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 your itinerary you will be introduced to various community projects, local guides and environmental conservation.
Ulusaba Private Game Reserve
Pride N’ Purpose:
One of our proudest achievements at Ulusaba is the continuing good work done by our charitable arm, Pride n’ Purpose. Our efforts extend from upgrading the facilities of the local primary schools all the way to facilitating help and medical treatment for those affected by HIV/AIDS. The basic philosophy behind our work is founded on the principle of empowering people to help themselves while at the same time promoting sustainable development.
Pride n’ Purpose works on a non-profit basis, and all the organisation’s expenses are fully funded by Ulusaba and Virgin Unite (the Virgin Group’s charitable arm), so 100% of donations can be put into the much needed projects to improve living conditions for the local population. With the help of Ulusaba guests, Virgin Unite, and supporters from around the globe, Pride n’ Purpose has been able to achieve the following:
- Provision of clean drinking water at local primary schools
- Provision of health care through the opening of a new regional health care centre
- Provision of food parcels to crèches, schools and orphan homes
- Construction of new crèches and homes for orphans
- Support for projects that encourage local entrepreneurs by providing start-up funds and equipment
Virgin Unite:
Virgin Unite is the Virgin Group’s independent charitable arm, which works with a number of partners to address social and environmental issues around the world. One of the many projects Virgin Unite has spearheaded is Heaven’s Angels, a campaign to address the issue of delivering health care to the remote rural communities of sub-Saharan Africa.
Heaven’s Angels and Virgin Unite at Ulusaba:
Over 16,000 people die each day in sub-Saharan Africa from preventable and treatable diseases because they live in areas where aid cannot reach them. Virgin Unite is raising money for the ‘Heavens Angels’ project to buy motorbikes for trained medical workers in sub-Saharan Africa so they can reach thousands of people who may otherwise die unnecessarily. In aid of this charity, Ulusaba has devised ‘Heaven’s Angels Spa Packages’ whereby 15% of the money from the spa treatments sold helps to raise funds for this worthy cause.
Conservation at Ulusaba:
In addition to the charitable work Ulusaba does in the local community, we’re committed to reducing our environmental impact. We’ve been working with a sustainable energy engineer to look into renewable energy technologies, and as a result the reception building at our airstrip is entirely solar powered!
When it comes to game drives, our qualified Rangers are sensitive to the environment and are committed to operating game drives with minimal impact to the surrounding terrain and animals. Extreme care is taken when off-road driving is required for game tracking, and all our Rangers will assess the environment and prevailing conditions before leaving the road.
If you’re staying at Safari Lodge, you will enjoy using the swing bridges that connect the rooms and the common areas. As this lodge is built along the banks of Mabrak riverbed, an established elephant path, these bridges avoid any disturbance to the animals that pass through the area.
We’re constantly working on other initiatives to reduce our environmental impact and our guests are asked to help out by considering the following during your stay at Ulusaba.
- Does the air conditioning unit have to be on while you’re off on a game drive? It’s always nice to escape from the heat, but the units are quite efficient, and we promise you won’t have to wait long for them to cool your room once you return.
- Turn off all the lights as you leave the room.
- Help us save water by not asking for your towels to be changed daily. You can do this by hanging them up once you’ve used them; otherwise just leave them in the laundry basket and we’ll replace them.
Regional conservation efforts:
In conjunction with Potchefstroom University, a ‘grass’ project is underway to rehabilitate seriously eroded areas in the Sabi Sand Reserve. This involves modifying the soil properties and then planting specific grass types that will re-establish the degraded areas.
To actively manage the problem of ensuring water supplies for the migrating animals, there are several dams along the boundary fence to the west of Ulusaba, a barrier that halts seasonal migrations from the east. These dams have been built to sustain these migrating species that concentrate in the area and include the Xikwenga (pronounced “Schkwenga”) Dam, one of the largest in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin and easily viewed from Rock Lodge and the Ulusaba Tree House. Most animals are dependent on water and its distribution plays an essential role, especially during winter when all the seasonal water holes are dry.
The Falls, Zambia:
Livingstone Hospital Children’s Ward:
This project funds the sourcing of incubators for the neo-natal ward of the Livingstone Hospital and the renovation of the children’s ward at the hospital.
Sports Club:
Sun International Zambia provides support to Sun Chester Football Club, which is registered with the Southern Province Amateur Football Association of Zambia. The team is currently on top of the Soccer League and is thriving.
Training:
Since the development of the Falls Resort, nearly 300 Zambians have been recruited to work in the two hotels and their peripheral operations. Basic training is undertaken by the new recruits and includes deportment, grooming and people skills, aside from instruction in the hotel operations. Further basic training includes product knowledge, bar stocktaking procedures, wines and service, cocktails and mixed drinks, procedures and standards in a beverage outlet, and restaurant skills.
Training placements are offered to students working towards qualifications in the hospitality field. Sun International continuously assists hotel school students from approved institutions by placing and employing them for assignment purposes. At least five students are attached to the Falls resort every month.
Old Age Home:
The aged and sick benefit from the five star luxury of the Royal Livingstone Hotel, from where the complimentary slippers provided for guests are passed on to the local hospital and home for the aged by the hundreds. Protecting bare feet from the cold concrete floors of the hospital or old age home, the slippers have been one of the most successful assistances to the local community.
Road Maintenance:
Maintenance of the surroundings of the resort is also a priority for Sun International and the company periodically carries out maintenance work on the road between Victoria Falls, the resort and Livingstone. The local town council does not have the necessary funding to carry out this work.
Culture & Art:
Local art is supported and Sun International Zambia was the venue for an art exhibition by the Lusaka based “Rockston” studio gallery. More than 30 sculptures from the gallery are displayed in and around the resort’s fence for guests to buy.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
