Pillars: Volunteering, Ecology Study
Accommodation:
Cambodia / Phnom Penh: Meas Family Homestay Affiliated with Pack for a Purpose and Books for Cambodia (registered New Zealand charity); organizes short term teaching with local primary schools UB
Cambodia / Siem Reap: Shinta Mani Affiliated with Stay Another Day; runs elementary school adjacent to hotel. We participated in one of their community development projects several years ago. Currently (4/11) closed for renovations (evidently upgrading considerably from prior, very acceptable but fairly modest, facility. Recently opened sister facility in LP/Laos.
Cambodia / Siem Reap: Sala Bai Affiliated with French development agency and partner NGO; looks more like Shinta Mani looked four years ago. Runs very small (4 room) hotel and restaurant; affiliated with a number of local projects.
Laos / Northest of Vientiane: Rivertime Ecolodge Affiliated with Pack for a Purpose; has wealth of cultural immersion activities and short term volunteering. TA feedback largely positive, including from several families. UB
Laos / Luang Prabang: Shinta Mani Affiliated with Stay Another Day and sister property in Siem Reap. Looks very very posh...
Volunteering:
Conservation in Borneo with GVI: MB; listed as one of the family-friendly projects. I also like their teaching english to monks in LP/Laos but that one is NOT listed as family friendly; as well as several attractive teaching/orphanage projects in Thailand.
Ponheary Ly Foundation in Cambodia: UB various opportunities with schools; linked by sixintheworld but they may just have stayed in the guesthouse; not clear if appropriate for families
Volunteer Thailand: Vast database from idealist.org of local NGOs in Thailand. Most want 3+ month commitment, but some are shorter term and a handful explicitly welcome families; peruse anew closer to timeframe.
Isara in Nong Khai, Thailand (not too far in *distance* from Laos border crossing SE of Vientiane): From Volunteer Thailand; network of primary schools plus they run their own (free, volunteer run) evening English class for adults. Open to families but they suggest finding own accommodations; will help find short term apartment. UB
AboutAsia Schools: Cambodian non-profit, also registered as US 501(c)3, supporting 6 schools in Siem Reap. Affiliated with Points of Light.
Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamsala, India (JM works here); won Opera Montessori Internacionale award in 2000
In-country logistics:
Tiger Trail / Fair Trek: For profit, Dutch/German/Lao company specializing in cultural immersion / voluntourism. Most of the LP-based trips MB
Monday, April 18, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Hiatus... Hoping: Connecting the Dots
(even for a Digital Parking Lot of half-baked ideas with nothing but unvetted links, this post is PARTICULARLY half-baked with almost completely unvetted links... but the idea is, as I dream about places we'd love to go and experiences we'd love to plunge into in a hiatus year, we also remember the skills we can bring to the table)
(Thousand) Points of Light Institute: Focus on "skills-based volunteer" matching and corporate partnerships. Existing centers in El Salvador, the Philippines (particularly good website -- useful model), Shanghai, Delhi (interesting-looking structured professional sabbatical with legal / pharma potential), Brazil, Korea (link doesn't work) and Zimbabwe (link doesn't work); as well as Amsterdam, Ottawa and Tokyo. All have NYC Cares-type short term opportunities; Philippines and India have longer term as well; the better websites demonstrate corporate sponsorship and in some cases USAID and Netherlands development assistance.
Idealist.org: Massive, global database searchable by countries which includes both agency and direct volunteer placements. Good starting point by country.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Focus on grants (wide range, but bulk in developing world seem to be $0.5-1.5M) oriented mostly to public health and post-secondary education. Remarkably transparent site, including primer on strategy / grantmaking / assessment / adjustment cycle with extraordinarily matter-of-fact assessment of lessons learned. Generally awards to smaller implementing NGOs (Heifer, Habitat, CARE etc) within strategy areas, which in turn appear to be set regionally; though some larger awards are to UN affiliates (ie IFPRI) and some smaller ones to local institutions (particularly universities). Relatively less active in South America; no projects in either Ecuador or Peru.
Ford Foundation: Focus on grants (most $150-250K) to smaller NGOs. Programs in all regions; strategic emphasis on Expanding Community Rights over Natural Resources (projects in Brazil, Indonesia, China, East Africa, Mexico) most obvious fit; many other bits and pieces, particularly for training, under economic justice, climate change, and expansion of microfinance. Partners with both big (UNDP, Oxfam) and tiny local NGOs. Regional offices in Santiago (serving Peru), Johannesburg (serving Southern Africa), and Delhi (India, Nepal and Sri Lanka), among others.
