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Animal tourism in South Africa, the ethical way

1516 Views 3 Liked Posted on: April 11th 2023

Animal tourism in South Africa, the ethical way

Niveaux B1-B2 (intermédiaire)

Park.jpg

You’re on holiday in South Africa because you want to see the might and majesty of African animals. After all, who doesn’t want to spot a lion creeping through the bush, or a monkey grooming its baby? But is your curiosity unethical? It depends.

Over recent years, animal encounters have become all the rage in South Africa. Elephant rides, swimming with dolphins or sharks, ostrich races, crocodile cage diving, cheetah walks and lion cub petting… These are some activities you’ll find on a tourist brochure. While many organisations help injured and orphaned animals, others breed or buy animals for tourism. In fact, according to the Endangered Wildlife Trust, this trade is one of the biggest threats to the survival of wild animals.

Kruger_National_Park_©Yorkshireknight S

So, can you see wild animals in South Africa without harming them?

Theoretically, yes. If you choose one of the South African National Parks, you know the animals are protected. This is the most ethical and exciting way to see wild animals during your holiday. These reserves exist because they are serious about animal conservation. Animals roam free across thousands of kilometres of land, and they are never forced to interact with humans. In fact, many animals in these parks never see a human being in their lives! Of course, nobody can guarantee you’ll see an animal in these reserves, but isn’t that part of the fun? How exciting to suddenly spot a giraffe towering above the trees at dawn, or hear a hyena laughing at dusk!

Where are these parks?

There are more than 20 national parks in South Africa. The most famous is the 2-million-hectare Kruger National Park in the northeast. If you want to see the Big Five – lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino and leopard – this is the place to go. Mountain Zebra National Park in the eastern Cape is a preserve for the Cape mountain zebra. As well as zebra, it has different antelope and a rich variety of birds and plants. Also in the Eastern Cape is Addo Elephant National Park where you can see these massive, but gentle, giants and lions and leopards too.

When planning your trip to South Africa, consult the list of National Parks at https://www.sanparks.org/.

Enjoy!

might: force

to creep: avancer sans bruit

to groom: faire sa toilette

all the rage: faire fureur

a cheetah: un guépard

lion cub petting: caresser les lionceaux

to breed: se reproduire

trade: commerce

a threat: une menace

to harm: nuire

to roam: rôder

to interact: interagir

to tower: dépasser

dawn: l’aube

dusk: le crépuscule

Cheetah.jpg
Posted in: Travel

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