about 1,7 km wide.
 It is a World Heritage Site because of its natural uniqueness.
 Along with Niagara Falls (in North America) and Iguaçu Falls (in
South America) it is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world.
 During the rainy season, when the falls are at their greatest, the plume of
spray formed by the falling water can be seen from a distance of 50 km
away.
 The Zambezi River is the fourth largest river in Africa, after the Nile,
Congo and Niger.
  What to see and do: On the Zimbabwean side, the falls can be seen from
the Rain Forest, but when the falls are at their greatest during summer, it is
not possible to see much because of all the spray.
 The Rain Forest is an impressive forest which owes its existence to
the constant spray of water coming from the falls.
 It is home to many unique species of fauna and flora.
 The best way to see the falls in all their magnificence is from the air and
the flight of angels is the way to do it.
 Small aircraft, micro-lights and helicopters offer this stunning
and unforgettable flight.
 Within sight of the falls is the spectacular Victoria Falls Bridge.
 It was built in pieces in England and then shipped to Africa and assembled
on site.
 One of the highest bungee jumps in the world is located on the bridge.
 White water rafting, kayaking, canoeing and jet-skiing can be enjoyed in the
waters of the gorge.
 There is a well-stocked craft village in the village of Victoria Falls,
which adjoins the falls.
 Also adjoining the falls are the Zambezi National Park and the Victoria
Falls National Park the Big Five are to be seen in the parks, along with
numerous other game species and birdlife.
 The Zambezi River, above the falls, is well known for all types of water
sports, such as water skiing, sailing and speed boating.
 The famous Elephant Hills golf course is on its banks.
 Below the falls the river is a fisherman’s paradise, with bream and the fighting
tiger fish being common catches.
 Accommodation: Plentiful and varied accommodation is available in
the town of Victoria Falls, ranging from backpackers to luxury hotels.
 Along the banks of the Zambezi in the Zambezi National Park, are four
unique campsites.
 Each is equipped only with a braai stand and a bush toilet and they
are completely unfenced.
 They offer a true Out of Africa wilderness experience.
Hwange National Park
 Location: It is in the extreme west of the country, south of Victoria Falls
and stretches along the Botswana border for more than 200 km.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: Hwange (formally known as Wande)
is Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve.
 In the early 1 800s it was the royal hunting grounds of the warrior-
ling Mzilikazi, leader of the Ndebele nation.
 What to see and do: The landscape varies from Kalahari-type semi-desert in
the west to rolling savannah in the cast.
 Hwange is famous for being home to a large number of elephants,
which have thrived in this region.
  Gemsbok and brown hyena are another feature of this park One of the
largest groups of African wild dog on the continent can be found here.
 There are also large herds of buffalo and zebra, and giraffe are plentiful.
 A popular feature of the Hwange National Park is the 480 km of gravel
roads in the park.
 This enables visitors to drive through the park on their own self-drive safari
tours.
 However, many of these roads are not usable during the summer wet
season.
 Accommodation: Plentiful and varied accommodation is available in
the park.
 These range from basic campsites with water but no electricity, to luxury
lodges and everything in between.
Lake Kariba
 Location: On the central part of the Zambezi River, shared by Zambia
and Zimbabwe
 Why It is a tourist attraction: It is the third largest lake/cam in Africa,
after Aswan in Egypt and Cahora Bassa in Mozambique.
 What to see and do: The tourist facilities in Zimbabwe are more developed
than in Zambia and there are many opportunities to go on game drives in
the adjoining game parks.
 All the Big Five can be seen in those parks, along with many varieties of
buck and antelope.
 The Chete Safari Area, south of the lake is the only park in the area to
offer big game hunting during winter, on a strictly controlled basis.
 Fishing expeditions are especially popular, because the small but
aggressive tiger fish is a much sought-after sport fish. Many of the camps
and lodges along the shores of the lake specialise in these fishing trips.
 Canoe safaris and visits to local Tonga villages can also be arranged
 Accommodation: Houseboats are a popular form of accommodation and
are available at several points along the lakeshore.
