Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
Eco-tourism is the reason why many international travellers visit South Africa. As the country has so much environmental and cultural diversity, scenic beauty and incredible wildlife, it is almost impossible to tour the country without having some sort of nature experience and giving something back to the environment.
Our "conservation through tourism" policy shares the benefits of tourism with local communities and ensures the protection of these areas for future generations. As part of their itinerary our guests will be introduced to various community projects, local guides and environmental conservation.
The Stables Craft and Culture Centre is a community driven project that enables the visitor to experience Cape Flats culture and cuisine. It involves the community in the preservation of its culture through its restaurant and local crafts. CAFDA provides counselling, care and educational programmes to encourage personal and family development.
Rondevlei: A wetlands reserve, has extensive bird populations, a small family of hippo’s and the local tour operator, Imvubu Nature Tours will be happy to take you on a walking tour or boat trip.
Township Tour: We call this tour the Rainbow Curtain Tour because it is a cross-cultural voyage of discovery into the many facets of South African society. This tour is led by a local tour guide and completely interactive and encompasses the history of the lives and development of the disadvantaged communities in Cape Town.
Four Rosmead: *Staff - All staff receive thorough induction training at the time of their employment. This together with our ongoing on the job training ensures that they have saleable skills that they would not otherwise have had; We encourage tertiary education by facilitating study loans; We provide supplements to our staff in winter to ensure that they do not suffer unduly from winter colds and flu’s and educate them about the benefits of eating healthily; Transport is provided to and from work during periods of unrest when it is unsafe to use the public transport system. *Renewable energy - our swimming pool has recently been solar heated, low voltage energy saving light bulbs are used wherever possible, all the rooms will soon be equipped with an energy saving device that switches off all high consumption items such as air conditioners when the room is not occupied. *Water resources - the garden has been landscaped in a Mediterranean style to suite our climate; this includes using water wise plants and trees; A grey water recycling system has been installed to ensure that bath, basin and shower water is used to water the gardens instead of making use of the municipal supply; The pool filtering system also includes a water saving device *Other - All excess food is donated to Feedback which is a program aimed at feeding the poor and needy in the Cape Town area. http://www.feedback.org.za/. Feedback is the link between people who have excess food and are willing to reach out, and communities where hunger and malnourishment are a way of life.
Europcar South Africa is proud to support the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. The Fund seeks to nurture, motivate and care for the children and youth of South Africa. Issues of poverty, youth unemployment, homelessness and a lack of formal education plague the lives of many of the nation's children, and the Fund strives to address these challenges and make positive changes. Europcar is committed to supporting the Fund. As an official sponsor to the Fund, they continue to help keep its dream alive by donating a percentage of their revenue earned from each rental towards the Fund.
Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamics initiated the ‘Nolwandle’ project as part of their ongoing commitment to ‘responsible tourism’. This holistic approach to running a tourism business means that consideration is given to the social, economic and environmental impact of the operation, therefore spreading the benefits that tourism can bring. Schemes are already in place to help conserve ocean wildlife, and the company has a strict policy to employ and train local, previously disadvantaged people.
De Zeekoe Reserve situated on 2000 ha of land, offers a unique in the world experience, to walk with wild meerkats. This conservation project on wild meerkats / suricates, part of the other "shy five", occur naturally in this Klein Karoo Valley. This is a unique attraction for guests who have watched the meerkat films over the last 12 years, with the BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel and done with the resident research biologist and Nature Conservationist, Grant M. Mc Ilrath, also known as The Meerkat Man.
How De Zeekoe supports the local economy
- The employment of over 20 local families on the farm for witch housing is provided & solar power is used
- De Zeekoe Primary School is part of an Upliftment Program (in the process of building a new school)
- Members of the Gouritz Initiative (Aim to protect, restore and conserve)
- Organic hers @ produce program
- Fish Eagle research program
Monkeyland is the worlds first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary. It is unique in that the sanctuary caters for several species of primate, and they are not caged; they are free to move about the forest and do so in harmony. These lovely primates have had to delve deep into their natural instincts to reacquire the knowledge that is necessary for them to live life naturally again. Most of them have lived years in captivity prior to being rehabilitated and released by Monkeyland.
Cape Nature is a public institution with the statutory responsibility for biodiversity conservation in the Western Cape. It is mandated to: promote and ensure nature conservation; render services and provide facilities for research and training; and generate income. It is driven by the vision to establish a successful ‘Conservation Economy’ - embraced by all citizens of the Western Cape and to transform biodiversity conservation into a key component of local economic development in the province. Their own definition of a conservation economy is an economy in which key principles and practices of biodiversity conservation have been fully integrated into all forms and levels of economic activity. They achieve this objective through various programmes and projects for example:
- Community-based Natural Resource Management and Local Economic Development: Unlocking opportunities to ensure that the benefits of natural resources and their sustainable utilization and conservation are realized by local communities.
- Youth Development: Using activities as a tool for the development of youth and developing in young people the knowledge and insight necessary for them to appreciate the heritage that will be passed on to them. Also providing them with the opportunity for developing the skills needed to make a success of that heritage.
- Environmental Crime Investigation: Preventing, investigating and monitoring environmental crime
- Fire Management: Developing effective partnerships to extend fire management throughout the province
- Wildlife Management: Proactively manage conflict between humans and wildlife
- Stewardship: Including private and communal land in the establishment of biodiversity corridors and the conservation of vital lowlands habitat remnants, through various incentives
- Eco-tourism development: Developing nature-based recreational and tourism products and leveraging the Western Cape’s natural assets in such a way that protected areas become sought after tourist destinations, and more accessible and attractive to a greater proportion of our population
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