Leaping in to the year...2012!

Its 2012 and there is an extra day in the year ! Great news dont you think ?... an extra day to perhaps do something special or adventurous that you have thought of doing for a while now.
The more traditional theories taking place are for the ladies to take lead in the marriage proposals :)

The history behind the leap year is that it is needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the sun. It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days (a tropical year) to circle once around the Sun. If we didn't add a day on February 29 nearly every 4 years, we would lose almost six hours every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days! Bizzare isn't it?

Other theories concluded in the ancient Roman Calendar added an extra month every few years to maintain the correct seasonal changes. But Julius Caesar implemented a new calendar – the Julian Calendar in 45 BCE (Before Common Era) with an extra day added every 4 years. At the time, Leap Day was February 24, because February was the last month of the year! But now we follow the modern  Gregorian Calendar! People born on February 29 are also all invited to join The Honor society of Leap Year Day Babies!

So what ever your beliefs or superstitions, make the most of your extra day this year and make it an adventure or special memory to add to your book of life in 2012!

Tips on how to transform into an eco- tourist in 2012

So turning a new green leaf in 2012, here are a few tips on how you can transform and support being a international eco - tourist!

1. Visit destinations which have conservation value, such as protected areas, World Heritage sites or where nature and culture is a key attraction.

2. Plan a "doing" holiday, many organisation you with the arrangements of joining a volunturing programme, where you can include conservation or community projects into your holiday.

3. Travel light: limit the packaging you bring with you.
4. Chose like minded travel suppliers, those that are environmentally conscious and establishments that have  environmental policies in place. This will include efforts such as energy and water saving measures,recycling and contribution to local conservation or supporting local communities.

5. If you can, try to get to your destination by train or coach – you’ll see more of the country you’re travelling in as well as reducing your carbon emissions.

6. Make use of you own steam go for walks or bicycle rides or take part in such organised excursions.

7. When it comes to dinning, choose locally sourced produce that’s in season and be aware that certain endangered species may be on the menu without your knowledge.

8. Many wild plants and animals are in great danger … you can contribute to protecting them by avoiding buying souvenirs made from such eg (jewellery made from red coral, ivory etc)

9. Dont bring seeds or plants back from your travels, as some may prove to be be invasive species.

10. Observing Wildlife can be an incredible experience… but don’t disturb wildlife, for your own safety and theirs. Don’t feed animals, excpecially the "cute" animals such as monkeys, baboons and warthogs.

So give you getaways some thought when planning or should you be looking for some eco destination options to help get you on the right track of thinking, let African Chapter Tours assist you with your next eco chapter!

It is the time for giving ...gifts!

Yes Christmas is around the corner so I can't help but obsessing over christmas gifts... what to get, what to give!?
In my search, I can across some good and unusual options, so I figured it would be a great idea to share my wonderful and unusual ideas with our followers... my small gift to you , perhaps taking a bit of the scramble out of searching for all those perfect gifts!!

I came across some awesome options and even homemade ideas but not that of frilly toilet roll covers or a pair of knitted bed socks!!

This one is for the girls! Homemade Choclate Lip Balm -All you need is 1 teaspoon of beeswax, 2 teaspoons pure fair trade organic cocoa butter, 3 teaspoons organic coconut or olive oil, 5 to 10 drops of peppermint essential oil and a recycled container! Melt ingredients over a double boiler or in the microwave. If using the microwave, do 30 second spurts at a time. Cool and then pour into containers. Allow to set...smells great!

I know you all going to like this .. possibily the boys! Homemade infused vodkas! This one takes a bit of planning depending on what ingredient you wish to infuse, as it may need to "brew" for a while but from vanilla flavours to citrus , berries and apples, it is all possible!

For a little offering in the pampering department, doesn't this sound good. Coffee Sugar Scrub?Requires 2 cups of coarsely ground coffee (Fair trade coffee if possible), ½ cup sea salt or brown sugar , 3 tablespoons almond oil (or olive oil, jojoba, or apricot kernel oil) ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Mix it all up and you have a pampering exfoliating scrub!

If you don't have the time to make  your gifts but looking some innovating Green options, I suggest The Green Shop, from gadgets to jewellery and even composters, a great option for the greenies out there, which I hope you are all aiming to be in the 2012!

My last option but not the least, for the person who has everything..... a travel voucher or adventure experience voucher, you can never have enough adventure or fun under your belt with new thrills and memorable and exciting day outings on offer through African Chapter Tours.

We can email your personalised gift voucher to you, for your product of choice... the offers are endless!

I hope our team have brought you some fresh and innovative ideas to carry you through till the end of 2011's Festive Season and on that note, a very  Merry Christmas to you all.

Travel safe and tread lightly!!!

The ACT Team!

How much water is really used....

I recently came across an article with some very interesting facts and it really made me look a the BIG PICTURE on how much water is really used. I am sure I am not the only one who only considered the obvious when examining "saving water"!

In our daily routines we are all aware of the contribution we can make to save water (Visible water) but oh WOW we really do not want to ever be short of water!! I never considered the following facts which we use and consume on a daily basis!
It is known as virtual water... the water footprint.



* To produce an apple weighing around 100 grams, 70 litres of water is used.
* One slice of wheat bread requires 40 litres.
* The water footprint of a beer, 75 litres, pales in comparison to that of the hamburger that often accompanies it, which comes in at a whopping 2,400 litres. In fact, beef requires a full 15,500 litres of water to produce just 1kg.

.....and it is not just what we eat and drink!!