 There are various camps and lodges located along the short, varying from
the basic to the luxurious and everything in between.
The Great Zimbabwe Ruins
 Location: In south-eastern Zimbabwe about 30 km from the town
of Masvingo.
 Why It Isa tourist attraction: This is a World Heritage Site because of
its immense historical and cultural significance.
 These are the ruins of the ancient Kingdom of Zimbabwe which flourished
from about 1100 to 1400 and at its peak housed about 15 000 people.
 The construction of the buildings was unique in that no mortar (cement)
was used to hold the carefully cut and positioned granite stones in place.
 The region was involved in gold trading with Arabs from Asia.
  There is evidence that they also had links to Persia and China.
 What to see and do: The ruins themselves are impressive and a guided
tour, conducted by one of the specially trained guides, is a must.
 There are three main areas: The Hill Complex, the Great Enclosure and the
Valley Ruins.
 The Hill Complex is the area that was probably where the chief of the
city resided.
 It shows signs of being occupied during the entire period that Great
Zimbabwe was inhabited.
 The Great Enclosures is an elliptical (oval) walled area which enclosed family
units.
 It was constructed of bricks made of daga a mixture of clay and sand.
 The Valley Ruins are living areas that are scattered throughout the valley.
 This is probably where the majority of the citizens of Great Zimbabwe
lived and world.
 Much research is still being done to discover more about the little-
known civilisation that flourished here.
 It is thought that it collapsed because of a lack of food and firewood for
the growing population and that they were forced to move to other, more
hospitable regions.
 Accommodation: Various accommodation options are available in Masvingo.
Matobo Hills
 Location: South west Zimbabwe, 30 km south of the city of Bulawayo.
 Why It is a tourist attraction: This is a World Heritage Site, because of its
high botanical diversity (with over 200 species of trees and 100 grass
species), a wide diversity of animals and the highest concentration of black
eagles in the world.
 It is also home to a huge number of San-Bushman paintings.
 What to see and do: Many of the rock-painting sites are open to the public
as part of a guided tour of the area. Some of these paintings are quite breath-
taking because of the great variety of wild animals that they depict.
 The fauna and flora of the region art of great interest because of
their diversity, as outlined above.
 The hills are the burial place of Cecil John Rhodes, who encouraged
the settlement of this region by white settlers and from whom the
country’s colonial name of Rhodesia was derived.
 The burial place of the great chief Mzililazi is located a short distance from
the Matobo Hills.
 Accommodation: There is plentiful accommodation in the Matobo
Hills National Park, mostly offering campsites and caravan sites.
 There are a number of self-catering lodges and chalets in the main camp
at Maleme. Accommodation is plentiful and varied in nearby Bulawayo.
Mana Pools National Park
 Location: In the extreme north of Zimbabwe, on the banks of the
Zambezi River.
 It is part of a series of game parks that stretch from Lake Kariba to
the Mozambique border.
 Mana means four in Shona, a reference to the four permanent pools of
water that remain after the floods of the rainy season.
 Why it is a tourist attraction: During the winter months of July and
August, Mana Pools National Park claims to have the highest concentration
of game of any game park in all of Africa.
 It is because of this that is has been designated a World Heritage Site.
 What to see and do: A unique feature of the park is that there are
places where visitors can walk without the protection of guides.
 This is because there are open woodland areas where visibility is good
and there is little chance of meeting a dangerous animal unexpectedly.
 During winter, large herds of elephant and buffalo, accompanied by
kudu, impala and eland move to the waters of the Zambezi River.
 They are followed by the predators, the lions and hyena.
 Lesser numbers of cheetah and wild dogs also prey on the herds.
 Fishing in the Zambezi on a canoe safari is a special feature of the Mana
Pools National Park.
 Accompanied walking safaris are also offered.
 These are three-day guided walks through the park during which visitors
sleep in the open and are truly at one with the wideness of Africa
 Accommodation: There are several lodges and many camp sites in
Mana Pools National Park.
 The lodges are self-catering and offer all the necessary facilities, while
the camp sites art rather basic.
