There was good news from Nepal last month as the country proudly announced that absolutely no poaching had occurred in the 12-month period ending with February 2014—the second year with zero poaching. Back in 2011 Nepal also celebrated a year without poaching, and in 2012, only one rhino was poached. Nepal has strict anti-poaching laws […]
Typhoon Haiyan, or Yolanda as the locals call it in the Philippines, is the worst storm to hit the island nation in recorded history. The latest official death toll is at over 5,600, with more than 1,700 additional people missing and 3.5 million displaced. The worst-hit area, Tacloban City in Leyte Province in the Eastern […]
Many backpackers are well intentioned when setting out for beckoning distant lands that perhaps they’ve only read about in guidebooks or heard about from friends who’ve made the journey themselves. As these travelers arrive on foreign soil, they boost the local economy by staying at local hotels, guesthouses or hostels and eating at local establishments. […]
Summiting the world’s highest peak is a feat unto itself, but for many who have paid in the range of 35,000 to 50,000 US dollars, the ascent of Mount Everest can be deadly not only because of the harsh conditions but also because of overcrowding. In recent years, the popularity has grown so much that […]
The traditional image of a honeymoon involves relaxing on a pristine white sand beach, sipping on drinks with umbrellas in them while gazing out at the crystal blue waters. But more and more newlywed couples are choosing something radically different on their honeymoon trips: joining a volunteer program. On this new style of honeymoon, sometimes […]
In a remote village close to the Amazon river in Colombia, 800 indigenous people are striving to uphold their culture and tradition in the face of tourism pressure. Nazareth, located deep in the jungle, is a 20-minute boat ride from the nearest town. The area is an ecotourism attraction because of the diverse flora and […]
When disaster hits a region, such as the earthquake, tsunami and radiation threat in Japan, or the political upheaval in the Middle East, governments take necessary measures to evacuate their citizens. Travel warnings are widely issued against non-essential travel to those countries. However, once the situation settles, some travelers still consider visiting nations with political […]
Four of the world’s 10 largest freshwater fish migrate up the Mekong River to spawn, yet the lives of these big fish—which can grow to be the length of a four-door car and weigh over 1,300 pounds—are at risk should a hydropower plant be built on a stretch of the river in northwestern Laos. The […]
Jutting out from Argentina’s east coast some 800 miles south of Buenos Aires, the oddly shaped piece of land known as Peninsula Valdés has become known as one of the best places in the world to observe the southern right whale. From May to December, close to 1,000 of these whales gather in the waters […]
