South Africa has always been renowned for its sunny skies and beaches, as well as its fantastic wildlife. Over the last few years, however, although people still flock to this country to absorb the sunshine and the big game areas, there is a growing move towards what has become known as ecotourism. This is not a South African phenomenon, of course, but a global trend.

Ecotourism is not a new concept. Out-of-towners have been going on safari (a Swahili word meaning to travel) in Africa for at least two centuries, elsewhere in the world it's been going on even longer. And a safari (now used virtually around the world) means anything from a game drive lasting a couple of hours to a full-blown expedition lasting several months.

And in Africa ecotourism is certainly not a new idea. Throughout the 19th century, many of Europe's great naturalists 'safaried' around the continent identifying animals and plants and giving them their names - Burchell's Zebra, Hartlaub's Babbler, Acacia burkei. At the same time, 'great white hunters' safaried across East and southern Africa, opening up the interior and revealing Africa's bewildering variety of wildlife.

In the 20th century, these safaris became more sophisticated, although the objective was the same for both naturalists and hunters.

One thing was certain, however, whether collecting butterflies or tracking down elephants, these people developed a love of Africa, her wildlife and wide-open spaces, that was to lay a firm foundation for the ecotourism industry as it exists today.

Although the concept is not new, the term 'ecotourism' is comparatively so. There are many definitions of the concept, but perhaps the most comprehensive is that created by the America-based Ecotourism Society, which describes it as, "Purposeful travel to natural areas; to understand the cultural and natural history of the environment; taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, while producing economic opportunities that make conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people".

This definition fits neatly into the South African situation, catering for the need for conservation of both the natural and the cultural environment, and for sustainable development, particularly for local people.

From snow-covered mountains and ski slopes to desert dunes, vast grass-covered savannas to coral reefs and rocky shores, slowly meandering rivers and vistas of blue-grey bushveld teeming with big game, to golden beaches - and with so much else in-between, South Africa really does have it all.

South Africa has other advantages as well, like a sophisticated transport infrastructure to get ecotourists to and around their chosen destination; a financial and banking system that gives ecotourists ease of access to local currency and bureaux de change; accommodation facilities that range from sophisticated, international-styled, five-star edifices, to tiny family bed and breakfast establishments or overnight huts on hiking trails; restaurants that offer a cosmopolitan cuisine and cater for global gourmets, take-away outlets for a quick bite, or pre-packed, flash frozen foods for that hiking trail or bush safari; shops (yes, even an ecotourist shop) carrying the most sophisticated locally designed and manufactured jewelry, including local gold, diamonds and other precious stones and metals, to hand made crafts from local villages, the latest IT gimmickry to a bottle of mineral water.

And some of those attractions

Ecotourism in South Africa probably begins with the country's network of 20 National Parks, representing just about every biological zone or natural environment in the country. The Kruger National Park is perhaps the most famous, over two million hectares of bushveld in north eastern South Africa, big game country accessible through organised coach tours, the self-drive independent tourist, or even escorted hiking trails. It now forms an integral part of the largest game park in the world - the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park sharing borders with Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The Pilanesberg National Park, 55 000 ha set in an extinct volcano just two hours drive from central Johannesburg, is another Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard) reserve. At the other end of the country is the Cape Peninsula National Park, which includes South Africa's most famous tourist icon, Table Mountain, then the mountains of "The Fairest Cape in all the circumference of the earth", as Sir Francis Drake described it in the 16th century.

Cape Town is the centre for a great deal of ecotourism, as the mountains and the West Coast National Park stretch up to the north of it, the Garden Route and a number of mountain and coastal National Parks stretch out to the east of it, and to the north east lies the arid, but beautiful, Karoo and its attendant National Parks. The Kalahari Desert to the north is well served with the Kgalakgadi Transfrontier Conservation Area, once the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, now part of Africa's first functioning Transfrontier Conservation Area or Peace Park, shared with Botswana. The great sweep of the Drakensberg Mountains is also well served with National Parks, as indeed are the wide-open spaces of the Northern Cape. Most National Parks may be visited with organised tours or traveled through independently, and most have a broad spectrum of accommodation available, from luxury lodges to well appointed camp sites.

Many of the National Parks also feature the national hiking trails for which South Africa is justifiably famous, a real opportunity for serious ecotourists to get into the wilderness, to feel Africa under their feet.

