Responsible Tourism

White Elephant Safaris strives towards Responsible Tourism by supporting various conservation initiatives, community projects, and social activities, in an effort to help improve our environment and the daily lives of our employees, surrounding communities and wildlife.

1. Regular refuse separation and removal – organic waste is used for compost to grow own herbs and vegetables, tags off tins are collected for a Wheelchair donation project, glass and cans removed to recycling plants. Recycled glasses are used in lodges, ‘Green Glass’ from cut bottles at Bush Camp, and melted glass blown in Swaziland (Ngwenya Glass tel : 00268 442 4053) at Safari Lodge.
2. Low voltage/energy saver globes where possible, minimal use of high-energy appliances i.e. air-conditioners and heaters (instead warm water bottles in beds on cold nights), gas and paraffin lanterns instead of electrical lights for outdoors.
3. We donate used linen and towels to the Ubombo children’s home, stationary, paper, magazines and books to local schools.
4. We transport water daily to local community homes especially during drier months.
5. Community Projects: We endeavour to support local community projects such a Ilala weavers (tel : 035 562 0630) and KZNSA Gallery (tel : 031 202 3686/7/8) by purchasing beadwork for promotional gifts & curio shop stock.
6. Ongoing in-house training and learning amongst our staff members is encouraged and funded. Staff are encouraged to share knowledge with each other and work towards becoming multi-skilled rather than developing skills only relevant to one particular position.
7. The money collected from gate fees (occupancy at our lodges directly affects this income) is deposited into our Game Reserve Space for Elephants Foundation (SEF) Trust Fund, which in turn allocates this money to local community projects i.e. funding tourism courses, assisting local schools, etc.
8. Space for Elephants was set up by White Elephant Lodge, and the eco-activity ‘elephanting’ implemented. Income generated from this activity by participating White Elephant Lodge guests is ‘donated’ to SEF
9. Dr Heinz and Mrs Debbie Kohrs, owners of White Elephant Lodge, are the Founding Trustees of Space for Elephants: www.space4elephants.org
10. Procurement: Where positions allow for it, we recruit new staff primarily from one of our neighbouring communities. (i.e. Gumbi, Nyawo or Myeni communities). Project workers are also recruited from these neighbouring communities through consultation with local Ndunas/elders (‘Mpakhati’).
11. Uplift neighbouring communities:
    1. Staff recruited from these communities i.e. Gumbi’s, are encouraged to live at home to promote a healthy family/home life. (Shifts are designed around these workers, they are transported to and from work)
    2. HIV/Aids is prevalent in this area: A concerted effort is made to discuss and educate staff HIV/Aids, through HIV awareness programmes.
    3. Regular ‘runs’ are done to the local hospitals for staff to receive medication, counselling and medical care; We have a fixed arrangement with the local mobile clinic for monthly visits to the game reserve;
    4. Zululand Mission Air Transport (ZUMAT) – White Elephant Lodge supports this community charity service by offering air charters/scenic flights to our guests as additional activities.
    5. Local hospital (Bethesda) and children’s home– White Elephant Lodge supports these by taking guests to visit these institutions as part of tour programmes. Guests are usually very touched emotionally and leave sizeable donations for these community projects.
    6. Clothing and toys are collected, cleaned and repaired by White Elephant Lodge staff + owners and distributed to the children in Bethesda hospital and the Ubombo children’s home over the festive season.
    7. Film crews / advertising companies that utilize our lodges and location are encouraged to recruit ‘film extras’ from the neighbouring communities for which community members receive payment. 
    8. Tourism Awareness (TA) programmes have been donated to local schools and through SEF we hope to continue this distribution of TA programmes.
    9. We have hosted training courses (i.e. National Tourism Leadership Project NCF level 2 learnership) in guiding (cultural) for local neighbouring community members. We also provide game drives, boat cruises and visits to the lodges to these learners.
    10. Dr Heinz Kohrs presents Eco-tourism talks to high school children on invitation and at National Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism Workshops.
    11. WE developed and maintain the SEF’s Research Centre.
    12. We promote community projects such as visits to cultural villages to our guests, as additional activities in our area.