Tag Archive for: sustainable tourism

Change Makers | Coffeebeans Routes

Iain Harris, Founder and Creative Director of Coffeebeans Routes at its Headquarters, Cape Town Creative Emporium ©David Peter Harris

Iain Harris, Founder and Creative Director of Coffeebeans Routes at its Headquarters, Cape Town Creative Emporium ©David Peter Harris

 

Coffeebeans Routes, gold winner in the category Best for Engaging People and Culture in the African Responsible Tourism Awards, is a cultural tour operator  that provides collections of stories. “When it comes to stories, we are the most equal, but they also provide ground to turn the tables on traditional assumptions  – Coffeebeans Routes is the connection between disempowered communities that are excited to share their stories, and international and local travellers hungry for narratives”, Iain Harris, Founder and Creative Director, tells us when we met him at CR Headquarters, home to Cape Town Creative Emporium.

“Why do I believe what I do makes a difference to the world? I get to hear stories that open my world in amazing ways, I feel very privileged to have this access. There is a financial benefit to it, as Coffebeans Routes offers a formalized structure with remuneration for the storytellers that values stories above everything else. There is a cultural element to it too; coming out of an economy of silence, the audience is interested, and  has warm welcoming ears  to stories in an environment where people are not usually listened to. What comes out of it is not only a financial benefit for the story tellers, but great affirmation, and this is shown by the terrific response we get from them [story tellers].”

Golden Team: Iain Harris, Natasha Moses and Kabelo Michael Letlala ©David Peter Harris

Golden Team: Iain Harris, Natasha Moses and Kabelo Michael Letlala ©David Peter Harris

“There is no sustainability without social justice. No matter what green interventions we put in place, they will not work unless society becomes socially and culturally equal. The starting point is asking yourself “How do we treat each other?”. This is also an angle that makes you see things differently, why people act the way they do. If your work is geared towards challenging and undoing inequalities through your business ethos, then you’re at a good point. After that we can look at practical interventions, like recycling and reducing. They can happen in parallel, but the one can’t happen without the other. “

Coffeebeans Routes has teamed up with Africa is a Country to present a concert series in Cape Town on the last Thursday of every month, kicking off on June 25th 2015 with Loit Sols & Churchill Naude. If you are not in the area, tune in to Africa is a Country where concerts will be live streamed. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover some of the most precious musical gems in the Mother City.

Read more on Coffeebeans Routes, make contact and book a tour via their Eco Atlas page.

A new view at Buccaneers

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It takes hard work and vision to build a world that works

Getting lost in Cintsa is as easy as pronouncing its name is not – “Tsk”-IN-t-SAH. Along the way, you’ll see marvellous aberrations, I mean adaptations of the word on road signs advertising everything from trees to beer. Very entertaining.  Maybe that’s why I struggled to find it.  Maybe it was Google Maps’ crowd-sourced content or the receptionist’s colourful directions. It definitely doesn’t matter; I’m not the first to get lost in the sticks and I won’t be the last to look upon this piece of the Eastern Cape coastline with wonder.

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Pulling in to Buccaneers in time for a delicious dinner, I dined with the co-owner, Sean Price, a marvellously incisive and passionate man who approaches his work responsibly and efficiently.

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Going greener is ideal, but easier in some ways than in others and small businesses have a big challenge here. Growing herbs and harvesting rainwater –  which they do – is not quite as complicated (or as expensive) as going off-grid, which they’d like to do. For any existing tourism and hospitality business to serve both the law and the land, this usually means major changes to existing infrastructure and a significant investment in appropriate alternative energy. Speaking of which, Buccaneers is busy changing its garbage disposal process in alignment with new regulations. “We manage ALL our waste ourselves,” Sean pointed out before outlining how they are continuing their existing commitment by upgrading their processes at their own expense. Buccaneers is also Fair Trade Certified since 2010 and believes that business can be an instrument of change as long as it’s economically viable.  The question of whether business can, by itself, afford to invest in the gamut of sustainable solutions still sits in my mind next to the question of whether we can afford not to as a species. I left the dining room deep in thought.

