Mike & Justine Weeks

This accommodation provider has taken action to address one or more issues (whether environmental, social or cultural) which will contribute positively to the long term viability of the destination and hence their site displays a Caring for the destination rating.

Main area of focus in Caring for the Destination:  

On Amakhala Game Reserve and Safari Lodge the below are the main areas of focus:

• Staff training and development.
• Amakhala Conservation Centre.
• Isipho Aids Orphanage.
• Amakhala Craft Centre.

Detailed description of the Caring for the Destination Initiative: 

Staff Training and Development:

Staff members are being put through various in-house training programmess on an ongoing basis to enable them to take on new positions and responsibilities at the various lodges. Some of them are involved in Theta Hospitality Learner-ships and some have participated in the Eco Training course, which has run its practical component on Amakhala. We are also starting to include staff members on our student program.

We have been investigating the options for English Second Language training, one of our objectives being to run an ESL course, making use of the support available from the Dept. of Education.

The staffs on Amakhala all receive fair wages and training according to the FTTSA (Fair Trade in Tourism) regulations.

Amakhala Game Reserves lodges all support the local communities who grow and sell fresh produce and products as far as possible (food and shop items), thus empowering the local community with an income.

Amakhala strongly supports the Craft Centre and orphanage that is situated nearby and each lodge encourages guests to visit and purchase gifts from the craft centre, and if they wish, to make a donation to the orphanage.

Energy, water use, waste water and waste management programs are in place on Amakhala and this encourages the reserve to be a sustainable entity.

The Amakhala Conservation Centre is supported by the lodges. The Centre educates local rural schools on environmental education and facilitates research and training activities in the environmental field, e.g. for post-graduate students from Rhodes University. There is an ongoing relationship with the Sindisa Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes conservation through the education of scholars and students from the UK.

It also has an outreach education programme in place, which enables children from farm schools in the area and children's charity groups to experience the outdoors and a game reserve.

Third Party Verification: 

Fair Trade in Tourism, South Africa