Planning and writing an itinerary
Understanding an itinerary
 An itinerary is a plan for a tour or a journey. Anyone who goes on a tour or
journey, such as a tourist, a group of friends, or a businessperson, needs
an itinerary, even if it is a simple one.
 An itinerary is compiled by a travel agent, a tour operator, a
personal secretary or anyone who is going on a tour or journey.
 An itinerary put everything in order, so that the person who is travelling
will know what to do, when to do it, and what to expect.
 This is very important, especially when you are travelling in a foreign country.
Logical tour planning
 It is very important that tours are planned logically.
 There are many important aspects to consider when arranging a tour.
 The things to be considered can be as basic as:
 o Where is this tour going or
o Is this an expensive tour or
o How am I going to get to my destination?
 These questions have to be answered if a tour is to be successful. All
these aspects will be studied in the next section
Scheduled tours
 Scheduled tours are tours that have been arranged to depart on a
specific date or during a particular period.
 An example of a scheduled tour is a tour that has been advertised for a
specific date, like the 12 January 2013, or a tour that will depart every
day during the April school holidays.
 Factors to consider when planning an itinerary Questions to ask when
planning an itinerary, the questions listed in the table below must be
asked when a tour is being compiled.
 the questions must be asked and answered before the itinerary can be
put together.
 An easy way to remember these questions, is to call them the 7 W’s, the H
and the
 C. They are called this because seven of the questions start with a W.
one question
 starts with an H and one question starts with a C They need not be asked
in the order that they appear in the table, but all.
The 7 W’s, the H and the C
Who Who is going on the tour or journey?
Look at the type of tourist who is going
on the journey.
Where 1 Where are they going? Look at the
tourist’s destination, such as the
countries, towns, game parks, and
attractions that they are going to visit.
Where 2 Where are they going to sleep? Look
at what sort of accommodation the
tourists are going to stay at, for
example a hotel, self-catering unit,
B&B or room only.
What What are they going to see and do at?
their destination? Look at the
attraction’s tourists will see, and the
activities they will do.
When When are they going to travel? Look
at the dates, the time of year, the
season, and the school holidays,
when the tourists will travel. This also
includes the length of the tour, with
the dates when they will leave and
when they will return.
Which Which meals and other extras are
included in the tour? Look at all the
meals and other items that have been
included in the price of the tour. It
could even be a se if-catering tour
 where meals are not included.
Way Which way will they take to get to
them? destination? Look at the route
the tourists will take, including the
towns and cities they will pass
through, to get to their destination. It
must be possible to map out the route.
How How are they going to travel? Look at
the type of transport the tourists will
use to get to their destination.
Cost How much will the tour cost? Look at
the price of the tour, and what is
included or excluded in the cost of the
tour.

Different types of itineraries

 Once the planning has been done, the actual itinerary or detailed tour
plan can be compiled.
 Itineraries can be presented in two different ways, depending on who
will use them.
 The two basic types of itineraries are:
o general itineraries, and
o personalised or individual itineraries.
General itineraries
 General itineraries, as the name implies, are itineraries that anyone can
use. In practice, travel agents use general itineraries to advertise a tour.
 The itinerary could be aimed at a specific type of tourist, such as a
sports tourist - if the tour is to the Olympic Games in London.
 Or the itinerary could be aimed at a cultural tourist - if the tour is to see
the Renaissance artwork of Italy.
 Everything in the itinerary will be described in broad, general terms, but
there will be no specific details.
 However, the 7Ws, the H and C will still be covered in the same way as
for any tour plan or itinerary.
Personalised or individual itineraries
 Personalised or individual itineraries are much more detailed, because
they are tailor-made for a particular person or group of people.
 These itineraries give details of the specific hotel, mode of transport
and activities to be done.
  The actual times when something happens can also be mentioned, but this
is not always the case.
 The itinerary will be longer and set out differently, because it is much
more detailed.
The writing of an itinerary
 Various factors have to be taken into consideration when writing an
itinerary (we also use the term to compile an itinerary).
