Durban Green Corridor – ‘Connecting people with the majestic nature of Africa’

Since 2010, Durban Green Corridor offers to local people and visitors the opportunity to discover the majestic nature around the uMngeni river. This is one of the most important bio diversity assets within the ethekwini Municipal area. At the same time, local people are hired as tour guides or in the management and as admin staff to create economic development opportunities through eco and adventure tourism. It is also a way to create environmental awareness for youth and adults. Anna da Graça, Marketing Manager, tells us more about it! 

SparkTour Africa: Why Durban Green Corridor was created?

Anna da Graça, Marketing Manager of Durban Green Corridor: Durban Green Corridor is a local economic development initiative of the municipality. The purpose of the project is to create jobs, uplift local communities, and provide opportunities for rural and urban people who before would not have had them. We use eco and adventure tourism in order to achieve this.  It is a way to rehabilitate wild outdoor spaces into areas that local people and tourists can enjoy.

How does it work today?

We have three flagship sites along the uMngeni River Valley: the Green Hub/uMngeni Adventures, eNanda Adventures and iSithumba. At these places you can do various activities: guided tours in the mangroves, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, going to a traditional Zulu village, or visiting caves! Cultural experience is very important for us, as much as the eco and adventure experiences. At all of these sites we are hiring local people, training them up as guides, as admin or as management staff.

‘At all our three sites we are hiring local people, training them up as guides, as admin or as management staff.’

Four years after the creation, what are the achievements of this initiative?

We will soon have six sites and a network of trails between them! We have visitors every weekend and both local people and international tourists are coming through. Our guides are very experienced and knowledgeable because they come from these areas. We make a difference to their life and we benefit from their knowledge in the same time.

‘Our guides are very experienced and knowledgeable because they come from these areas. We make a difference to their life and we benefit from their knowledge in the same time.’

Do you think that today people have to reconnect with nature?

We are all obsessed with our phones and computers, no one is really ever in the present moment. The world moves very fast, and it is sad that most people don’t take the time to sit, be in the present moment and admire the natural beauty around them.

‘The world moves very fast, and it is sad that most people don’t take the time to sit, be in the present moment and admire the natural beauty around them.’

Can you give three words to describe the spirit of Durban Green Corridor?

I don’t have three but I would say ‘creating pathways’, because this is what we do physically by creating trails and sites but also metaphorically by creating opportunities for local people.

What was the biggest challenge since 2010?

We want to make a difference to local people, but obviously we struggle sometimes with communication issues and a lot of people haven’t had a basic education. The second one is funding, to be able to manage and develop the sites. Creating general awareness is a challenge as people so often just head to the beach rather than thinking beyond it. We want more local people to use the sites. We are also challenged by the misconceptions around safety in these areas which is something we are starting to break down.

Today, a lot of young South Africans want to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure to improve society. Do you have a piece of advice for them?

My first advice would be to look at what is out there, what projects already exist. Obviously new initiatives are fantastic, but I think it is always worth bearing in mind what already exists and how we can all work together rather than working very independently.

A last word?

Come and enjoy Durban Green Corridor! We want more people to come through, see the work we are doing in the communities, experience the outdoors and the amazing nature on our doorstep in Durban.