Linking the splendours of Africa in a network of tourism routes from the Cape to Cairo.

During 1990, I worried that the general feeling of euphoria over the possibility that South Africa’s political problems could be resolved was masking an even bigger problem both here and elsewhere in Africa, namely that of a need for job creation on a massive scale. With limited options to compete successfully in the traditional sectors of the global economy, I believed that new ways of creating employment had to be found that take account of this continent’s specific circumstances. Tourism was one of the ways to accomplish this, not only because a transition to democracy would improve its potential, but more specifically for the reason that logic dictated that nature-based tourism was likely to grow in inverted proportion to intensification of the global environmental crisis. With this in mind, a think tank of eminent businesspeople, scientists and experts was formed in 1993 to work out a method of creating a replicable system of embracing especially the poor in rural and marginalized areas in this idea, which resulted in the formation of what became Open Africa.

The closer we work with local government, existing structures and other NGO’s, the better are the results achieved. Generally what we do adds value to existing initiatives, without treading on anyone’s toes or disturbing their sovereignty. Thus we enter into strategic alliances across a wide front and, as strong believers in the power of networking, we utilize this strength through a heavy reliance on Information Technology. Parks departments, conservation agencies, responsible tourism operators and advocates, poverty alleviators, aid agencies, and economic developers are all potential allies with whom we seek mutually beneficial relationships.