Clinton Global Initiative: All-star board and membership; focus on private-public partnerships.
Business Call to Action: Private-public partnerships; privates include Barclays, Pfizer, Microsoft, Ericcson, Tata; publics include USAID, UNDP, UK, Canadian and Australian aid organizations
Open Society Foundation (Soros): Main focus is Eastern Europe / democratization; but limited selected projects in education (particularly secondary and post-secondary) in South America and Asia.
LexMundiProBono: Legal work to various projects (unclear if you have to be in a participating firm to participate)
Whole Planet Foundation (Whole Foods!!): Focus (obviously) on organic / sustainable agriculture, apparently mostly by supporting microcredit. Surprisingly large grants (up to 300K), many in Central America, handful in Peru, Bolivia etc.
GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GM Rao): Historic focus on public health, entrepreneurial development and community-based institutional development; Rao recently pledged $340M more, the bulk of which is slated for primary education. (India only)
Global Giving: Simple site that (apparently) enables funds to flow more or less directly from global donors to (relatively) local NGOs. Process for nominating local organizations, which then undergo due diligence process. Affiliated with Whole Planet Foundation and other vetted organizations; written up in NYT and WSJ.
stay-another-day.org: IFC-initiated partnership to facilitate sustainable tourism; currently have Mekong programs in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam; plan to expand into Southern Africa as well. Partners include LP, Climate Care, Sustainable Travel International and worldhotel-link.com. Short term, well-vetted opportunities for volunteering and engagement. (We participated in one of these projects in Cambodia several years ago and ate/shopped at several of the Vietnam projects; it's definitely worth tracking down the country booklet.) Link isn't working today (4/14).
Worldhotel Travel is a global search/booking database, putatively for hotels, tour operators and eco-lodges that are locally run and sustainably operated (self-selected, I think). For some countries that are otherwise hard to get good information on (Swaziland), it might be a good starting point.
Sustainable Travel International appears (?), among other things, to act as a clearinghouse for online donors to contribute (more or less) directly to local organizations/projects once they have been (?) vetted for appropriateness. Program is somehow (?) linked with Global Giving, which is 501(c)3; however it's not clear if donations through it are deductible.
Pack for a Purpose: Devote 5 pounds of your suitcase capacity to bringing in school or medical supplies when you're otherwise staying at a participating eco-lodge (just drop package off at the check-in desk). US 501(c)3 affiliated with Sustainable Travel International. (Many of my already-discovered gems, including Hotel de la Paix and Black Sheep Inn, participate -- site is probably useful just to search for funky accommodations.) This pretty much defines low-hanging fruit.
Virgin Money Giving: Evidently a lot of businesses are setting up similar programs to funnel donations to (not particularly vetted) local organizations; I like this one because it's unusually transparent on its fee structure. Eventually I'll find a US-based one, but for the moment this is the model.
(Thousand) Points of Light Institute: Focus on "skills-based volunteer" matching and corporate partnerships. Existing centers in El Salvador, the Philippines (particularly good website -- useful model), Shanghai, Delhi (interesting-looking structured professional sabbatical with legal / pharma potential), Brazil, Korea (link doesn't work) and Zimbabwe (link doesn't work); as well as Amsterdam, Ottawa and Tokyo. All have NYC Cares-type short term opportunities; Philippines and India have longer term as well; the better websites demonstrate corporate sponsorship and in some cases USAID and Netherlands development assistance.
Idealist.org: Massive, global database searchable by countries which includes both agency and direct volunteer placements. Good starting point by country.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Focus on grants (wide range, but bulk in developing world seem to be $0.5-1.5M) oriented mostly to public health and post-secondary education. Remarkably transparent site, including primer on strategy / grantmaking / assessment / adjustment cycle with extraordinarily matter-of-fact assessment of lessons learned. Generally awards to smaller implementing NGOs (Heifer, Habitat, CARE etc) within strategy areas, which in turn appear to be set regionally; though some larger awards are to UN affiliates (ie IFPRI) and some smaller ones to local institutions (particularly universities). Relatively less active in South America; no projects in either Ecuador or Peru.
Ford Foundation: Focus on grants (most $150-250K) to smaller NGOs. Programs in all regions; strategic emphasis on Expanding Community Rights over Natural Resources (projects in Brazil, Indonesia, China, East Africa, Mexico) most obvious fit; many other bits and pieces, particularly for training, under economic justice, climate change, and expansion of microfinance. Partners with both big (UNDP, Oxfam) and tiny local NGOs. Regional offices in Santiago (serving Peru), Johannesburg (serving Southern Africa), and Delhi (India, Nepal and Sri Lanka), among others.
