Reservations

Luxury Travel

Reservations

Luxury Travel

Voluntourism in South Africa

The Royal Portfolio Foundation Itinerary
Cape Town > Hermanus > Franschhoek > Kruger

Travellers looking to make a difference in South Africa can book a new 10-day itinerary with The Royal Portfolio, a collection of luxury hotels. The Royal Portfolio Foundation itinerary incorporates four iconic South African destinations and hotels with participation in important community and conservation projects included. Experiences include visiting Lalela Project, which provides educational arts for at-risk youth in Cape Town or a day in the Outdoor Wildlife Classroom at Royal Malewane safari lodge, meeting the remarkable dogs and their handlers who protect endangered rhinos and other wildlife from poachers.

The Silo, Cape Town
Birkenhead House, Hermanus
La Residence, Franschhoek
Royal Malewane, Greater Kruger National Park
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Relax and enjoy The Silo Hotel after your long journey and enjoy a welcome sundowner drink with a member of The Royal Portfolio Foundation with whom you can discuss the details of The Foundation and your itinerary.

Stay at the Silo Hotel, Cape Town

After breakfast you will visit the Lalela Project which provides educational arts for at-risk youth. Many of their pieces hang in The Silo Hotel’s art collection.

In the afternoon, there is a chance to visit and help out with one of the local feeding schemes or visit Table Mountain or Robben Island.

Stay at The Silo Hotel Cape Town

A visit to the South Africa Council for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) where you will ‘adopt a bird’ in need, followed by a trip to the penguin colony in Simon’s Town. En-route you will stop at the Potters Workshop – a wonderful community craft project supported by The Silo Hotel.

Stay at The Silo Hotel, Cape Town

After breakfast at The Silo Hotel you will transfer to Birkenhead House (approx. 90 minutes) where you can enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Stay at Birkenhead House, Hermanus

Enjoy a half day Dyer Island Tour gaining fascinating insights into the marine world and the abundant life found in our oceans including whales (in season), penguins and sharks.

In the afternoon you are welcome to enjoy a guided walk through the Fernkloof Nature Reserve learning about its unique ecology, the fynbos and the spectacular birdlife.

Stay at Birkenhead House, Hermanus

After breakfast you can visit Masibulele, an early learning centre supported by Birkenhead House. The Principal, Sweetness is the mother of one of our staff members – Sandile.

From there you will continue on to La Residence in Franschhoek (approx. 90 mins) and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Stay at La Residence, Franschhoek

Visit nearby Wes-Eind Primary school and plant a tree (500L celtis sinensis) in their ‘Quiet Quad’ for the children to enjoy and to assist in offsetting your carbon footprint in getting to South Africa.

In the afternoon visit the local community in Groendal with Madeleine – our resident flower lady and gain insights into local life in the Cape Winelands.

Stay at La Residence Franschhoek

Time for your flight to Royal Malewane! In keeping with The Royal Portfolio’s Purpose and Values, The Farmstead at Royal Malewane is part of a broader project to uplift local communities. Support for the community and conservation of the environment are inextricably linked. The local community needs to realise the financial gains of tourism in order to see the value in protecting wildlife and the environment. The Farmstead land is leased from the local community and The Royal Portfolio has undertaken to employ and develop members of that community.

Take some time out enjoying your suite and your first game drive with the most qualified guiding team in Africa who will offer precious insights into the natural world and the basics of conservation.

Stay at Royal Malewane, Greater Kruger National Park

Spend a Morning experiencing rural African education at the Sigagule Crèche, an early learning centre in the local village just 30 mins from the lodge. The teachers will show you their productive vegetable garden and the children love to have an audience to sing to. The younger children would love you to read a book to them, so pack one for your favourites if you would like to.

On the way home, you may wish to meet Brenda, the principal of the recently established Langutelani Crèche. She will share her story and her aspirations for her little school. The children are not accustomed to visitors so can be a bit shy, but Brenda will encourage them to show off what they have learnt.

In the afternoon you can join the Outdoor Wildlife Classroom where you will be part of a training walk with one of our apprentice guides/trackers and their mentors. You will accompany them as they walk through the wilderness tracking wildlife and learning a few ‘bush secrets’ along the way.

Stay at Royal Malewane, Greater Krugar National Park

Visit the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (not open on Sundays) in the morning and in the afternoon meet the heroes of our highly specialised canine unit. Spend time with the dogs and their handlers who protect our endangered rhinos and other wildlife from poachers. They’ll share interesting insights into the specialised training of these remarkable dogs.

Spend your final evening talking to our expert guides and trackers around the fireplace. You will of course enjoy all the usual game drives and bush walks.

Stay at Royal Malewane, Greater Krugar National Park

Want to give Voluntourism a try?

Call our expert agents on 020 3092 1288 or email at [email protected] to enquire about this or other trips.

This is a feature from Issue 2 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.