Singita is one of the travel industry’s leaders when it comes to sustainability. Throughout their 15 lodges, they have implemented sustainable and conservation initiatives. We sat down with Dr. Andrea Ferry, Sustainability Co-Ordinator at Singita, to learn more about their efforts.
Dr. Andrea Ferry
Photo credit: Singita
How do you define sustainability?
At Singita, conservation encapsulates an interdependent relationship between three critical components: Biodiversity, Community & Sustainability. They are all integral to our model. At Singita, a sustainable world is one in which people enjoy happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the earth’s resources, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness.
Photo credit: Singita
Why is sustainable travel important?
Solar panels in Singita Kruger National Park.
Photo credit: Singita
Our high-value, low-volume ecotourism model is an interdependent relationship between biodiversity, community, and sustainability. It is a complicated and multi-faceted model pioneered 28 years ago, with the first lodge (Singita Ebony) in the Sabi Sand, South Africa.
Singita’s 100-year purpose is to protect and preserve large areas of African wilderness for future generations. Every decision is governed by our purpose, and this has been in place since the very beginning. In fact, we feel it’s more urgent now than ever.
At Singita, conservation is our passion and purpose. Over the past 28 years, our commitment to safeguarding the continent’s wildlife populations and wilderness areas – as well as creating economic independence within communities living alongside them – has seen us implement strategic partnerships with non-profit Funds & Trusts in each of the regions in which we operate.
Alongside our partner Funds & Trusts, we are the guardians of large areas of pristine wilderness and responsible for thriving community partnership projects that make a tangible difference in the lives of people living and working in and around our lodges.
Fulfilling our conservation promise
Managed and functioning independently from Singita, our non-profit Funds & Trusts employ some of the best conservation experts on the continent. They drive strategic and critical initiatives that fulfil Singita’s commitment to biodiversity, sustainability and community partnerships.
• Tanzania – The Grumeti Fund
• Zimbabwe – The Malilangwe Trust
• SA – Singita Lowveld Trust
What is one thing you want travelers to know about sustainable travel?
Photo credit: Singita
Guests should choose a responsible ecotourism operator to travel with. Select a reputable, proven conservation brand with a stellar track record, where they can see incredible projects and positive results.
Become responsible travellers – support community or conservation projects that resonate with them. For example, at Singita Kruger National Park, you could visit the Singita Community Culinary School and take a cooking lesson and buy our cookbook – funds from both support the students. A third community culinary school opened in Rwanda.
Alternatively, guests can support and donate to any of Singita’s conservation or community projects via our partner funds and trusts. Guests can leave a safari knowing they have contributed to early childhood development, anti-poaching canine units, community projects, leopard research, lion recovery or many other life-changing projects.
On 1 August 2021, Singita introduced a carbon-offsetting levy for all bed nights booked. The funds generated being used to purchase verified carbon credits from accredited service providers in South Africa and Tanzania. Carbon offset projects not only mitigate carbon, but also provide various other benefits for local communities. Travel can really be used as a force for good.
UN DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
ABOUT SINGITA
At Singita, a sustainable world is one in which people enjoy happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the earth’s resources, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness.
We recognise that sustainable operations across all our lodges and support offices play a major role in achieving our purpose to preserve and protect large areas of African wilderness for future generations. We consistently strive to be more sustainable by doing all we can to reduce our ecological footprint and to improve the lives of our people, and those in neighbouring communities.
Photo credit: Singita
We aim to embed One Planet Living thinking throughout our operations so it becomes a natural part of how we conduct business, strategise, build new properties, and create guest experiences. We are part of the international network of organisations using Bioregional’s One Planet Living framework. Our One Planet Action Plan has been endorsed by Bioregional as demonstrating leadership in One Planet Living.
Bioregional’s One Planet Living sustainability framework comprises ten guiding principles and its detailed goals were developed together with WWF. Backed by science and many years of hands-on experience, this highly flexible framework helps organisations around the world achieve their vision of a brighter, better future. https://singita.com/conservation/sustainability
Singita Serengeti adopted the framework in 2012 and since 2016, all our properties have been committed to its principles. It serves as a basis for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving water, improving waste management and recycling, having a positive impact on local economies and conserving precious natural resources. These sustainability principles are critical to the fulfilment of Singita’s 100-year purpose and drive us towards our goal of being a completely carbon-neutral operation.