Elizwe Ceramics is a pottery studio based on a sheep farm near Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape. The owner, Elize van Aardt, believes that one can uplift people through creativity and beauty. She has trained unskilled people in ceramics and shares her abilities to help others. more

Community tourism projects in South Africa are inspired by Nelson Mandela's legacy of moral fortitude and offer a way for the local and international traveller to acquire a little of his glow and change the southern tip of Africa for the better in some small or large way. more

Cape Town’s Dignified Places Programme is a cornerstone of the city’s 2014 World Design Capital bid. Conceived in 1999, it's an effort to implement, through design, the principles of equity, integration and sustainable development in the city’s poorest areas. In so doing, the city aims to improve accessibility, quality of life, and dignity for all. more

When you go tracking with the Kalahari Bushmen, you’ll find that they are deeply rooted in their ancient oral culture and in their symbiotic relationship with the animals, birds and plants of the Kalahari Desert. Stop, touch, taste, learn and listen – it’s an unforgettable experience. more

Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge in Limpopo is a pioneer in Fair Trade in Tourism in South Africa – and also the world. This comfortable, thatched lodge overlooking the waters of the Albasini Dam is also the best base to use when exploring the local Ribolla Venda Art Route with its famous sculptors. more

Bulungula Lodge is something of a legend in ethical travel circles. Here is an eco-friendly destination in a remote and stunning setting along the Eastern Cape's Wild Coast, which is part-owned by the surrounding community. They are your hosts, and offer a Xhosa village experience you will never forget. more

HIV/AIDS volunteer work could include tasks like shadowing caregivers, looking after terminally ill patients in their homes, offering support and encouragement to people living with HIV/AIDS and their affected families, participating in community education and outreach programmes, and counselling. Volunteer needs in this sector are huge and varied. more

Whether you regard sustainable community volunteerism as giving back, or paying it forward, when done correctly the experience is meaningful for the volunteer and the community with whom you choose to share your knowledge and experience. As an eco-volunteer, this is one time you’ll want to leave behind more than just footprints. more

Mehloding Adventure Trail in the southern Drakensberg mountains offers a chance to go slackpacking through stunning sandstone scenery without a backpack weighing you down. You’ll be guided, fed and comfortably accommodated too, and you'll have hot showers. Your nearest town is quiet Matatiele in the northern reaches of the Eastern Cape. more

Sabi Sabi has become something of a model for high responsible tourism standards in the Sabi Sand private game reserve. Part of Fair Trade in Tourism’s suite of certified destinations, it has made great strides in uplifting and offer training opportunities to staff as well as disadvantaged children living nearby. more

Responsible tourism means protecting environmental integrity, upholding social justice and spreading maximum local economic benefit. Up until now the eco-labels had differing priorities on these three pillars. South Africa has recently launched its National Minimum Standards for Responsible Tourism. It helps create a cohesive understanding of sustainability in the industry. more

Responsible Tourism is a concept seldom applied to entire cities. But Cape Town is a departure from the norm. In 2009 it won an international award for being a best destination in terms of Responsible Tourism. There’s a way to go, but Cape Town has made massive strides. more

The African Angels of the Karoo are a group of mostly Xhosa women, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, living in Cradock in the Eastern Cape. They have been offered a chance to uplift themselves and others by studying beauty therapy and cosmetology – the art of pampering and massage – for tourists and locals. more

Ever tasted Cape Malay food? When South Africans talk about traditional foods, these are some of the flavours and influences they’re referring to. Masala, bobotie, Malay curry, roti – they’re part of the country’s distinctive ‘fusion cuisine’. The Cape Malay Cooking Safari with Andulela Experience tours introduces you to this … and more. more