Amakhala Game Reserve Woodbury Lodge
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Richard & Cathy / Giles & Jennifer Gush
The Gush Family is the owner of Woodbury Lodge on Amakhala and is the 5th generation on Woodbury. They moved from agriculture to the tourism industry in 1999 and have done extensive conservation work on Amakhala Game Reserve.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.
Detailed description of the Caring for the Destination Initiative:
Staff Training and Development:
Staff members are being put through various in-house training programs 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 program in place, which enables children from farm schools in the area and children's charity groups to experience the outdoors and a game reserve.
Staff Training and Development:
Staff members are being put through various in-house training programs 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 program 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
Fair Trade in Tourism, South Africa
Meet Neil Lyon and his team at Lyon Tours & Safaris, your local connection in Port Elizabeth & Addo. With an extensive knowledge of Port Elizabeth & Addo and a local staff working on the ground in the Eastern Cape, we put great emphasis on preserving our beautiful country and promoting responsible tourism. Speak with us for a real Eastern Cape experience!