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My home for the night was a stylish wooden house on stilts called Biko. I’m glad my host did him justice by giving me a lot to think about and that the finishes were clean and fine to calm me. In that little palace with its wonderful view of the river opening out into the ocean, I pondered the balance of things in the company of complimentary beach towels, polished floors, and a beautiful shower. Would I give aspects of this up for Mother Nature? Would I need to if products and services that serve the earth were cheaper? Can the consumer subsidise this, or must government?  Having failed to solve the problem of this aspect of the human condition in one evening, I went to sleep with the song of the ocean wafting up through the windows.

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Tip : get up extra early for spectacular sunrises.

To find out more about the social and environmental priorities focussed on at Buccaneers, visit their page on Eco Atlas.

How to Build an Eco-Friendly B&B

Cobhouse in Muizenberg

These days, an increasing number of my life decisions just don’t feel complete unless I’ve taken into account the factors upstream and downstream that relate that decision back to the earth and our place on it. And when building our eco-friendly cob house, as well as completing the portion that now runs as an organic B&B, my partner Carey and I did our best to choose sustainable options in as many areas as possible. But without compromising on this, there are still plenty of ways of saving costs too!

 Most obviously in our case, the building material itself didn’t cost the earth – literally. ‘Cob’ is not something you can buy off the shelf from your local hardware store; it’s an ad hoc mixture of sand and clay that varies in its proportions according to what’s available locally and even what the weather is like on the day you’re building (hot dry ‘bergwind’ days needed a lot more moisture in the mix, for example!). And the clay isn’t the high-end stuff used for making regular baked bricks: it’s best if it’s got a decent amount of sandy grains in it as you want it to bond nicely with the sand. Most of our sand came from our foundation digging rather than being pulled out of sensitive dune systems; and the ‘clay’ was reclaimed and recycled from the municipal landfill site nearby, where other builders were dumping it (as “useless” material!)

We searched around for the straw – some of it being shipped in wholesale from an out of town farmer, at a fraction of the cost of the animal feed places. And our gum poles, which form such a distinctive feature of our house, were being cleared as aliens. They were treated by Somerset Timbers (in Somerset West) who were the only wood-treatment plant we could find that would use an organic/eco-friendly treatment process that was acceptable for building standards. We relied somewhat on our excellent structural engineer, who erred on the side of caution in all things – too many well-meant natural buildings have crumbled through lack of care or knowledge in either construction or maintenance.

Sure, our costs crept up somewhat again, after the huge savings we’d made on the wall materials, because of the length of time our labourers needed for a building process that wasn’t conventional – though we still saved compared to regular building methods. And the time taken in itself meant we gave men steady work for longer rather than wasting our money on bricks. And if we come back to the all-important question of the costs to the earth, it’s clear that the energy saving from building in cob, not only in production but in the ongoing heating and cooling savings for the house, are well worth it. Of course, cob is not the only natural building method out there, and you can compare the costs with straw bale, timber frame, adobe, sandbags, to name a few of the more popular options. The main problem we face at the moment in South Africa, though, is that these options, while often traditional building methods here, are not understood enough by financial institutions to make financing of alternative building technology straightforward. Given our housing shortage, that’s a great pity.

But have no fear, if you’re rather looking to refurbish or renovate an existing building, there are still plenty of options for going green, more of which I will share about in future columns!

 

About the author:

Simric grew up alongside the green movement in the UK but has lived in South Africa since 1996. That year, when working for an environmental NGO, he discovered natural building technologies, in particular cob. With his partner Carey he co-built the first modern cob house on a suburban street in a South African city; and now co-manages it as an organic B&B, in Muizenberg, Cape Town.

Simric has written and spoken both poetry and prose on a range of topics, often with a holistic/ sustainability theme but with a positive and uplifting perspective. He is also an accomplished teacher in the holistic Waldorf/Steiner system of creative education, and he runs conscious/green day tours of the Cape Town region.

The Cobhouse on Eco Atlas

www.cobhouse.co.za

simric.yolasite.com

lucidfringe.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Sabi Sabi – a sophisticated and sustainable luxury destination

Most people associate the name Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve with the best of safari luxury that South Africa has to offer. A continuous presence on the Top Hotels of the World lists as well as a steady stream of celebrity guests solidifies this perception. Add to this some of the best game viewing in the land, and a wide range of luxury lodges and you are nearly there. Under the theme “yesterday, today and tomorrow” there are no less than 4 differently themed all-suite lodges within the reserve, ranging from traditional to ultra-modern.

