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September 27, 2007: African Encounter is offering a new Photography Project that allows tourists to participate in a 12-day photo safari and have the opportunity for some of their best pictures to be sold to benefit local communities.
The Conservation Education through Photography Project is focused on the Greater St Lucia National Park, a beautiful area that was declared as South Africa's first Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Encompassing almost half a million acres, it is a premier bush-and-beach destination where five different eco-systems join, with savannahs, wetlands, swamps, beaches and a great wealth of wildlife. The area is home to the Zulu tribe which has a very lively and colourful culture. St. Lucia itself is a comfortable and charismatic town within walking distance from the beach.
Participants will spend many hours in the bush, taking pictures of animals such as rhino, elephant and leopard, under the supervision of an experienced wildlife photographer. Selected shots will be used to create a photo database for educational purposes in order to teach South Africans about the value of conservation. Highlights will include game drives in the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi National Parks, visits to the beach and snorkelling at Cape Vidal, whale, dolphin and sea turtle viewing, deep sea fishing and sunset cruises on the St Lucia estuary.
There will also be weekend trips to the Kruger National Park or Mozambique. Participants also have the opportunity to interact with and educate AIDS orphans in an orphan day care centre and be involved in educating the local community about the HIV virus. The company also organises longer volunteer projects which allow participants to work more closely with wildlife conservation projects and local communities. For more information, email marleen@africanencounter.org.
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