While seeking for information about Safari trips, I was surprised to find, an Israeli interesting organization, called GoEco. It assists Israeli travelers to have both authentic touristic and volunteering experience in some ecological and humanitarian projects in the world.

GoEco was founded in 2005 by two Israeli ecological travelers, volunteers by themselves in such projects: Jonathan Gilben and Jonathan Tal. The GoEco organization cooperates with ecological and humanitarian projects in the world and helps Israeli travelers in matching them the right project and joining it. GoEco sums up with the project management all the details concerning the accommodation, economic and security conditions, prepare the traveler to the actual conditions in the site and make sure that someone nice will friendly welcome him at the airport and will drive him to the site.

First, it makes sure that the traveller expectations match the project conditions and then gives comprehensive information which is needed for a good cultural, psychological and practical accommodation to the country where the chosen project is being managed.

GoEco also cooperates with Israeli governmental and non-governmental organizations within ecological and environmental subjects and brings volunteers from all over the world in order to promote such projects in Israel as well (for example: the assistance project in the bible zoo in Jerusalem, or the assistance project for the wildlife reserve in the Carmel mountain etc.).

The travelers' diaries, published in the website, describe intensive experiences of living and working in exotic and fascinating cultures. Reading it can help a lot to a person who is planning to have such a safari vacation. For Example: there is a description of a young man experiences of teaching young orphans in Uganda, or a young woman who have taken care of lions' pups in South Africa, or other young woman who have taken care of Columbus monkeys in Kenya.

A price list in the website indicates the costs of such trips according to destination and project. For example: Two weeks in Kenya in a project of elephants and lions research and preservation - cost: 1230 Euro (around half price of a safari conventional vacation to the same destination).

It seems that people from all range of ages can find such a unique Safari adventure as a very interesting, educating and self-empowering experience, which is both an humanitarian activity and a self benefit one.

Many would argue the ill effects tourism can have on natural habitats and the animals themselves but the major argument for positive tourism is sustainable tourism - sharing the benefits of wildlife and socioeconomic development through the promotion of tourism. The objective of those working in the African travel industry should be to bring about sustainable economic development by way of eco-tourism, which is said to be the fastest growing industry in the world! Poverty and ineffective land use can be addressed with the help of tourism opportunities like African safaris, adventure holidays and fair trade travel.

Contrary to popular belief poverty in rural Africa is caused by lack of education, massive unemployment problems (due to large masses of land and the remoteness of many areas) and the limited options for the profitable use of such land. Sustainable projects and private commercial ventures that provide adventure holidays have economic potential through eco-tourism because they make use of the natural resources an area has in a way that benefits the local population without depleting those same natural resources.

Without such forward thinking approaches local people in and around remote areas have few alternatives but to exhaust the very resources (animals, land and natural beauty) on which their survival depends. Eco-tourism can be seen to protect the world's natural assets by emphasising their value to visitors and locals alike.

Historically, it was the Berlin Treaty of 1884 that literally carved Africa up with no concept of tribal groupings, wildlife migration routes or ecosystems. Current national boundaries reflect this somewhat warped history. The establishment of 'peace parks' like the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier conservation area aim to correct this past century but significant injustice by building on neighbouring relationships and encouraging improvements to natural habitats, wildlife and people through the joint management of these resources. The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier will become the worlds largest conservation area straddling Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe upon the completion of the project in 2010.

Eco-tourism and the development of 'peace parks' are an up and coming standard that African Governments (including Zambias) are using to create a sense of harmony between humankind (both foreign and local) and nature by using the lands natural resources to create prosperity. The beneficiaries are:

• visitors who leave more knowledgeable and with a positive and authentic African experience,
• local people who benefit from job creation and the development of schools and clinics,
• and also business owners who work sustainably and profitably.

All these factors lead to economic stability and since stability is seen to be the cornerstone of peace, when all benefit and development is sustainable, peace prevails, hence the name 'peace parks'.

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Republic of Botswana, is a land-locked country of southern Africa, surrounded by neighbors South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. It is one of the most prosperous countries in Africa where the economy is fueled by its robust tourism and large scale diamond mining. It also has the longest uninterrupted democracy in the history of the continent. Botswana's landscape is dominated by the vast Kalahari Desert, home of the indigenous people of San Bushmen for over 20,000 years.

Apart from being the largest producer of diamonds in the world (it is aptly called the Gem of Africa), Botswana is also famous for its safaris. The country has diverse areas of wildlife habitat. It is home to the world's largest inland delta, the Okavango Delta, which can be seen from outer space. The main safari destinations for tourism are the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, and the Chobe National Park.

The Okavango Delta environment has many different animal populations, such as crocodile, elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyenas, antelope, rhinoceros, buffalo, and the endangered wild dogs, as well as other common mammals and hundreds of bird species. The best time for game viewing in the delta is during the May-October period. For bird watching, it is in the rainy season since migratory birds are returning because the plants are blooming. Safari by the water in a mokoro, a dug out canoe, is the best way to appreciate the waterways of Okavango. Game viewing on a vehicle is used on land, as well as walking safaris.

In Chobe National Park, Botswana's first national park, is where the largest elephant herds in the world are to be found. These elephants have the largest body size of all living elephants. Lion, leopard and buffalo are also residents of the park.

To experience the Botswana safari, a traveler can get in to the country by plane in Gaborone, the country's capital or Maun. Flights are coming from Johannesburg since there are no international flights aside from South Africa and Zimbabwe. By land, all road access is good and the primary roads within Botswana are well maintained.

When taking the Botswana safari, it is advisable to have the national currency handy, which is called the pula, and also means rain. Before taking the trip it is also a must to visit a doctor for malaria precautions. A well planned adventure is required if one wants to get the best out of the Botswana safari.