Clinton Global Initiative: All-star board and membership; focus on private-public partnerships.
Business Call to Action: Private-public partnerships; privates include Barclays, Pfizer, Microsoft, Ericcson, Tata; publics include USAID, UNDP, UK, Canadian and Australian aid organizations
Open Society Foundation (Soros): Main focus is Eastern Europe / democratization; but limited selected projects in education (particularly secondary and post-secondary) in South America and Asia.
LexMundiProBono: Legal work to various projects (unclear if you have to be in a participating firm to participate)
Whole Planet Foundation (Whole Foods!!): Focus (obviously) on organic / sustainable agriculture, apparently mostly by supporting microcredit. Surprisingly large grants (up to 300K), many in Central America, handful in Peru, Bolivia etc.
GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GM Rao): Historic focus on public health, entrepreneurial development and community-based institutional development; Rao recently pledged $340M more, the bulk of which is slated for primary education. (India only)
Global Giving: Simple site that (apparently) enables funds to flow more or less directly from global donors to (relatively) local NGOs. Process for nominating local organizations, which then undergo due diligence process. Affiliated with Whole Planet Foundation and other vetted organizations; written up in NYT and WSJ.
stay-another-day.org: IFC-initiated partnership to facilitate sustainable tourism; currently have Mekong programs in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam; plan to expand into Southern Africa as well. Partners include LP, Climate Care, Sustainable Travel International and worldhotel-link.com. Short term, well-vetted opportunities for volunteering and engagement. (We participated in one of these projects in Cambodia several years ago and ate/shopped at several of the Vietnam projects; it's definitely worth tracking down the country booklet.) Link isn't working today (4/14).
Worldhotel Travel is a global search/booking database, putatively for hotels, tour operators and eco-lodges that are locally run and sustainably operated (self-selected, I think). For some countries that are otherwise hard to get good information on (Swaziland), it might be a good starting point.
Sustainable Travel International appears (?), among other things, to act as a clearinghouse for online donors to contribute (more or less) directly to local organizations/projects once they have been (?) vetted for appropriateness. Program is somehow (?) linked with Global Giving, which is 501(c)3; however it's not clear if donations through it are deductible.
Pack for a Purpose: Devote 5 pounds of your suitcase capacity to bringing in school or medical supplies when you're otherwise staying at a participating eco-lodge (just drop package off at the check-in desk). US 501(c)3 affiliated with Sustainable Travel International. (Many of my already-discovered gems, including Hotel de la Paix and Black Sheep Inn, participate -- site is probably useful just to search for funky accommodations.) This pretty much defines low-hanging fruit.
Virgin Money Giving: Evidently a lot of businesses are setting up similar programs to funnel donations to (not particularly vetted) local organizations; I like this one because it's unusually transparent on its fee structure. Eventually I'll find a US-based one, but for the moment this is the model.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Hiatus... Hoping: South Africa / Southern Africa
Maps:
Zoomable roadmap
Jiwire's hotspots (lots of them)
Pillars: Volunteering, Ecology, Safari
Book Bus - Zambia program has taken families before NQ and includes side trip to Victoria Falls; also does safari trips originating and ending in Lilongwe, Malawi; and another route entirely within Malawi
Orca Foundation - marine research / ecotourism with voluntouristy component an hour or so (? maybe more?) outside Capetown.
Enkosini - Alleged US registered 501(c)3 (?) affiliated with range of conservation projects, mostly around Kruger and Capetown. Essentially eco-tourism; not clear what volunteers *do*; but that may fit the bill for families... director noted that Enkosini Wildlife Reserve, Makalali Game Reserve, and Whale & Dolphin Marine Project are suitable for families. Concerned that though they list as 501(c)3, the number does not actually turn up with Charity Navigator or the IRS.
