Green Girls in Africa

Hendrik’s velletjie makes him complete

My love for the Kgalagadi Desert runs deep, but for the ǂKhomani San it’s an integral part of their identity. At !Xaus Lodge the ǂKhomani San manage to keep the spirit of their ancient culture alive by combining modern living with a more traditional existence.
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Meeting a Mopedi Nyaka – Traditional Healer

Mokgadi Rasekgokga is a traditional healer with three spirit guides, one female and two male ancestors. We come from opposite ends of the spectrum, but she listens intently and patiently answers the endless questions this inherent scientist throws at her.
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Ribola Art Route – Limpopo

The Ribola Art Route is a vibrant tourism route offering authentic and creative experiences to its visitors, keeping the African tradition of storytelling alive, and empowering both budding and established artists and entrepreneurs.
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Conquering my fear of ladders

The Sentinel Peak Chain Ladder hike in the Drakensberg is a popular walk. The sheer size of this mountainscape creates an air of insignificance, but defeating my fear of ladders made me feel pretty invincible.
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From stony silence to anger – the response to online critical voices

My 2018 new year’s resolution is to not give in to bullying tactics and continue the collective fight for captive wildlife rights and welfare issues. #HandsOffOurWildlife
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To pet or not to pet

I am often asked what is the harm in petting a lion cub or walking with a lion, as this doesn’t seem to harm the animal. Please read on if you want to understand why we say these cute cubs are bred for the bullet.
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Tented Eco Camp – Gondwana Game Reserve

Tented Eco Camp is Gondwana Game Reserve’s new, green kid on the block. The camp offers more down-to-earth accommodation and hands-on and educational activities benefiting conservation.
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Oukraal Hideaway Perfection, Gamkaberg

Nothing had prepared me for the experience we had driving the Gamkaberg grade 3 Zebra Crossing 4×4 route. Oukraal is the ultimate hideaway surrounded by nature in its purest form.
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Off-Grid at Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Velddrift

Rocherpan Nature Reserve had not been on my radar, but after spending just a few days in this small, but unique CapeNature reserve near Velddrift, I’d fallen head over heels.
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Chole Mjini Eco-Lodge

Drinking a cool beer in the Red Herring Bar, I ponder my stay at Chole Mjini, while traditional dhows with their lopsided sails gracefully pass by.
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Thanda Tau – Where do your lion cubs go? An open letter.

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Dr Louise de Waal 20 comments

Thanda Tau is a new roadside lion cub petting facility on the N3 between Gauteng and Durban. With a continuous flow of new lion cubs arriving, the question needs to be asked: Where to your cubs go?

#HandsOffOurWildlife

The possible impacts of legalising the lion bone trade

Posted on July 9, 2017 by Dr Paul Giess 2 comments

The recent increase of the export quota of lion skeletons to 800 per year will most likely have major implications for the wild populations that are already under threat.

#HandsOffOurWildlife

Tourist initiated wildlife interactions

Posted on June 8, 2017 by Dr Louise de Waal 2 comments

What is the difference between tourist initiated and non-tourist initiated interactions? What does this phrase actually mean? Does that mean the interactions are initiated by the animals? Did this cheetah actually asked to be brushed?

#HandsOffOurWildlife

To ride or not to ride?

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Dr Louise de Waal One comment

There seems to be an unsubstantiated belief that the training of the African elephant does not involve the same extremely cruel practices that are inflicted on its Asian cousin, so we debunk a few myths around elephant riding.

Eco-bricks: upcycling non-recyclables

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Dr Louise de Waal 9 comments

Today, I visited a local initiative in Noordhoek organised by Karoline Hanks. She got the local community to pick up rubbish mostly from the road verges and green spaces, and turn the waste into eco-bricks.

Debunking the many myths of lion cub petting

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Dr Louise de Waal 2 comments

Many people are innocently, but sadly ill-informed about the implications of big cat petting, an activity that initially seems so harmless, but is highly unethical and has major ramifications for the animals involved.

To pet or not to pet

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Dr Louise de Waal 2 comments

I am often asked what is the harm in petting a lion cub or walking with a lion, as this doesn’t seem to harm the animal. Please read on if you want to understand why we say these cute cubs are bred for the bullet.

The #HOWL campaign

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Dr Louise de Waal 3 comments

Find your inner #HOWL and join us to #HOWL for our wildlife. Make a short video explaining what you #HOWL for with a massive roar or howl at the end. Share with our #HOWL and #HandsOffOurWildlife hashtags on social media.

SA Tourism response to Green Girls’ open letter

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Dr Louise de Waal 6 comments

Sisa Ntshona says: “I would like to reiterate South African Tourism’s position on cub petting. We are fully cognisant of the global anti-petting lobby and back it unreservedly.”

Open letter to Mr Sisa Ntshona, CEO SA Tourism

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Dr Louise de Waal 7 comments

Lion cub petting promoted at OR Tambo airport

Sisa Ntshona, CEO of SA Tourism, recently took a bold stance against unethical wildlife attractions. Since, lion cub petting has been promoted at OR Tambo Airport and a range of undesirable wildlife activities are still promoted through SA Tourism web portal.