Singita Sweni Lodge, Kruger National Park, South Africa.

National parks worldwide can be unforgettably green destinations.

Take South Africa’s Kruger National Park which is known for its stunning scenery and high concentration of wildlife.

Small, intimate, contemporary Singita Sweni Lodge is located in the national park on the banks of the Sweni River.

“Singita is committed to making a sustainable difference to local communities and to protecting the environment and wildlife,” says the company.

Recent Singita community projects have included:

• Building schools;

• Micro-financing small businesses;

• Supporting agricultural initiatives and

• Training people in the conservation and hospitality sectors.

For more info, visit the Singita site.

Image courtesy of Singita

Have you ever had to postpone a trip and been forced to pay additional charges?

Gap Adventures has now adopted a new Lifetime Deposit policy which lets passengers postpone trips indefinitely at no extra charge.  The company says it understands that travel plans change and sometimes need to be delayed and listened to traveler feedback.

The adventure tour operator offers 1,000+ small group experiences, safaris and expeditions on all seven continents to more than 100,000 travelers a year.  Its  adventures focus on wildlife encounters, active travel and cultural interaction, ideal for travelers who want to get off-the-beaten track and experience local culture.

In an adventure travel industry first, passengers who forced to delay a departure will now retain their initial deposit with Gap Adventures for life. The no-questions-asked Lifetime Deposit policy allows passengers to save their initial deposits for Gap Adventures for use at a later date.

Says Bruce Poon Tip, founder of Gap Adventures:

“We see this as an opportunity to once again demonstrate our commitment to leading with service and change this industry-standard practice. We understand the needs of our travelers and we feel that providing this extra flexibility will enhance their travel experiences with us. Under the new policy, deposits are also transferable. Our passengers are telling us they need flexibility now more than ever.  This new policy fits in perfectly with our core mission to provide the best customer service in the industry, which is an essential part of the life-changing adventures that our loyal travellers have come to expect from Gap Adventures.”

The original passenger may transfer the initial deposit to another traveler of their choice at no additional charge. They can also donate their deposit to the non-profit Planeterra Foundation – Gap Adventures will then match the value of that donation.

For more details, check out GapAdventures.com.

Image courtesy of Planeterra Foundation

Image courtesy of Wild Planet Adventures

Have you dreamed of eco-touring India?

Wild Planet Adventures’ trip Ultimate Wildlife Safari: Leopards, Tigers and Palaces offers a combination of India’s cultural experiences and classic wildlife safaris.

The trip features 5 safaris in different National Parks, by jeep, elephant-back and camel-back, where travelers can experience the sight of wild leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, tigers and more.  Travelers will also explore “the golden-hued desert strongholds of Jodhpur and Jaipur, the magnificent Taj Mahal, the remote villages of Rajasthan and off-the-beaten-track Assam and meet the Bishnois sect of Hindus who revere wildlife as part of their religion.”

For more info, check out Wild Planet Adventures online.