Kariega - several eco-lodges along "Garden Route" on Cape; take short term volunteers as well as eco-tourist kinds of projects
Siyafunda - Rehab center near Kruger
help2read - South African-registered NGO outside Capetown, affiliated with Books for Africa; variety
of very short term (ie office help for one afternoon) to gap year teaching opportunities (18+); Goodwill Globetrotting keeps Pack-for-a-Purpose-like wishlist running for them
you2africa - help2read-linked database of a handful of Capetown-based projects, including seven schools, taking (18+) medium and longterm volunteers
United Planet does not have program in South Africa; Tanzania teaching & orphanage programs are open to families NQM at "basic" program; NAA at full-service including (attractive) excursions
Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage: Enrichment/support for middle school kids and animal rehab center in Limpopo (near Kruger); extensive (rather cooked) TA feedback; but also affiliated with Thousand Points of Light and Global Giving and appears quite established; MB at 2 weeks. Website insists all participants must be 16+ but worth checking in with them if our itinerary brings us in that direction, particularly if we have a car at that point. Alternate contact through Goodwill Globetrotting, evidently a UK-based Pack for a Purpose sort of clearinghouse...
Global Camps Africa: PL initiative
Global Vision International seems to have greatest range of projects in the region; most are not listed as open for families but it's worth checking, as a number of their *other* projects are open and some of these sound like they could be appropriate. Includes a couple in Swaziland. Project costs vary substantially.
Cross-Cultural Solutions - Capetown (teaching and community development) volunteering NAA
GoEco voluntourism trip (education) with side trips to penguins and safari (does not specify where); sure wish I could find independent reviews NQ
Visiting:
Zambia:
SEKA - Community theater program in (central Zambia, near South Luangwa Natl Park) which focuses on AIDS awareness and other (mostly health related) outreach efforts. For $200, will come to a tourist destination or community project near you. Affiliated with Norman Carr operation (his granddaughter is MD and one of the co-founders) and Pack for a Purpose.
Project Luangwa - Umbrella organization founded by Jo Pope (wife of Robin) which draws on resources of network of safari operators (I think all in South Luangwa) to support a number of schools, health and conservation initiatives
Room to Read - John Wood's well-financed and -connected global organization building community libraries has expanded into girls' education scholarships and school buidling as well; running a Zambia field trip on Oct 2-3 but this is unlikely to fit The Schedule
Malawi:
Malawi Children's Village - founded in 1987 by former Peace Corps volunteers; run a range of services including orphan support services, malaria nets, HIV education, to villages around Blantyre
Friends of Mulanje Orphans - UK based non-profit providing orphan support services; featured in the excellent (YA fiction) The Heaven Shop
South Africa:
South Africa National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (i.e., working with the penguins): this is the direct link to the true research organization in Capetown, for those looking for the direct link. However, does not appear to work with families.
Booksforafrica projects near Capetown
Growing the Future - sustainable agriculture focusing on developing women's skill base; in Gansbaii/ Western Cape; alternate address via Goodwill Globetrotting. They do take volunteers but not suitable for families... too bad my jam-making skills are so rudimentary...
Angus Gillis Foundation community lending program a la Grameen with range of projects in / around Kwandwe Private Game Reserve (Eastern Cape)
Bridges Academy - well established school in Philippi (Capetown township) ; affiliated with California-based Bridges of Hope, which is classified by IRS as non profit foundation (not a charity) though FWIW it does not appear on Charity Navigator
Heifer South Africa: Community development projects, most within 2 hours of Heifer office in Limpopo; Heifer evidently also recently opened an office in Capetown (dunno if this link will hold: Darling St 8000)
Daktari (see above) near Limpopo
Imagine Scholars: Can't quite figure out exactly what this *is*; possibly just a couple funding a bunch of enrichment scholarships for a handful of hand-picked highschoolers... just below Kruger and above Swaziland; linked through idealist.org
Recommended Accommodations:
Johannesburg:
Capetown:
Kruger National Park: RG recommends renting a car and staying at park's own restcamps, which offer game drives and night walks and a "great vibe"... (More diligence, perhaps). Park also has seven breathtakingly expensive luxury lodges. Still looking for a happy medium.
KwaZulu Natal: a basically random walk brought me to The Cavern, so reviews TBD, but it looks intriguing if we do go off in that direction...
In-Country Logistics:
Rovos Train: Skip highly recommended overnight from Pretoria to Capetown $$$$
Wild Card: Parks passport-type program for all SA parks and many reserves; has family card (check once itinerary is more solid to see if it makes sense)
South African Airways: Main game in town; has travel agent arm that puts together packages; also look at the AirPass once a couple of pillars are in place
Safari Now: Short term apartments and boutique hotels as well as safari operators throughout southern Africa; recommended in Rough Guide
Greenwood Guide: Selected accommodations in South Africa, Namibia and New Zealand (?!) with vetted standards; recommended in Rough Guide
Cape Town Tourism: Booking services to national park cottages
JM's rec for renting Cape Town apartments
Robben Island: Many boats go near the island; only this museum provider is allowed to go onto the island. Guidebooks and site itself warn to book ahead on line.