* One A4 sheet of 80gr paper, processed from wood, requires 10 litres of water - something to consider before printing out the joke email that will be discarded later.

* The global average footprint of one cotton shirt is 2,700 litres; for one kilogram it’s 11000 litres.

* One kilogram of leather requires 16,600 litres of water (global average).

South Africans consume , per capita 2,500 litres of water per day, but not by drinking or cooking or gardening alone. What we overlook is just how much is required for production of those goods we take for granted.

South Africa is facing a critical water shortage and here’s the thing, those of us with who live comfortably will not be the first affected despite being the country’s biggest consumers. The poor, whose water footprints are in many cases negligible, will suffer first, giving rise to more problems than just higher prices and water cuts; these problems will affect everyone. We waste a lot of water but if each of us developed just one water-saving habit, we’d be able to make a big difference. So please let us all continue our efforts.. and even more!

When chosing your travel packages be aware of your surrounds, just because you are not paying for the water bill does not give you the pass to waste uneccesary. Your choice of establishments & destination should be compliant , responsible venues will be proud to share their efforts and complacency in their green contributions.

African Chapter Tours encourages and promotes such travel packages, so you can rest assured your choice with us, is already a start in the green direction!

Do you know our Invasive plant species in South Africa?

It's an exciting and refreshing vibe now that Spring is here.... always a season to look foward to!

It is always very tempting to work in our gardens and watch all the spring foilage start flourishing it gives one a great sense of accomplishment to actually see the benefits of hard work digging beds , pruning and pampering the new life in the garden when all the colours start to spring!

However I am always fascinated by which plants are actually classified as invasive as some are common in all our gardens and invasives are some times pretty to look at and sometimes quite a focal point in our own gardens!

It is estimated that there are approximately 27 000 indigenous species in South Africa and 9000 foreign plant species that have been introduced over the past few centuries . Of these 9000 exotic or alien introductions, 348 have been identified as bad ecologically damaging invader plants.

The existing law divides these plants up into three categories, however regulations passed under the Conservation of Agriculture Resources Act, 1983 (Act no 43) only identifies 198 of the worst invasive alient plants species and declared illegal weeds. Although gardeners are only obliged to remove and destroy category 1 plants, eco friendly gardens endeavouring to rid their gardens of any designated invader weeds.

Here are a few images to help identify those declared weeds in category 1:

• Bugweed, one of the worst invasives both in gardens and the country side. It is spread by various birds, buck and monkeys depositing its seeds after eating the fruits.
• Cats Claw Creeper .This invasive creeper flowers between September until February. An attempt is being made to control it with the release of a beetle that specifically lives off the leaves.
• Indian Shot - Canna. This is invading Stream banks and moist sites in the warmer parts of our country. The more showy hybrids that dont set seeds are permitted.
• Oleander - This Mediterranean bush with pink, white or red blooms with a single row of petals has spread in to water courses, particularly rocky ones in semi-arid mountain valleys. The double flowers forms which have seeds taht are sterile are permitted.

These are obviously just a couple that I highlighted but possibly often seen and not aware how invasive they are! So get to know them and pull them out and replace with indigenous alternatives!

For travellers who have a passion for naturally beautiful landscapes and gardens and enjoy to incorporate such places into their choice of getaways, African Chapter Tours recommends our Green Limpopo Destinations, found under our package section.

Enjoy country stays, fine dining and beautiful flora destinations with African Chapter Tours!

Green Trek

Recently we finally reached our last steps in making our office"green" ... our great "green trek"!

We did the necessary clean up and recycled all of our CDs, DVDs, paper,plastic etc and we packed up the bare necessities and re-located to our home bases.
We are all now able to operate a fully fledged mobile operation in terms of handling the administrative roles of our travellers. This has been a goal of African Chapter Tours and now through advanced technology we have made this happen... hoorah!!

We were also very fortunate to have been awarded 2nd place in the Europ Car Green office competition, which we are very grateful for and like to see this as a feather in our green cap!

Apart from this move to reduce our carbon emissions with our reduced travelling as well as reducing our office space, there has been a continuous effort made in our daily operations and business ethics as well as encouraging our travel partners in the same direction.

If your company has not already taken some steps yet into changing the way forward with reducing your carbon footprints.. there is no good time like the present! We would like to share a few simple tips in creating a greener approach to the office.

We all know the 3 R.s by now reuse, reduce and recycle not much more needs to be said on this topic but there are some other points if interest.

• Perhaps use second hand furniture instead of expensive plastic based office furniture by adding some funky antique pieces or locally handmade "african" furniture.
• Make use of natural light in your office if you can, alternatively make sure lights are fitted with compact florescent bulbs or LED's
• Fill your office with plants for the health and happiness of your staff, plants give off oxygen and are great for brightening up your four walls naturally!
• Boil water and keep a flask or use an urn, rather than boiling the kettle to make one cup each time!
• Remember just about everything can be recycled or even ewaste such as electronics.
• Invest in a glass water bottle to keep drinking water in, it is a healthier option and eliminates the use of plastic!

Its almost SPRING, so this is a great way to start a fresh new approach to your office!

Anyone lose their jacket?

On a much lighter message today! I couldn't help wonder the story behind these images of a leopard in a tree with an obviously stolen bush jacket!















I can however envisage it all unfolded at a game lodge, whilst checking out the scenery on a game drive and stopping for that refreshment drink, this curious leopard decided to take on its mothering instinct and care for this camouflaged item of warmth?!


I dont know where the pictures came from, but it would be great to hear what your thoughts to this story might be?