May 11th, 2011 at 9:00AM: For decades the Land Rover has been an iconic part of the classic African safari. The four-wheel drive vehicles were once the only way to travel through the rugged countryside while following the massive herds of wild animals that inhabit that continent. Soon, an electric version of the Land Rover Defender may be available, allowing for an even more eco-friendly approach to spotting animals.
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ecotourism posts
Electric Land Rover makes your safari experience even greener
May 11th, 2011 at 9:00AM: For decades the Land Rover has been an iconic part of the classic African safari. The four-wheel drive vehicles were once the only way to travel through the rugged countryside while following the massive herds of wild animals that inhabit that continent. Soon, an electric version of the Land Rover Defender may be available, allowing for an even more eco-friendly approach to spotting animals.
At ...5 great ways to explore national parks under your own power
Apr 27th, 2011 at 8:00AM: There is no doubt that America's national parks are popular tourist destinations. The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of visitors to the parks, and many of them have been setting attendance records as a result.
With the summer fast approaching, many of us are no doubt making plans for our vacations, with many electing to visit a national park once again this year. The ...New Galapagos Islands regulations will change 2012 tours
Apr 10th, 2011 at 8:00AM:
Over the past decade or so, the Galapagos Islands have become one of the more popular tourist attractions in the world. In fact, they've gotten so popular that the fragile ecosystem there has become threatened by the amount of tourist traffic that now visit the area each year. In 2012, a new set of regulations will go into effect that may help protect the Islands, and could have an effect on ...So You Want To Be A Safari Guide?
Mar 14th, 2011 at 8:00AM: Wanted: Able bodied men and women who have a passion for the outdoors and a thirst for adventure. Must be well organized, have an attention for detail, and enjoy working with animals. Positive attitude, a flair for the dramatic, and good people skills a big plus. Plenty of positions available, no experience necessary. Will train for the job.
If the above job description sounds like something ...Rwanda pledges to save the environment
Mar 12th, 2011 at 8:00AM: The United Nations has declared 2011 as the "Year of the Forests" as it continues to work to encourage nations across the globe to take sustainable actions to protect the planet's woodlands. One of the first countries to answer the call to action is Rwanda, which has laid out an ambitious plan to protect its jungles, even as it struggles to develop economically.
As most people know, Rwanda was ...2011 Tour d'Afrique heads toward Sudan
Jan 24th, 2011 at 8:00AM: The 2011 edition of the Tour d'Afrique got underway last week when more than 40 cyclists from all over the world set out from Cairo, Egypt on a four month long epic ride through Africa. The annual event has become a favorite amongst adventure travelers looking for a unique way to experience that continents cultural and natural wonders, while also challenging themselves physically along the way.
...One in five vertebrates face extinction
Nov 13th, 2010 at 12:30PM:
The bad news: One in five vertebrates could go extinct within our lifetime, and the number may rise even higher than that.
The good news: It would be a lot worse if it weren't for conservation efforts.
That's the verdict of a global study of 25,000 threatened vertebrate species presented to the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in Nagoya, Japan. It ...Scientists recommend alternate route for proposed Serengeti Highway
Oct 29th, 2010 at 8:30AM: Back in July we posted a story about how the Tanzanian government had approved the construction of a new highway that would cut directly through the Serengeti National Park, which is home to a spectacular array of animal life. Officials explained how the new road was necessary in order to facilitate trade and continue economic development in the region, and that they expected the highway to have ...Take action: Clean water saves lives in Haiti
Oct 15th, 2010 at 2:01PM: Since the tragic events of the Haiti earthquake, the country and its supporters from around the world have worked tirelessly to rebuild, revive and rejuvenate. From building orphanages and schools, to offering medical supplies and household items, Haiti is moving full-speed ahead to reclaim the vibrancy it once had. But it takes more than four walls and power drills to rebuild a country.
Clean ...Ecotourism's next evolution: Rent a cow in Switzerland
Sep 10th, 2010 at 10:30AM: Need to get away from it all? How about a month or season on a picturesque Swiss farm? Thanks to to enterprising Swiss farmers, professionals can now contribute to the local economy and "participate physically in the life of a medium-size mountain farm and to acquire at a preferential price genuine goods produced on the estate."