Table Mountain National Park: (penguins) day pass or has cottages
Tour providers:
JK rec Robin Pope Safaris in Zambia and Malawi
Cultural visits in Port Elizabeth / easter Cape area: Calabash Tours (somewhat random walk to get there; affiliated through several degrees of separation, via UK and Netherlands Calabash Foundation, to idealist.org)
Safari tours: RG recommends Livingstone Trails, Outlook Small Group Explorations, Transfrontiers and Wildlife Safaris for Kruger. Fodors recommends SKI (which, no kidding, stands for Spend the Kids' Inheritance), South African Airways' Expressions of Africa, Cybele, Matsimba, Springbok and Welcome Tours.
HandsUp Holidays: RG rec; combines touristy with "taste of volunteering" activities. Expensive.
Baobab Travel family South Africa/Swaziland trip (RG rec) combines Kruger, Swaziland, "cultural education," and Stay Another Day add-ons such as turtle tracking, community development, etc. NAA
Pithy advice from those who've traveled the road before:
The Gills on hauling electronics through South Africa as hub on the way to other destinations (sigh)
sixintheworld on just renting a minivan and camping in the SA parks
Note: library has Fodor's South Africa 7th ed/2012, Rough Guide South Africa 2010; LP South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland 8th ed/2009; LP Southern Africa 4th ed/2007; and Bradt Malawi 3rd 2003 (sigh)
Zoomable roadmap
Jiwire's hotspots (lots of them)
Pillars: Volunteering, Ecology, Safari
Book Bus - Zambia program has taken families before NQ and includes side trip to Victoria Falls; also does safari trips originating and ending in Lilongwe, Malawi; and another route entirely within Malawi
Orca Foundation - marine research / ecotourism with voluntouristy component an hour or so (? maybe more?) outside Capetown.
Enkosini - Alleged US registered 501(c)3 (?) affiliated with range of conservation projects, mostly around Kruger and Capetown. Essentially eco-tourism; not clear what volunteers *do*; but that may fit the bill for families... director noted that Enkosini Wildlife Reserve, Makalali Game Reserve, and Whale & Dolphin Marine Project are suitable for families. Concerned that though they list as 501(c)3, the number does not actually turn up with Charity Navigator or the IRS.
Kariega - several eco-lodges along "Garden Route" on Cape; take short term volunteers as well as eco-tourist kinds of projects
Siyafunda - Rehab center near Kruger
help2read - South African-registered NGO outside Capetown, affiliated with Books for Africa; variety
of very short term (ie office help for one afternoon) to gap year teaching opportunities (18+); Goodwill Globetrotting keeps Pack-for-a-Purpose-like wishlist running for them
you2africa - help2read-linked database of a handful of Capetown-based projects, including seven schools, taking (18+) medium and longterm volunteers
United Planet does not have program in South Africa; Tanzania teaching & orphanage programs are open to families NQM at "basic" program; NAA at full-service including (attractive) excursions
Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage: Enrichment/support for middle school kids and animal rehab center in Limpopo (near Kruger); extensive (rather cooked) TA feedback; but also affiliated with Thousand Points of Light and Global Giving and appears quite established; MB at 2 weeks. Website insists all participants must be 16+ but worth checking in with them if our itinerary brings us in that direction, particularly if we have a car at that point. Alternate contact through Goodwill Globetrotting, evidently a UK-based Pack for a Purpose sort of clearinghouse...
Global Camps Africa: PL initiative
Global Vision International seems to have greatest range of projects in the region; most are not listed as open for families but it's worth checking, as a number of their *other* projects are open and some of these sound like they could be appropriate. Includes a couple in Swaziland. Project costs vary substantially.
Cross-Cultural Solutions - Capetown (teaching and community development) volunteering NAA
GoEco voluntourism trip (education) with side trips to penguins and safari (does not specify where); sure wish I could find independent reviews NQ
Visiting:
Zambia:
SEKA - Community theater program in (central Zambia, near South Luangwa Natl Park) which focuses on AIDS awareness and other (mostly health related) outreach efforts. For $200, will come to a tourist destination or community project near you. Affiliated with Norman Carr operation (his granddaughter is MD and one of the co-founders) and Pack for a Purpose.
