Who doesn’t love pleasant surprises!
Graceland is not just an eco-retreat, but a ‘treat’ in its true meaning.
The first moment of ‘awe’ was when on our arrival at Graceland we discovered that we have arrived at South Africa’s giraffe ‘manor’. Graceland is home to six giraffes (the Presley family) – each with its unique personality and Pricilla is the most inquisitive of them all.
The owners, Anders and Douglas, their ginger cats and lively Cocker Spaniels made us feel welcomed and spoiled.
It is a ‘treat’ in its true meaning.
And, Anders’s culinary work-of-art took us by surprise as well. The gourmet dinner – the taste and attention to detail – is an experience in itself. It is a treat! Anders and Douglas are using fresh ingredients from local ethical farmers and from their own organic vegetable and herb garden.
We got chatting with Anders (who is originally from Sweden), about their eco-home, what they expanded to a retreat and a restaurant for guests, and what it took to make it to a high eco standards. It is always great to find people like Anders and Douglas, who have such a passion for sustainable living and travel.
Diverse Graceland and its area.
The reserve, bordering on the forest of Magoebaskloof and Woodbush Forest Reserve, is home to a free-roaming Kudus, Impalas, Mountain Reedbuck as well as a wide variety of birds. You could spot Verreaux Eagle, Crowned and Long-Crested Eagle, Purple Crested Turaco – are just a few of many to mention. Graceland is ideal for hikes, birding, stargazing, or just chilling with giraffes and let the mountain vista and sounds of nature to melt away the word worries. The entire area has a lot to offer from festivals, breweries and cultural tours and, canopying and mountain bike trails to the adventure seekers.
But, for our next visit, we shall take extra time to have a picnic on a hiking trail in Graceland Eco retreat.
Click for the link to: Graceland Eco Retreat Accommodations: Giraffe House / Kudu Chalet / Serapana House / Impala Studio / Pangolin Studio.
More information on Graceland Full-Eco ‘Gold’ credits:
Post-Corona pandemic change is inevitable, but how we adapt to it is crucial for our survival.
The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted in untold misery and disaster for the human race but paradoxically resulted in a welcome boost for nature. For once, after decades, the Earth can ‘breathe’ again. The signs are there. The air over Europe is 40% improved after a few weeks of rest, and the murky waters in the Venetian canals are clear again with dolphins present. In Asia, the summits of the Himalayas are again visible, the first time in human memory. This all because of a massive drop in human activity and actions.
It is prudent to take stock of where we stand and where we are going to.
It is painful and also disgraceful to admit that this catastrophic event is mostly self-inflicted caused by human actions or neglect to act in other instances. To only blame the Chinese for this disaster because of their disregard for animal rights and destructive ecological practices is disingenuous. We, the rest of the world, is equally to blame. We only have to look at pollution (air, water, environment), overpopulation, habitat disruption, harmful policies, health and hygiene standards coupled with civil disobedience to understand the cumulative effect on the pandemic.
Charles Darwin aptly said, “adapt or perish.”
Before the pandemic world/international travel was one of the fasted growing industries and ecotourism, responsible tourism was growing even faster.
Post Corona, the tourism landscape will transform dramatically. With the newfound realisation of social responsibilities combined with less disposable income, tourism will never be the same.
We can safely predict the ‘new’ tourist will become more discerning and demanding how their hard-earned money will be spent.
This new (or not quite so new) trend, places exciting new challenges for both the consumer and the service provider.
Our carbon footprint can be either uplifting or destructive, depending on our choices and actions.
As the responsible traveller, we must adhere to strict eco principals and standards. It starts with our choice of accommodation and transport. We have to verify or check to see if the lodge/hotel or reserve comply with responsible and eco standards. Relying on promotional marketing claiming ‘eco’ is not sufficient. We must check their credentials and grading (eco grading) we have to be alert to identify the ‘green washer’ who falsely proclaim to be eco for marketing reasons. We must take care to select locations or establishments who respect and improve nature as well as uplifting the local community. Also important to determine if their facilities and practices are truly and genuinely eco-friendly.
Eco-standards and grading
The service provider, on the other hand, has different challenges and opportunities to comply with. The current lull in local and international tourism is the ideal opportunity to get the ‘house in order’ and improve the infrastructure to comply with eco-standards and responsible tourism. Looking for, or improving renewable and energy-saving strategies, implementing water-saving policies, re-looking at amenities in the rooms and prioritise kitchen and catering standards to improve eco ratings. Use the available time to implement bush clearing of invader plants and trees and utilise the wood thus harvested for fire-making. What a better opportunity to rope in the already struggling local community, to render cultural and other uplifting activities to the establishments for the benefit of the guests. Planning new activities like birding, game drives and cultural visits, can be stimulating for the owners and also enhance their reputations. This is but a few examples, but the list can be much more extensive.
We have no choice but have to adapt to survive.
The current time is the best opportunity for all involved parties to unite their efforts to establish a true eco-community and grading for our tourism market. Here we include service providers, consumer individuals and groups combined with other involved experts to set a credible standard and grading process to guide the tourist in their decision making as well as the service provider in understanding the expected standards.