 The two main factors to consider are:
o logical spread, and
o variety and appropriateness of activities.
Logical spread
 Logical spread refers to having a good balance between activities and
leisure. It is not good to arrange an itinerary where the tourists are busy for
every moment of the day.
 They will return home exhausted, and say they need a holiday to recover
from the tour you have arranged! A good guideline is to divide the day into
three parts -morning, afternoon and evening.
 Then schedule an activity in two of these time slots and leave one time
slot open for leisure time when the clients can do whatever they want to
do.
Variety and appropriateness of activities
 This is perhaps the most important aspect of writing an itinerary.
 It is very important that the activities are appropriate for the type of tourist
for whom you are planning an itinerary.
 For instance, you will not send a young, energetic group of
adventure- seekers on a tour of the Castle in Cape Town.
 This tour is more appropriate for people who are interested in culture
and history, or for a school educational tour.
 Similarly, elderly tourists should not be sent white water rafting down the
Zambezi River at Victoria Falls! It is advisable to interview prospective
tourists and find out what they enjoy doing and what they want to do on their
trip. There should also be a good, balanced variety of activities.
 Too much of the same thing can become boring.
 For instance, when tourists are staying in a game park, scheduling
game drives every day of their stay is not a good idea.
 Vary the activities by including a visit to a local community, where the
tourists can get a glimpse of the way of life of the indigenous people.
 This will also be of financial benefit to the local community, because
the tourists will be able to buy their handmade arts and crafts.
 It is a good idea to include a few shopping expeditions to street markets,
flea markets, malls or shopping centres, to give tourists a chance to buy
local goods.
  Tourists love to buy items that are made in the country they are visiting,
and which they cannot get in their own countries.
 The more unusual and exotic the item, the more the tourist will want to take
it home! Remember that we need the tourist’s foreign currency, and this is an
important way of getting it.
Marketing techniques and budgeting
 Tourism is a very competitive industry.
 There are many businesses in competition with one another for the
same customers.
 This means that a business owner has to try and make his or her
business stand out from the crowd.
 There are different promotional and advertising techniques that are
designed to provide customers with the information that they need to make a
choice between the different products being offered.
What is marketing?
 Marketing is everything that a business does to bring its product or service
to the attention of potential customers.
 There are five areas of concern in marketing, called the five Ps:
o Product, Place, Price, People and Promotion, which are in the
Grade 10 curriculum.
 There are two different advertising methods that businesses can use to
promote their products and services: above-the-line and below-the-line.
 The technique that a business decides to use depends on a number
of factors:
o the type of budget
o the size/monetary value of their budget
o the target audience (that the business wants to reach)
o legal issues, for example, whether the business is allowed to
promote its product.

 Businesses advertise or promote themselves, and the products and

services they offer for a number of reasons:
o to increase and maintain the demand for their products
o to increase and maintain the market share of their products
o to let people, know about the products
o to create a brand.
Above-the-line promotional techniques
 Above-the-line promotional techniques generally use mass media
for example, television and the Internet.
 These techniques are not very personal and are designed to reach as
many people as possible with the minimum amount of cost.
 Examples of these techniques include:
o Television, radio and cinema: these methods allow businesses to
reach large numbers of people.
o Newspapers: depending on the newspaper that the advert appears
in, allows businesses to target specific groups of people.
o Printed material: this includes brochures, flyers, pamphlets,
posters, billboards and meander maps.
o The Internet: this allows businesses to reach large numbers of
people at a very low cost.
o Electronic advertising: this type of promotional method includes
video walls, audio-visual presentations, digital displays and cell
phone advertising.
o The table below describes some of the advantages and
disadvantages of some of these types of promotional techniques.
Below-the-line promotional techniques
 Below-the-line promotional techniques are advertising methods that are
more personal than above-the-line methods.
