The Butterfly Routes is the first community-based butterfly house network of its kind in South Africa featuring a variety of butterfly species according to the vegetation of the area. This is a project developed by African Conservation Trust, with funding received from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF). Situated in northern KwaZulu-Natal and extending from Eshowe to Tembe, this community-based ecotourism venture offers the display of live indigenous butterflies in a butterfly dome and butterfly guided tours in the nearby community land forest.

The Butterfly Route consists at the moment of three butterfly house complexes: The Eshowe Butterfly Dome,  the Isiphaphalazi Butterfly House at Khula Village, Dukuduku and the Tembe Butterfly Dome. The Butterfly Route offers the best opportunity to have a close encounter with the South African species of butterflies!

This project is being implemented with the purpose to uplift the local community of the area and promote the conservation of butterfly habitat and biological diversity by improving butterfly tourism in the region. This type of projects will bring economic opportunities for local communities via visiting butterfly houses and providing an economic incentive for the local people for habitat conservation.

By visiting the Butterfly Route you will not only see the amazing South African butterflies, but you will also be helping to maintain the ecological integrity of the area while contributing to the local community.

Américo N. Bonkewitzz, PhD

African Conservation Trust

To visit these butterfly Exhibits

we recommend Theo Tours