Halo Gaia Holistic Travel conducts ecotourism holiday experiences that allow reflection and inner connection to both the self and nature.

The organisation is the dream child of Nelia Spies Tasioulas, whose inspiration was birthed while standing on a mountain overlooking the immense vastness of Lesotho. In the words of current owner Courtney Ward, Nelia desired to create for travellers ‘a holiday that was not simply an escape, but rather a returning to the self.’

The Origins of Halo Gaia

The name is taken from the connectedness of two words associated with spirituality: ‘halo’, for the holy light observed around ‘enlightened saints’; and ‘Gaia’, the ancient name given to our planet.

‘Calling our planet Gaia rekindles our connection to her and invites us to again experience the connectedness we share with all beings and all of nature. In a nutshell Halo Gaia means Holy Earth.’

Started in 2000, under the guidance of purpose-driven Nelia and joyous soul Courtney Ward, Halo Gaia celebrates 10 years of holistic travel in South Africa and Ponta Malongane in southern Mozambique where most of their retreats take place.

Retreating to Nature

‘Our retreats are a gentle encouragement for the individual to simply allow the busy world to slip away for a few days and to experience the bounty of self in nature with like-minded people, interspecies connection with the dolphins, adventure and music.’

Halo Gaia Holistic Travel offers a wide range of safaris and retreats. Their excursions include wonderful and renowned guest facilitators who bring insight and reflection through sharing their wisdom in the many fields of the wellness arena. Amongst these are:   

• Re-birthing Retreats with Hilde Light;
• Language of the Feet with Chris Stormer Fryer;
• Family Constellation with Richard Higgins;
• Musical Extravagance with renowned musician Paulus van der Merwe;
• Abundance and Prosperity with Natalia Baker;
• Interspecies Communication with Kerry Kroenenburg.

There are also a myriad carnival holiday themes for the whole family, making it a perfect getaway during the school holidays.  

Holiday Experiences in Nature’s Garden

Over the years Courtney and her co-host Kate Ballendan have worked hard to create holiday experiences that are ‘dedicated to the ethos of manifesting "Earth conscious and Soul Based Getaways".’

Their work has been appreciated by the numerous visitors who now make the ever popular Halo Gaia Dolphin experiences a yearly sabbatical they gift to themselves.
People who have been on these retreats or safaris have espoused their significance in assisting them find their passion and zest for life; forgiveness and healing; as well as the ever simple R ‘n R.

‘The dolphins add to this as they inspire freedom, adventure and playfulness.’

Playing with Dolphins

That said, Courtney is especially strict about enjoying nature’s splendour without causing harm to the environment. All the retreats are run in accordance with the wishes of the dolphins.
Once out at sea and in the proximity of the dolphins it is standard practice to wait, watch and observe the behaviour of the dolphins from a 100m vantage point.

‘Avoidance or welcoming behaviour within the pod or from individual dolphins is always greatly respected. We keep data on all launches and dolphin interaction to be used to assess on a continual basis the effect that these interspecies experiences have on the dolphins. We will never put the boat or anybody into the path of travelling dolphins.’

Dolphins welcome any visitors by circling or swimming alongside the boat, but no
touching, feeding or herding is allowed and the one boat policy is strictly adhered to.

Ecotourism with Halo Gaia

Halo Gaia Holistic Travel is more than just going into nature’s arms. It is an opportunity to be welcomed into the splendour that exists naturally around us, while taking care not to hurt the environment. It is encouraged for people to travel together, as well as spend the days communing naturally with the environment.  All the retreats are housed in simple yet comfortable accommodation and any plastic food containers and other materials carried into Mozambique are brought back to South Africa for recycling. 

Halo Gaia Holistic Travel is a form of ecotourism that operates partly in a country that is extremely poor and relies predominantly on its tourism market as revenue for the local people. It goes without saying, having seen the practices of other regions that if ‘eco conscious tourist practices were not being done much of the valuable natural resources of the poor country stand to be exploited. The indigenous forests, fish and titanium in the beach sands are alluring to giant corporations.’

Giving Back to the Local Communities

In addition to holistic travel experiences, Halo Gaia is very involved with the local community and village of Ponta Malongane. Part of this involves a wonderful food project run by Halo Gaia, which supplies nutrient-rich E Pap to the village, which has a health benefit for those with both HIV and TB. All proceeds of this project then go to local community projects. Halo Gaia also regularly supplies stationary, writing books and soccer balls to the school which, with very limited resources, educates over 150 children.

Old clothes are also regularly donated and distributed to the community. Part of holiday experience also involves meeting the local people and experiencing the Mozambican African lifestyle, making it an intriguing invitation for cultural interaction.   

The care of the environment as well as valuing the wildlife has meant Halo Gaia Holistic Travel has joined forces with the Endangered Wild Life Trust and will be contributing a portion of every booking made to this worthy cause. Currently Halo Gaia contributes and is in support of the EMERGENCY RECOVERY PLAN for the near extinct Dugong population of Bazaruto Island in Central Mozambique.

Halo Gaia Holistic Travel’s 10 year birthday celebration festival, ‘Dolphins for Dugongs’, running in November 2010, is in honour of the dugongs and part of the proceeds will be donated towards this important conservation call.

So what are you waiting for? Nature beckons!