 Examples of these techniques include the following:
o Public relations: this is when a business communicates directly with
its customers through press releases and speaking at conferences.
o Sales promotions: this includes techniques such as 50% extra for
free, buy one get one free offers and in-store discounts (price
promotions).
o Promotional sponsorship in this type of promotion, a business will
pay to be associated with another person, product or event.
o Personal selling in this method, a representative of the business will
visit existing and potential customers; can also include selling door-to-
door, direct mail and the Internet.
o Exhibitions shows and expositions (large exhibitions): these
methods allow you to make yourself known to customers in a
particular setting.
How to define a target market
 There are a number of different ways that a target market can be defined
 Age: What age is the product aimed at? Is it for babies? Or is it aimed
at young adults, teenagers or older consumers?
 Gender: Art men or women more likely to buy the product?
 Ethnic background: Does the business want to target any particular
ethnic group?
 Income: Does the business want to target people who have a lot of money
to spend!
 Location: When a business owner thinks about the target customers, does
it matter where they live?
 Would it be sensible for a business owner to open a ski shop in a sunny
and dry climate, or sell surf boards in the middle of the desert?
 Lifestyle Would people who are interested in certain things want to buy
the product?
 This is another way a target market can be defined.
 For example, a business owner could choose to aim his products at
people who like sports.
 It is useful for a business to define its target market because it can
then concentrate on that part of a population.
 This lets a business learn more about the customers that it hopes will want
to buy its products or services.
 It lets them focus their marketing on the people who would be most
interested in finding out more about its products and services the more a
business knows about the customers to whom they want to sell their
products,
 The more direct they can be in the advertisements and the more
information they can give.
 Researching information about potential customers is called market
research Market research helps businesses target specific types of people,
and it also helps them to find the best way to reach people in that audience.
  The way that a business chooses to target its market is called
its communication target.
 These are the different methods or styles that a business would use to
reach its potential customers.
Types of market research
 There are two types of market research:
 primary research and secondary research the aim of primary research is to
collect information to analyse current sales and determine how effective their
sales techniques are.
 Collecting primary research includes:
o interviews (either face-to-face or on the telephone)
o surveys (online or by post)
o questionnaires (online or by past)
o groups gathering a sample of potential customers and getting their
feedback.
o The aim of secondary research is to analyse data that has
already been published.
o Secondary research allows a business to find out who its competitors
are and who its target market (the group of people who are most
likely to buy the product) is.
The marketing budgets
 What is a marketing budget? Businesses often only have a certain amount
of money available to them for marketing.
 This is the businesses marketing budget.
 If a business does not properly plan or budget how it is going to spend the
money that it was available for marketing, it could lead to problems.
 A marketing budget is an estimate of how much it will cost a business
to market the products or services that it sells.
 A marketing budget will take into account all the marketing costs for the
business.
 For example:
o marketing communications
o salaries for marketing managers
o cost of office space
o travel costs
 Money will be shared out to each cost area, for example, communications,
depending on the six of the marketing projects and the type of advertising
or promotional campaign that is going to be used.
 A business may have to do some research first so that the estimates of
the costs will be as accurate as possible.
 This is called advertising or marketing communications research.
How are marketing budgets decided?
 The owner of a business decides how much money to invest in and how
to allocate it in a marketing budget.
 Marketing costs art an expense that the owner can control.
 A marketing budget is a way to determine and control expenses.
 Money should be divided wisely among the different areas of expense that
the owner has.
 The budget will help the owner choose and assess the amount of
marketing that he docs.
 The owner can then use it as a background for next year’s budget.
 There are a number of different ways of establishing a marketing budget
and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages.
 No method is perfect for all types of businesses.
 The three basic methods that you will learn about here are
o percentage of sales or profits
o unit of sales
o objective and task
Percentage of sales or profits
 The percentage of sales or profits is probably the most widely used way
of establishing a marketing budget.
 In this method, a business would base the marketing budget on a
percentage of profit or sales.
 This relates the cost of marketing to the number/volume of goods sold.
 The percentages of sales methods do not have some of the problems that
the percentage of profits has
 For example, if your profits are low in one period, it might not be the fault
of sales or advertising.
 However, if you stick to the same percentage, you will reduce your
marketing budget.