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is perhaps best-known for their superb big cat viewing

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is perhaps best-known for their superb big cat viewing

At Selati Camp, the romantic colonial (“yesterday”) era has been recreated using thatched roofs, antiques and wooden floors. Little Bush Camp and Bush Lodge represent “today” with their contemporary African design and spacious suites. Earth Lodge provides a delicate and modern space where nature plays the leading role; a new breed of safari lodge that is pointing the way towards “tomorrow”. As different as the lodges are, they all have unrivalled luxury and service worthy of kings and queens in common (in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two royalties have stayed here, but Sabi Sabi are too discreet to ever tell us about that).

However, some of you will have noticed that I said “nearly there” earlier. There is one more, vital ingredient in Sabi Sabi’s recipe for success: their people. Everyone, from maintenance to management is proud to work here and this shows. You will always be greeted with a warm smile, and people are more than willing to go the extra mile to ensure that every guest feels like a VIP. Being a caring, nurturing and encouraging employer has afforded Sabi Sabi total loyalty and commitment from their employees. Many have worked here their whole career and consider themselves family. As a guest, you feel this pride and loyalty not only in the service you receive but also in the depth of knowledge that your hosts share with you.

Parts of the big Sabi Sabi family

Parts of the big Sabi Sabi family

Over and above being one of the largest individual employers in the area, Sabi Sabi supports the local communities through a wide range of projects. These range from sponsoring a crèche, to youth development through sports and environmental education. Guests also have the opportunity to visit the communities and learn more about the Shangaan culture through the Community Tour; created and guided by one of Sabi Sabi’s employees Lodrick Manyathele. The way Lodrick has gone from being an employee at the lodge to successfully running everything related to the Community Tour, including community liaison, budgets, staff, marketing, scheduling, guiding and much more, is but one of the many stories of how Sabi Sabi empowers their employees and create opportunities for them to grow while at the same time providing their guests with an even richer experience!

Sabi Sabi Community Tour

Lodrick’s Community Tour is bound to leave you feeling happy

Sabi Sabi really is for discerning travellers that want it all. Not just luxury, sophistication, excellent game viewing and great service but also a commitment to people and places that ultimately leads to The Complete Experience.

Katarina Mancama

 

 

About the author:

Katarina loves to travel and this passion has taken her to many places around the globe. She was born and raised in Sweden then lived, studied and worked in Australia, The UK, Panama and Switzerland before making South Africa her home in 2005.

She has a Master’s degree in Responsible Tourism and has dedicated her career to ensuring that tourism benefits the people, places and communities that make it happen. She is also the founder of Simply South Africa, a platform for travellers that want to Explore hidden gems, Experience up-close and personal encounters with people and places & Embrace South Africa by making sustainable choices:

http://simplysouthafrica.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreExperienceEmbrace

http://instagram.com/simplysouthafrica

 

Uthando – sharing the love

uthando

Uthando, meaning love in Xhosa, was founded with the aim to raise funds for community development projects in South Africa. It supports a mindboggling array of projects: urban agriculture; animal welfare; youth development through the medium of art, dance, choir singing, classical music, drumming or sport; special needs education; assistance to refugees; the environment; economic empowerment through skills development; arts and crafts; township theatre; prisoner rehabilitation; care and protection for children, women and the elderly. Uthando offers township tours that provide visitors and locals alike with an opportunity to see the townships with new clarity, understand what has shaped them, and what their people need from those of us more fortunate to create a brighter future. So simply by going on an interesting and heartwarming tour, you are contributing to a better South Africa!

