CapeNature attends Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban
CapeNature’s participation at the recent Africa Travel Indaba in Durban marked a significant milestone in promoting sustainable tourism and conservation initiatives. The event, which drew industry leaders and stakeholders from across the globe, provided an excellent platform for CapeNature to showcase its commitment to conserving the Western Cape's natural beauty while fostering economic growth through eco-tourism.
Sheraaz Ismail, Executive Director: Eco-Tourism & Access at CapeNature, highlighted the importance of such events, stating, "Africa Travel Indaba has been pivotal in expanding our network and presenting CapeNature's projects to an international audience. It's thrilling to see the interest and enthusiasm for sustainable practices within the tourism sector."
Dr. Ashley Naidoo, CEO of CapeNature, also commented on the success of the event: "Our presence at the Indaba has not only reinforced our dedication to conservation but has also opened doors for future collaborations that align with our vision of a sustainable future. The discussions and connections made here underscore the critical role that nature-based tourism plays in conservation efforts."
Throughout the event, CapeNature emphasized its innovative approaches to eco-tourism, including its efforts to connect communities with nature and create meaningful opportunities through tourism. The positive feedback from participants and stakeholders at the Indaba was a testament to the ongoing efforts and achievements of CapeNature in promoting a greener future.
Winile Mtungwa, Deputy Head for Tourism at Durban Tourism, noted that the city had recorded over R500 million in revenue during Indaba week, with a 23% increase in exhibitors this year, featuring over 1,200 stands. This underscored the event's substantial impact on the local economy and its growing prominence in the global tourism industry.
Read more here.
As CapeNature continues to lead in sustainable tourism, the insights and partnerships formed at Africa Travel Indaba will undoubtedly enhance its initiatives, such as the travel trade programme.
Sign-ups available here.
Related News
Over 43 000 Cape Gannets on Lambert’s Bay Bird Island this breeding season
Bird Island is alive with the sounds and spectacle of seabirds, with an estimated over 43 000 Cape Gannets currently making the island their home this breeding season. The thriving colony reinforces Bird Island, Lambert’s Bay, as one of South Africa’s most important gannet breeding sites and highlights the impact of ongoing marine conservation work.
Water Week: Protecting Our Most Precious Resource
Water is fundamental to life and essential to our daily wellbeing. While this may seem widely understood, it remains important to continually remind ourselves of the value of this finite resource. Although approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only about 2.5% of it is freshwater available to sustain ecosystems and human needs.
New SASS accreditor supports river biomonitoring in the Western Cape
CapeNature continues to strengthen its role in freshwater conservation through the expertise of its staff, with freshwater ecologist Jeanne Gouws receiving her South African Scoring System (SASS) accreditation as an accreditor. Having successfully passed every three-yearly assessment since 2007, she is now the official Western Cape SASS accreditor.
GreenLaw Foundation empowers CapeNature in marine criminal law training
The GreenLaw Foundation successfully hosted a three-day mock criminal trial training program for CapeNature and other state officials, who could be called as state witnesses, focusing on marine-related biodiversity criminal cases. The programme was held at the Betty’s Bay Boat Club, Stoney Point, from 17 to 19 February 2026.
Western Cape adds over 81 000 hectares of new nature reserves in the past year
The Western Cape has added over 20 new nature reserves to its Protected Area network, securing more than 81 715 hectares of ecologically significant land for long-term conservation. Declared between April 2025 and March 2026, these new reserves strengthen the province’s efforts to protect important landscapes, species, and vegetation types.
Exploring the hidden world of fynbos frogs
A recent grant from the Herpetological Association of Africa enabled the investigation of the taxonomically confusing species of Ghost Frogs. Ghost Frogs (Family Heleophrynidae) are an endemic family of frogs that diverged from all other frogs 100 million years ago. These specialised frogs typically inhabit fast-flowing headwater habitats.