 By using the percentage of sales method, you keep your marketing budget
in relation to your sales.
 You can make use of the percentage that other businesses in your
industry are using to help you choose the percentage that you will use.
 Knowing the marketing percentage for your industry will help you spend
a similar budget to your competitors.
 However, you must be careful not to completely base your budget on
these amounts.
 Your particular situation may mean that you have to spend more or less on
marketing than your competitors.
Unit of sales
 In the unit of sales method, you set aside a fixed amount for each unit
that you sell.
  For example, if it costs R2 worth of marketing to rent one bicycle for the
day, and you want to rent out 1000 bicycles, you will have to spend R2 000
on marketing.
 This method is particularly useful where the volume of product available is
limited by outside factors, for example, the number of days the conditions are
right for cycling in a particular area. If this is your situation, then you first
need to estimate the
 number of days that will be suitable for cycling.
Objective and task
 The objective and task approach are the most difficult method of developing
a marketing budget.
 This means that it is the least used method. However, it is the most
accurate method.
 To determine your budget, you first need a marketing plan that sets out
very specific aims of what you want to achieve.
 A business should base these aims on a very thorough research of
its markets.
 The percentage of sales or profits method first determines how much a
business will spend without taking into account what it wants to achieve.
 However, this method first determines what a business has to do to meet
its goals.
 A business owner then calculates the cast from this.
 A business’s aims should be as specific as possible.
 For example, instead of stating the aim as increase sales its aim should be
to; increase the sales of product X by attracting the business of teenagers
then the owner should determine the best advertising technique and how
much it will cost to get that sales increase.
 An owner will do this for each aim.
 The total amount is then the marketing budget.
What are the costs that relate to marketing budgets?
 There are a number of costs that have to be in a marketing budget.
 How high these costs are, and what areas they are in, will depend a lot on
the type of the business.
Market research
 The money that a business needs to allocate for market research will
depend on whether the owner is just starting out or whether he owns an
established business
 If the owner is just starting out, he will need to conduct lots of research to
give him a complete picture of the market that he will be doing business in.
 For example, what selling methods are already being used, the
competitors, and what the potential customers’ needs and wants art.
  If the business is established, the owner may conduct market research to
find out information about:
o whether the business is meeting its customers’ needs and wants,
o whether it needs to change its packaging or delivery method, and
o whether there have been any changes in the market that will affect
how the business will have to be conducted.
Communication costs
 The communications part of your marketing budget will depend on
the advertising or promotional techniques that you have chosen to
use.
 Some of your marketing communication expenses may include:
o personal selling
o television, radio and newspaper
o public relations
o advertising printing
o sales promotions postage
o attending exhibitions
o website development
o sponsorship
o brochure development
o packaging.
 The most expensive communication methods are direct marketing,
advertising and events.
 The more cost-effective methods include networking, Internet marketing
and public relations.
 The pie chart below shows the percentage of the marketing that large
successful businesses spent on different types of communication methods in
2010.
Travel costs
 Travel costs may or may not be a large part of a business marketing budget.
 For example, if an owner is planning to do lots of personal selling, the
travel expenses will be much greater than if the owner was planning to do
most of the marketing through advertisements in newspapers.
This is because personal selling involves lots of travelling around to visit people and
speak to them.
 If the owner is going to be doing lots of driving, wear-and-tear on the
vehicle must be included in the businesses travel costs.
 A budget must allow for any repairs that may have to be done.
 If a business’s car breaks down and there is no budget allocated to fix it,
an owner will not be able to any personal selling advertise or promote his
business.
Personnel costs
 Some businesses do not include the salaries of marketing personnel in
their marketing budgets.
 In this way they can accurately measure how effective their actual
advertising campaign is.
 However, if the business is small or just starting out, it is unlikely that the
owner will employ marketing staff. In this case, the owner needs to weigh up
the costs and benefits of the time that she has spent doing marketing related
tasks with how else that time could have been spent.