Looking for panoramic views of sunset sky – a vast stretch of starry sky – soothing sound of the stillness – unique fauna and arid beauty in Tankwa Karoo. Skoorsteenberg Eco-Farm offers for ecotravellers two self-catering farmhouse units, each sleeps six people. An ideal ‘home’ away home for a whole family including your furry family members.
Skoorsteenberg eco credentials:
Ecotourism – Quo Vadis
Breakthrough or Disaster?
Internationally tourists are becoming more and more concerned about protecting the ecology, environment and protecting the Earth through responsible tourism.
When Eco-certification for International and Local Eco-tourist establishments and Lodges was proposed, it seemed an excellent idea.
However, this long overdue initiative soon presented us (both, service providers and consumers ) with a minefield of problems, dilemmas as well as misuse of the word ‘Eco’ that has confused the public.
The first and foremost problem was to find a workable and practical “Ecotourism “definition.
‘The International Ecotourism Society’ ( TIES ) defines responsible tourism or ‘Ecotourism’ as “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” (TIES 1990 ).
This definition is a compromise to appease most of the involved bodies and institutions to find a common consensus. The result is that with good word choices and manipulations as many as possible institutions can and will qualify to be Eco compliant. It has potentially resulted in the opposite what Eco compliance intended, – the effect is potentially quantity versus quality. The current definition is so vague that practically anyone could stretch the credentials or responsible tourism to be certified and called ‘ an Eco establishment’. Is this really what we want to achieve?
Controversies on ‘Eco’
A further problem is the fact that many international certifying institutions are commercially motivated. They rely on high listing fees for registration and annual re-registration. Many smaller players honoring responsible tourism that would qualify as an ‘Eco’ establishment cannot financially afford to be verified and certified, and therefore they are then not recognised but excluded.
How do we implement a scoring system to be Eco-certified? Moreover, what constitutes a qualifying scoring system? Those are questions currently undefined and is open for abuse and misuse the term ‘ Eco’.
The grey areas of the current definition of ‘Eco’ are:
1. Will an establishment that uses only underground (borehole) water and natural ( solar, wind) energy score more points because they are situated in a remote area compared to those on the grid?
2. Some establishments are in remote rural areas and are forced to use local workers, but how far can the definition push the boundaries to be seen as local (the Country, district, town, or the village)?
What’s the difference: Eco, Full-Eco, Eco-Friendly, ‘Greenwash’
Facilities that tick the above boxes are per definition regarded as “Eco” but are they truly Eco?
The opposite argument is seldom heard, as there are no demerit points for Eco-negative activities and practices as examples:
1. Here we think of waste and ash disposal policy.
2. Single-use plastic.
3. Non-eco-friendly soaps, shampoos and bathroom amenities in disposable, single-use containers.
4. Non-eco-friendly disinfectants and insect repellents that harm the environment.
5. Not being water-wise and water wastage.
6. We can also include contamination of water as well as air pollution.
Currently, as per definition, a responsible tourism establishment can qualify as truly ‘Eco’ if they score three good Eco points but yet they fail on other three Eco-negative activities. Can they still realistically call themselves an Eco establishment.
Our challenge is to educate the public to distinguish the ‘real’ Eco from the imposters and prevent establishments from misusing the ‘Eco’ title.
Eco – grading for Responsible Tourism by Eco Explore Africa
Eco Explore Africa therefore has implemented measures to improve Eco-certification of a responsible tourism establishment.
- It is voluntary but approved/verified certification.
- Strict and comprehensive qualifying criteria including demerit points totalling a certification score.
- Three levels of Eco-certification (Gold-Silver-Bronze).
a-Gold / Full Eco
b-Silver / Eco friendly
c- Bronze / Eco in progress - Certification (eco-emblem) indicating the level of compliance.
- Establishments (three-level) grading is determined based on ‘Eco’ merit and demerit points calculation system by Eco Explore Africa.
- Certification affordable and accessible to everyone, – from small to more prominent establishments.
- A particular weighted score is recognized for establishments that are actively involved in an uplifting local community, improving living standards and education. Also for establishments that create a positive impact on the local ecosystem and preserving the environment.
- An online platform for comprehensive information on verified and graded/certified Eco establishments.
- Making certification affordable, the grading certification model is a formula calculated fee structure based on the following:
The number of rooms in the establishment and the fees charged per room/person is to determine a fair certification fee. - We stand by making it affordable for all ‘truly’ Eco establishments to be included not “if you can pay me you can get it”.
For further information on Eco-grading, please contact Eco Explore Africa, on eea@ecoexploreafrica.com
Agama tented accommodation Eco Safaris is ‘rooms with a view’
It was a flower season in Namaqualand. The day of our arrival, heavy clouds rolled over the sky and were there to stay. The cold front was coming. It was our misfortune not to see the sunset down in the valley and distant mountains that all the seven tented accommodations provide. I could imagine it to be stunning vista on a clear day – Agama tented accommodation eco safaris is ‘rooms with a view’.