Sure... but what does that mean? According to bmi Voyager, the ...Nuts about Peru's Tambopata National Reserve
Sep 8th, 2010 at 3:00PM: Nuts--if you think about these things, which evidently I do--evoke blustery fall afternoons, or wintery evenings before a roaring fire. You bust out the nutcracker, and get to work. At least, that's what my family did when I was a kid, even though I grew up in Southern California where, let's face it, the weather is seldom blustery. Anyways, we always had a lot of Brazil nuts in the communal bowl, ...New online tool, AvidTrips, offers adventure travel options
Aug 31st, 2010 at 8:00AM: AvidTrips, a newly launched website, is giving adventure travelers a new option for finding unique places to explore and connecting them with tour operators that can help them do it. The site is currently in beta form, and still lacking a lot of travel options at the moment, but the interface shows a great deal of potential, which bodes well for the future.
Upon visiting AvidTrips for the first ...Dunton Hot Springs: mushroom foraging and soaking in Southwestern Colorado
Aug 11th, 2010 at 3:30PM:
I'm a mushroom geek. This means that there are few things I enjoy more than scrabbling around in forest litter, searching for fungi, before cooking and eating them. I know I'm not alone in my dorkish proclivities, given the number of mycological societies and mushroom festivals all over the country. Mid-August is peak wild mushroom season in the Colorado Rockies, which hosts two well-known ...ToroVerde park delivers an adventure in Puerto Rico
Jul 22nd, 2010 at 8:00AM: Thrill seekers who are looking to take a break from all that sun and surf while visiting Puerto Rico now have a new option to add a little excitement to their vacation. The recently opened ToroVerde Adventure Park is ready to give them the jolt of adrenaline that they're looking for, offering up opportunities to rock climb, mountain bike, and choose from an array of zip line tours.
Located near ...World's most eco-friendly beaches to visit now
Jul 20th, 2010 at 10:00AM: If your idea of heaven isn't a beach packed with crisping bodies, balls of crude, or the lingering whiff of raw sewage, don't worry. CNN has provided a list sandy idylls that retain their purity, even though a few, like Oahu's Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, are major tourist attractions, or located in tourism hotspots. Not surprisingly, most of these places are located on preserves or otherwise ...20 great bike rides
May 7th, 2010 at 2:00PM:
For many travelers, the default mode of transport is a plane or a car, but they're certainly not the only options. Have you ever considered adding a bicycle ride to your next trip? Riding a bike has a number of advantages over other forms of transportation. You'll move slower, no doubt, but with that slowness comes an increased awareness of your surroundings, a chance to get some fresh air and ...Circling the globe with zero emissions
Mar 28th, 2010 at 8:00AM: Sustainable travel has been a focus for many over the past decade, with travelers searching for ways to reduce their carbon footprint while still feeding their wanderlust. 23-year old Brit Kevin Shannon seems to have discovered a way to see the world, while still protecting the planet's environments. On Wednesday of this past week, the adventurous traveler set out to circumnavigate the globe, ...Can wolves help save U.S. national parks?
Mar 19th, 2010 at 3:30PM: Research suggests that reintroducing small, managed populations of wolves to U.S. national parks can help restore damaged ecosystems.
These areas, says Daniel Licht of the U.S. National Park Service, have been environmentally impacted by population growth of hoofed mammals (ungulates), which have prospered in the absence of "top-level" natural predators.
The introduction of wolves would ...South by Southeast: Top 10 Southeast Asia
Mar 19th, 2010 at 9:00AM:
There's a lot to see in Southeast Asia. Over the past five months, as I've traveled through this amazing region, it's something I've experienced firsthand. From mind-blowing jungle ruins to outstanding food and world class beaches, there's a never-ending wealth of curiosities for visitors. But with so much to see and do, it's hard to know what to prioritize. Is Angkor Wat really as awesome as ...Celebrate Earth Day with a volunteer vacation!
Mar 3rd, 2010 at 8:00AM: 2010 will mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of Earth Day. Originally conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson, the event was meant to remind us to stop and think about the amazing, yet fragile, planet on which we live, and possibly consider the ways that we can work to protect the environment around us. Today, that message is as important and relevant as ever, and Earth Day is celebrated across ...