Global distribution systems
Information technology and the travel industry
 Information Technology (IT) and the Personal Computer (PC) have together
revolutionised the travel industry over the past 20 years.
 With the growing widespread use of the Internet by the man on the
street, even greater progress has been made in information technology
and the travel industry.
 Today, travel agents are facing a major challenge. Ordinary people are now
able to make most of their travel reservations themselves through the Internet
and can collect a great deal of travel information in the comfort of their own
homes.
 However, not everyone has a computer, and there is a large amount of
information and expertise which only a specially trained person can
access. For this reason, many people still choose to visit travel agents.
 Travel agents remain important role players in the process of making
travel reservations.
Creating tour packages on the computer
 Travel agents and tour operators put together tour packages for their
clients. A tour package is an all-in-one travel arrangement.
 This means that the transport and accommodation, and in some cases
the entertainment and activities are sold as a unit.
 For instance, a holiday to Mauritius is nearly always sold as a package,
because the client gets the cost of the air ticket, hired car, hotel, and
most meals all included in one price.
 The client can sometimes have additional side tours added to the package.
 The cost of this whole package is actually cheaper than it would be if
the client were to buy each element separately.
 In order to put a tour package together, the travel agent or tour operator
needs to get to the Electronic Reservation Systems (ERSs) of the
companies that offer the different travel products.
 The ERS is a computerised system that each travel company has, which
contains information about the availability of their hotel rooms, airline
seats,
 rental cars or other products. This information is available on each travel
companys website.
 Travel agents access the booking systems of travel industry companies
and make on-line reservations on behalf of their customers.
 This system was the forerunner for the GDS.
The birth of the Global Distribution System
 In the early 1980s, a new system was developed by a group of
American airlines.
 This system started by linking the ERSs of many airlines together on
one website, called Galileo.
 This was the first Global Distribution System (GIB).
 A Global Distribution System is a computerised system that links the
information, sales and marketing functions of major travel industry
companies on one system.
 Travel professionals, such as travel agents, can access these products
and sell them to their clients.
 The Global Distribution Systems are highly specialised and complex.
 The people who use it therefore need special training, and this has
ensured the involvement of trained travel agents in the travel industry The
Global Distribution Systems are very expressive to maintain, and the cost
of subscribing to them is high.
 This means that only the largest travel agent companies can afford to
be linked to them.
The GDS as a tool in the travel industry
 A travel agent can now, on behalf of a client, compare the prices and
availability of several airline flights on one website, and then buy and issue
a ticket for a flight without having to go to each individual airline’s website.
 This has speeded up the process of getting the best deal for a flight.
 Over time, more products were added to the GDS so that, in addition to
airline flights, it is also possible to access hotels, car hire and tours through a
single GDS.
 A GDS is therefore like an enormous global supermarket of travel
products and information, accessible via the Internet.
The major GDSs
 It wasn’t long before competitors to Galileo were formed Amadeus was
the first GDS to compete with Galileo.
 Others soon followed, and today there are several GDSs.
 There are five major Global Distribution Systems which are used, and
they are
 Galileo - which is based in New Jersey, USA. It incorporates a smaller GDS.
 called Apollo.
 Two of its founders are British Airways and United Airlines (USA)
  World span - which is based in Georgia, USA. It incorporates TWA, Delta
and Northwest Airlines
 Amadeus – which is based in Europe.
 The majority is owned by air France, Lufthansa and Iberia Airlines
 Sabre - is based in Texas, USA.
 Its major stakeholder is American Airlines
 Abacus - is based in Singapore.
 It features mainly Asian stakeholders, such as Singapore Airlines, All Nippon
Airways and Cathay Pacific Airlines
 A travel agent has to subscribe to a GDS, in exactly the same way that
we subscribe to a magazine, in order to use its facilities.
 This can be expensive but, for a large travel agency, the cost is worth it
because of all the information that is offered there, and the speed at which
a transaction takes place.
What a GDS offers A GDS typically offers the following:
 line flights: Full information can be obtained, and everything from
reservations and confirmation, right down to the issuing of the ticket and the
boarding pass, can be arranged.
