CapeNature brought tour guides and tourism operators together at Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay to strengthen their knowledge of the site and support more informed and responsible visitor experiences.
The first-ever CapeNature tour guide and operator workshops were held at Stony Point on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 August, covering the reserve’s history, biodiversity, African Penguin colony, conservation work and responsible behaviour by visitors and tour guides.
The workshops featured CapeNature representatives and conservation partners the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) and World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), giving participating tour guides an opportunity to learn directly from conservation practitioners and develop a deeper understanding of the site they take visitors through.
CapeNature CEO Dr Ashley Naidoo said tour guides play an important role in connecting tourism with conservation. “Tour guides are often the first point of contact between visitors and our protected areas. Giving them accurate and relevant conservation knowledge strengthens the visitor experience and helps ensure that visitors understand how to interact responsibly with wildlife and the environment.”
A new Stony Point tour guide manual was also launched. Developed by CapeNature in partnership with SANCCOB, the manual provides tour guides with information on the African Penguin colony, other birdlife, wildlife and ecosystems at the reserve and practical guidelines and key conservation messages.
Reinforcing behaviour
The resource gives guides reliable information that can be used when engaging with visitors, helping them to answer questions confidently and accurately while reinforcing responsible behaviour around wildlife.
Globally, visitors increasingly seek more experiential offerings at leading attractions. This initiative responds to that shift by equipping tour guides to act as enablers of richer and more meaningful experiences that connect visitors with Stony Point’s biodiversity, conservation work and broader significance.
By strengthening tour guides’ understanding of Stony Point’s history, biodiversity and conservation work, the initiative also aims to help them go beyond simply showing visitors what they can see and provide greater context on why the reserve and its wildlife matter.
The strong interest from the tourism sector was reflected in the first workshop date reaching capacity within 24 hours of invitations being distributed through CapeNature’s tourism partners.
The workshops form part of CapeNature’s efforts to strengthen collaboration with the tourism industry and promote responsible tourism in protected areas.