Project Luangwa - Umbrella organization founded by Jo Pope (wife of Robin) which draws on resources of network of safari operators (I think all in South Luangwa) to support a number of schools, health and conservation initiatives
Room to Read - John Wood's well-financed and -connected global organization building community libraries has expanded into girls' education scholarships and school buidling as well; running a Zambia field trip on Oct 2-3 but this is unlikely to fit The Schedule
Malawi:
Malawi Children's Village - founded in 1987 by former Peace Corps volunteers; run a range of services including orphan support services, malaria nets, HIV education, to villages around Blantyre
Friends of Mulanje Orphans - UK based non-profit providing orphan support services; featured in the excellent (YA fiction) The Heaven Shop
South Africa:
South Africa National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (i.e., working with the penguins): this is the direct link to the true research organization in Capetown, for those looking for the direct link. However, does not appear to work with families.
Booksforafrica projects near Capetown
Growing the Future - sustainable agriculture focusing on developing women's skill base; in Gansbaii/ Western Cape; alternate address via Goodwill Globetrotting. They do take volunteers but not suitable for families... too bad my jam-making skills are so rudimentary...
Angus Gillis Foundation community lending program a la Grameen with range of projects in / around Kwandwe Private Game Reserve (Eastern Cape)
Bridges Academy - well established school in Philippi (Capetown township) ; affiliated with California-based Bridges of Hope, which is classified by IRS as non profit foundation (not a charity) though FWIW it does not appear on Charity Navigator
Heifer South Africa: Community development projects, most within 2 hours of Heifer office in Limpopo; Heifer evidently also recently opened an office in Capetown (dunno if this link will hold: Darling St 8000)
Daktari (see above) near Limpopo
Imagine Scholars: Can't quite figure out exactly what this *is*; possibly just a couple funding a bunch of enrichment scholarships for a handful of hand-picked highschoolers... just below Kruger and above Swaziland; linked through idealist.org
Recommended Accommodations:
Johannesburg:
Capetown:
Kruger National Park: RG recommends renting a car and staying at park's own restcamps, which offer game drives and night walks and a "great vibe"... (More diligence, perhaps). Park also has seven breathtakingly expensive luxury lodges. Still looking for a happy medium.
KwaZulu Natal: a basically random walk brought me to The Cavern, so reviews TBD, but it looks intriguing if we do go off in that direction...
In-Country Logistics:
Rovos Train: Skip highly recommended overnight from Pretoria to Capetown $$$$
Wild Card: Parks passport-type program for all SA parks and many reserves; has family card (check once itinerary is more solid to see if it makes sense)
South African Airways: Main game in town; has travel agent arm that puts together packages; also look at the AirPass once a couple of pillars are in place
Safari Now: Short term apartments and boutique hotels as well as safari operators throughout southern Africa; recommended in Rough Guide
Greenwood Guide: Selected accommodations in South Africa, Namibia and New Zealand (?!) with vetted standards; recommended in Rough Guide
Cape Town Tourism: Booking services to national park cottages
JM's rec for renting Cape Town apartments
Robben Island: Many boats go near the island; only this museum provider is allowed to go onto the island. Guidebooks and site itself warn to book ahead on line.
Table Mountain National Park: (penguins) day pass or has cottages
Tour providers:
JK rec Robin Pope Safaris in Zambia and Malawi
Cultural visits in Port Elizabeth / easter Cape area: Calabash Tours (somewhat random walk to get there; affiliated through several degrees of separation, via UK and Netherlands Calabash Foundation, to idealist.org)
Safari tours: RG recommends Livingstone Trails, Outlook Small Group Explorations, Transfrontiers and Wildlife Safaris for Kruger. Fodors recommends SKI (which, no kidding, stands for Spend the Kids' Inheritance), South African Airways' Expressions of Africa, Cybele, Matsimba, Springbok and Welcome Tours.
HandsUp Holidays: RG rec; combines touristy with "taste of volunteering" activities. Expensive.
Baobab Travel family South Africa/Swaziland trip (RG rec) combines Kruger, Swaziland, "cultural education," and Stay Another Day add-ons such as turtle tracking, community development, etc. NAA
Pithy advice from those who've traveled the road before:
The Gills on hauling electronics through South Africa as hub on the way to other destinations (sigh)
sixintheworld on just renting a minivan and camping in the SA parks
Note: library has Fodor's South Africa 7th ed/2012, Rough Guide South Africa 2010; LP South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland 8th ed/2009; LP Southern Africa 4th ed/2007; and Bradt Malawi 3rd 2003 (sigh)
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