 Car rental: Everything for car rental can be arranged by a travel agent.
 The travel agent will issue the client with a voucher, and all the client has
to do is collect the car at a specified location, usually at an airport.
 hotel rooms: Full information, reservations and confirmation can be
obtained and street maps showing where the hotel is, as well as pictures of
what the rooms looks like, can be provided.
 Bus and train fares: Full information, reservations, confirmation and tickets
can be provided, in exactly the same manner as with airlines, cars and
hotels
 Documents: Documents can be downloaded, such as insurance and
van application forms.
 Traveller’s guide: Complete information about many destinations,
attractions and activities, is available.
 A travel agent can get almost any information that a client may need, for
example the operating hours and cost of using the Table Mountain
cableway, or full information on the Paris underground railway system (the
Metro).
 Several years ago, the GDSs opened up sections of their websites to Internet
users.
 Ordinary people, who were not subscribers, could access the Travel
Information sections and download maps, timetables, brochures and
other useful information regarding their destinations.
 This service has now been stopped, and only subscribed travel agents
can fully access the GDS websites.
Central reservation system
 Central Reservation System (CRS) is a computerised system that a travel
industry company uses to keep track of how many scats or rooms it has to
sell
  For example, a hotel will have a CRS that keeps track of how many rooms
it has to sell, when the rooms will be available and how much they cost.
 An airline will have an in-house CRS, which deals with its own flights and
the sale of seats on these flights.
 The same applies to car hire companies’ other stakeholders in the
tourism industry.
 Previously, only the employees of a company could access the in-house
CRS and the information on it, in order to locate and sell scats or rooms.
 Now with the spread of the Internet, any person wanting to, for example
book a hotel room or a seat on an airline, can do so.
 Travel industry companies can now sell their services to a much larger
market.
 Today, these CRSs are linked to one or more of the GDSs, so that travel
agents and tour operators can also access the information and sell
these products.
CRSs in South Africa
 The CRS that is widely used in South Africa is the MICROS-Fidelio system.
 The system is used in hotels, resorts, restaurants and in the catering,
leisure and entertainment, cruise and retail sectors. If someone phones to
make a booking a hotel manager will be able to see at a glance which
rooms are available, what they cost and how long they are available for.
 Similarly, an Internet user can also make a booking through the website of
the hotel and access the same information.
 The MICROS-Opera system is a property management system used by
hotel chains, such as Travelodge Hotels United Kingdom and the many large
international hotel chains owned by Hyatt, Marriott, Intercontinental and
Radisson.
 Opera does everything that Fidelio can do, plus it has other features, such
as housekeeping management, cashiering, and customer profiles.
 It can also keep track of guest messages and wake-up calls.
 MICROS boast that Opera can essentially be the only management
software that a hotel need
 With Opera, for example, a hotel receptionist can key in a guest’s name
and call up their profile.
 This will show the receptionist when the guest last stayed at the hotel, what
their likes and dislikes are, and any other important information that would
make their stay at the hotel a memorable one. In this way, a valued guest
could find a bowl of her favourite flowers waiting in the room, or an important
businessman could be presented with a bottle of his favourite wine at dinner.
 The MICROS group also has other point-of-sale software which is,
strictly speaking, not CRS software. These programmes do other things,
like streamlining the ordering and delivery of items such as restaurant
meals.
 For example, a waiter keys in an order on a computer, and the order
goes directly to a computer in the kitchen.
  The chef gets a printout and instructs his staff to cook the dish.
 The cost of the dish is automatically added to the guest’s bill.
 The guest gets a computer printout of what he has to pay when he leaves.
 A very popular CRS is the website www.flysaa.com which is the South
African Airways booking site for Internet users.
 On this site, you can book flights on SAA and its partner carriers, as well as
book hotels and car hire. You can book and pay for your flight by credit card,
and then download a coupon which you take to the airport when you depart.
It is no longer necessary to go to a travel agent, or even the airport, to book a
flight.
NB: Remember to go through all content to prepare you for your exams/tests