With the chilly, rainy weather all the guests gathered into the main house, in front of a fireplace with a glass of Red wine to get comfy. It was a good opportunity to meet other guests and to chat with owners Victor and Linda Burke about their farm. The farm has been in the family for six generations. It used to be a sheep farm in the past. Victor and Linda have made it their home and are welcoming guests to their Agama Tented Camp where Springbok and Gemsbok are now roaming the shrubby terrain, and Buffalos will be introduced.
Not just an Eco establishment in Namaqualand
What made it so special, – was the personality to the place, with Linda being busy in the kitchen and Victor, if he was not engaged in conversations with guests, was pouring drinks at the Burke’s pub. You can see and feel that the owners, Victor and Linda are the heart and soul into the farm and their eco safaris lodge
Home-cooked dinner of South African Bobotie
The weather was getting rapidly miserable, and front of the fireplaces became the most popular place to be. The family cat, – the Kat, arranged himself sitting in front of it, staring motionlessly at the flames. He could have been a furry statue if it weren’t for an occasional yawn. Orphaned meerkat appeared and claimed his place in front of the fireplace. I thought the meerkat could have as well been named MenieerKat (from Afrikaans translation it would mean something like ‘the-real-mister-cat’). Victor confirmed that the MenieerKat believes himself to be the boss of the house.
Dinner was served in a cozy setting with paraffin lamps on the tables. Linda’s home-cooked dinner offered among many side dishes, a roasted leg of lamb, traditional South African Bobotie with cinnamon sweet potatoes and freshly baked bread. Second helpings assured! Linda’s baked warm apple pie was a definite cherry on top for a scrumptious meal.
Equipped with warm blankets and hot water bottles to warm the bed we retired into our eco safaris tents. And a gas heater fortified our good night sleep.
Johan says: "Beside overall warm hospitality' You can see and feel that the owners, Victor and Linda are the heart and soul into the farm and their eco safaris lodge."
Annica says: "I would rate it definitely as an Eco accommodation and thumbs up for using creativity to give ‘old’ utensils a new life".
Your wishlist might be to stay in a Eco cottage
That is secluded, and you have full privacy. To be spacious yet welcoming.
Rustic feel but artistic with personality.
Log fireplace to keep cosy and old-fashioned bath.
Might be too much of a wishlist, but we managed to find it for you! It is ‘Die Kliphuis’ cottage in Gannaga lodge that is on top of Gannaga pass in Tankwa Karoo.
Flower season in Tankwa Karoo
We drove up on the winding gravel road of Gannaga pass that was narrow and steep some places, admiring the breathtakingly beautiful views to the distance over otherwise flat Tankwa Karoo. As we summited 1700m high pass, we saw a stone cottage amongst of Karoo bushes and wildflowers. A further down the road is the main Gannaga lodge, that is equally unique and with lots of character.
It’s not only the lodge that has a character, but it is also equally the people that give the personality to create a welcoming experience. We were greeted at the reception by a friendly and smiling face of Enrico, who told that he hails all the way from George. Enrico was always there to ensure that we were well looked after and entertained us with his jokes.
Die Kliphuis Eco cottage takes you back in memory lane
We discovered that Johann Visagie is the owner of Gannaga lodge, of which history goes back to Johann’s great-grandfather to the years of sheep farming. The Kliphuis stone cottage we stayed in, apparently, was the very first farmhouse dating back to the1800’s. ‘Die Kliphuis’ now invites visitors who look for a quiet time in privacy with an idyllic view and Eco experience. Our only regret was that we should have stayed longer.
Die Kliphuis cottage is self-catering but you can opt to eat at the main lodge, and this what we did. Back at the lodge, Johann himself appeared from the kitchen with an apron and smiling. Chatted with all the guests, served drinks from the bar, and put the apron back on as the head chef who was on leave. That is multitasking and having all under control with a big smile.
Johan with Gannaga lodge owner Johann Visagie (on the right)
Finding Vegan meals all the way in Tankwa
The menu offered something to everyone, from Karoo lamb chops, sheep head delicacy, vegetarian option and to my greatest surprise a Vegan Shepherds Pie. Finding vegan meal option offered in Tankwa Karoo was impressive, considering that even many commercial, big-city restaurants fail to do that.
What you can expect is not a fast-food but a ‘slow-food’ – that means a freshly cooked homemade hearty meal especially for you. I ordered tomato-basil soup and Vegan Shepherd Pie that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Our stay in Die Kliphuis is eco and nostalgic experience.
The Tankwa Karoo weather turned freezing that night, but the fireplace, electric blankets and warm duvets were welcoming. Water for the bath/shower was heated by *donkey. To refresh one’s memory, – donkey heater is an old-fashioned water heating system consisting of a drum of water that is heated by a fire outside the building.
Our stay in Die Kliphuis was a real eco and nostalgic experience.
Beside the stone cottage, Gannaga lodge offers a wide variety of accommodation option in the main lodge.
Johan says: Takes you back in memory lane.
Annica says: Can’t wait to go back there again. (Just have to book well in advance).