One of the projects supported by Uthando is the Amy Biehl Foundation; founded by the parents of Amy Biehl, a talented and dedicated young America woman who, in 1993,  tragically was killed in an act of political mob violence in the Guguletu township just outside of Cape Town. ABF is a non-profit organisation whose programmes are designed to develop and empower youth in the townships, reduce the levels of crime and violence and give them opportunities to become future leaders and entrepreneurs in society. The programmes place a focus on the creative side of the child’s brain, supplement the shortcomings of the educational system in the townships of South Africa. ABF programmes reach over 1,500 children every day, and include:

  • Sport including soccer, hockey, swimming, diving, surfing, cricket and kickboxing
  • Music including violin, guitar, marimba, choral singing, and brass band
  • HIV / AIDS peer education
  • Greening and environment
  • Creative arts including drama and dance (kwaito, modern, traditional and ballet), pottery, art & beading
  • Computer literacy

One of the many young people that have been supported by ABF is Akhona Mngqibisa, and this is his story:

Uthando

As a young boy, Akhona would spend his days gambling, begging on the streets and associate himself with gangsters. Without any direction, the route his life would take was clear. However, in 2007, at the age of fourteen, he was introduced to the Amy Biehl Foundation and has never looked back.

Now, at the age of eighteen, Akhona attends ABF’s greening & environment programme on a daily basis, and the Muay Thai outreach programme twice weekly. He is a champion fighter and gold medal winner in huge events including ‘South Africa Champs’, winning all fights that he has participated in. With big ambitions for his future, Akhona now identifies these ambitions as one day becoming a reality.

How has being with the Amy Biehl Foundation changed your life?

It has changed lots of people’s lives and given an alternative to begging and gangsterism. I had no direction before the Foundation; I would gamble the whole day and was involved with gangsters.

What do you think you would be doing now without the Foundation?

I would be lost and have no direction. The Amy Biehl Foundation always leaves me with something to think about. It has given me ambition for the future.

What has been your highlight with the Foundation?

The camps and outings are my highlight. I love meeting other people from different schools, making friends and socialising. I like to go out of my community to different places.

 What are your goals for the future?

I would like to be a hotel manager and be my own boss one day. I want to feel important. I would also love to be an airport manager so I can meet lots of different people from different cultures.

 What motivates you?

My teacher (Mzwandile Fulani) motivates me to keep studying and hand in my projects on time.

A big thank you to Michelle Bagley (ABF) and Akhona for sharing this inspirational story! We wish Akhona all the very best with his future endeavours. Perhaps he will be the manager of an EcoAtlas-listed hotel one day?

 

About the author:

Katarina Mancama is passionate about sustainable tourism. She holds a Master’s degree in Responsible Tourism and has dedicated her career to ensuring that tourism benefits the people, places and communities that make it happen. She is the founder of Simply South Africa, a web-based platform for people that want to Explore hidden gems, Experience up-close and personal encounters with people and places & Embrace South Africa by making sustainable choices:

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreExperienceEmbrace

http://simplysouthafrica.wordpress.com/

 

 

Simply Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism is simple: it is having a great time on holiday while at the same time making a positive contribution to the people, places and communities that make it happen. Sure, there are a whole lot of economic, social and environmental issues to take into consideration when deciding whether it is a legitimately sustainable business, but the great thing is that EcoAtlas has done the job for you!

For me, a genuinely good holiday starts and ends with people. Real service is delivered with a sincere smile; great experiences are enhanced by a knowledgeable and passionate guide; and sustainable tourism businesses have a positive impact on the people that work there, as well as their families and communities. It’s a win-win: I get a great experience, and give back to those same people just by being there.

During my years of working in the field of sustainable tourism, I have had the great privilege of visiting many tourism businesses that do an amazing work of ensuring that tourism is a force for positive change. Across South Africa, small and large businesses ranging from budget to luxury are creating fabulous experiences for their guests, and a better life for their people. I am going to share some of these stories with you in this blog. They are about the hard work, dedication, pride and purpose of normal people with dreams and visions of a better future.

People

About the author:

Katarina Mancama is passionate about sustainable tourism. She holds a Master’s degree in Responsible Tourism and has dedicated her career to ensuring that tourism benefits the people, places and communities that make it happen. She is the founder of Simply South Africa, a web-based platform for people that want to Explore hidden gems, Experience up-close and personal encounters with people and places & Embrace South Africa by making sustainable choices:

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreExperienceEmbrace

http://simplysouthafrica.wordpress.com/