Apart from the National Parks, there is also a network of game reserves and parks, marine reserves and other natural areas, many run by local or provincial authorities, many privately owned. The superb Big Five reserves of KwaZulu-Natal need special mention, as they cover some of South Africa's finest big game country. Some of the most famous private reserves in Africa are here in South Africa, particularly down in the Lowveld adjacent to the Kruger National Park. South Africa's four World Heritage Sites are also important ecotourism centres, each with its own attractions, both natural and cultural.

They are the Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Environs World Heritage Site, an area of mainly palaeo-anthropoligical interest just outside Johannesburg, the Greater St Lucia Wetland World Heritage Site, on KwaZulu-Natal's magnificent Zululand coastline, the Robben Island World Heritage Site in Table Bay, a site of more historical and cultural interest, and the latest to be declared, the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, high in the Drakensberg Mountains between South Africa and Lesotho.

In more specialised areas, controlled 4x4 vehicle safaris and trails are becoming increasingly popular and these can be found in many different natural environments around the country. There is much for the diving enthusiast too, whether snorkeling or scuba, not only around the coastline (remember those coral reefs and rocky shores, shipwrecks too), but also in inland waters. Staying with water, there is some great river rafting, canoeing and kayaking on South African rivers, not to mention yachting and power boating both at sea and on inland waters. Cycling, too, is growing in popularity. There are of course organised cycling events, but there are also some great trails that may be done by mountain bike, which of course may be hired locally.

Because of the vast distances involved, cycling as a means of getting around the country is not as common as it might be elsewhere, but for those ecotourists with the time and the energy, South Africa certainly has the range of scenic beauty to roll under your wheels. Even slower is horse trailing, but just as pleasurable. There are organised horse trails in various parts of the country, but riding horses may also be hired for more local trips. And even slower still, but perhaps considerably more exotic, there are even camel trails to be done!

The cultural side of ecotourism must not be underrated, either. It is said that most people around the world have heard of Africa's four most famous groups or tribes - the pygmies, the Maasai, the Zulu and the San or Bushmen - and the Zulu and the San are right here in South Africa! For many reasons, and quite justifiably, the Zulu are probably South Africa's most famous ethnic group, and happily they are very accessible.

The Zulu are a very traditional African people, fiercely and proudly maintaining their ancient culture. Their traditional way of life may be seen in rural kraals or villages, as well as more formal cultural villages and centres, throughout Zululand, which is part of modern day KwaZulu-Natal. There are even bed and breakfast establishments in Zulu kraals, an opportunity for the more adventurous tourist to eat and sleep with one of Africa's greatest peoples, and then the next morning get up to help them milk the cows in the cattle kraal - it does not come much more authentic than that.

The many other tribes or ethnic groups of South Africa (remember that there are no fewer than eleven official languages here!) are also fascinating and many of the local cultures and traditions are accessible to tourists. The Ndebele people of the central and northern parts of the country are famous for their painted houses, among other things, while the Venda of the far north east are, like the Zulu, a very traditional people whose land is dotted with Great Zimbabwe-type ruins (they are, after all, descendents of the people who built the original Great Zimbabwe).

San or Bushmen living in their age-old traditional way are, unfortunately, becoming difficult to find. They were, and in some cases still are, the original hunter gatherers of Africa and up until comparatively recently those fortunate enough to be able to observe a group of San going about their daily routines, were actually witnesses the lifestyle of all Homo sapiens for hundreds of thousands of years.

There are some cultural villages were the hunter gatherer way of life may be seen, however, and these should be a 'must' on any comprehensive cultural itinerary.

Ecotourism initiatives countrywide are fully cognizant of the need to involve neighbouring communities and there are many highly successful partnerships adhering to these strict principles in ensuring that local communities benefit directly from such projects and developments, either through direct partnerships or through advantageous commitment to plough a profit share back into the community.

Let it also not be forgotten that South Africa has one of the biggest Indian communities outside India, both Hindu and Muslim, and these colourful cultures are there for everyone to experience and enjoy, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. The Afrikaner community maintains many of the pioneer traditions, many of which have become firm fixtures in the South African culture - you will be unlikely to spend even a short stay in South Africa without enjoying a traditional 'braai' - a barbecue or cookout. There is a small, but vibrant Chinese community - do not miss the Chinese New Year!

South Africa is without doubt a prime destination for the ecotourist, and fully lives up to an experience where visitors can 'Discover South Africa, Rediscover Yourself', the theme that underlies all of South African Tourism's marketing activities.

Also important is that many ecotourism activities are accessible to people with disabilities, with several organisations specialising in getting people with either physical or mental disabilities into the natural environment.