A Green Lodge is an Eco Lodge, which means it does everything it can to be ecologically sustainable
Not all eco lodges are the same, but there is a basic list of attributes that eco lodges have – some of which you will find below…
Eco lodges are usually small, with generally less than 30 rooms. This means they have less impact on the environment. As new technologies evolve they should improve their sustainability wherever they can.
You will find eco lodges located in a natural area, or in a rural area within a short distance to a natural area. Such as the Nyerere Green Lodge from which you can walk through forest to get to the river and which is less than 3 kilometers to Nyerere National Park.
Here is a list of the major attributes and how we intend to match up to them.
- Situated in the heart of nature, usually in quite a remote, secluded location.
- Eco lodges employ systems that will protect the environment from any pollution and degradation.
- They usually use energy saving practices and possibly renewable energy technology, such as solar and/or wind energy. Responsible water management such as rain water collection and reusing waste water etc.
- Eco lodges will contribute to the local economy. They help demonstrate that ecotourism is a more sustainable long term way to earn income than destroying or changing local habitats for short term gains.
- Eco lodges train and employ local people at fair wages, giving back to the community. Actively supporting and promoting local culture by employing locals,
- Eco lodges aim to employ trained nature guides, people who have significant local knowledge of the habitat and wildlife etc. They can provide education for guests and visitors.
- Low impact construction with the preservation or complete restoration of local flora and fauna.
- Locally sourced or grown organic food (with vegan/vegetarian options)
- These lodges provide books, posters, maps, photographs of the local area.
- Eco lodges often offer programs and activities that allow guests to work on the land and give back to the local community too!
- plant vegetables or fruit in our garden or pick the vegetables for the day’s cooking, even go to the local food market with our buyer.
- a local crafts-person who sculptures wood, makes jewelry, or paints will train guests to do the same. Our guests pay him/her for their time and materials and they take their own work home.
- bicycle rides are also offered, with a local guide, to visit places of local interest. That may include (depending on client wishes): visits to local sisal, banana or coffee plantations, a local church, a school or orphanage etc. Or a local cycle safari.
- Recycling (paper, plastic, metal/aluminum, and organic waste are collected and disposed properly)
- Actions to avoid single use plastic (e.g. non-disposable kitchenware, no plastic packaging, biodegradable materials)
- Chemical-free operation (in areas like cleaning, washing, gardening)
- Participation of our guests
We are situated close to the gates of Nyerere National Park.
We plan to use all grey water (we will use eco friendly soaps) to irrigate our garden.
Our sewage flows into a cess pit which is regularly emptied and and taken to a sewage plant.
We expect our photovoltaic, solar system to be generating our electricity by the 31st of December 2024.
Our rain collection, roof drainage system should be ready for the next rainy season, which begins at the beginning of November 2024. The water will be re-used for domestic purposes (showers, washing etc).
We allow local merchants to sell on our property (e,g African Art, Jewelry etc)
We will employ only local people, training them not only on their necessary skills but also on hotel hygiene and on their understanding of how to treat guests, with respect, patience and friendliness. Kanuth has done this very successfully at the lodge near Lake Manyara, that he previously managed.
Our safari guests always learn something new about our cultures, trees and plants. They are also frequently surprised how the safari guides spot the wildlife with their bare eyes, before themselves, in spite of their binoculars!
Kanuth was trained in Arusha at PROTS, learning Safari Guiding (including all East African Wildlife (mammals, birds, reptiles etc) and, subsequently
safari management and he worked as a lodge manager which included the value of hygiene, comfort, safety and personal, friendly service.
Our lodge’s construction used locally produced bricks and tiles. We are currently planting indigenous trees in the grounds and will have a small vegetable garden.
In the event that our own vegetable garden cannot supply the exact daily requirements we purchase them in the local market, which sells only local produce.
We have a comfortable chill-out area with a small bookshelf on which we have books about East African flora and fauna and local cultures etc. These books may be read in the chill out room or in our garden, but must be returned. Another bookshelf is used as a Leave & Take Library, where you can leave a book you have finished reading and take another on your further journey,
Our guests will be offered the chance to do one or more of the following during their stay…
We will have large bins tucked away behind the lodge, each marked to enable separation of waste, also one for domestic waste. We will hire a local to take the garbage away frequently. We will also work with local authorities to support separation of waste in all local businesses and homes, and the correct disposal methods. Also encourage re-use: paper & cardboard waste can be re-used to make bricks. Glass and metal can also be re-used to make jewellery or water containers, thus providing more work for locals.
Warm food for our safaris is transported in non-plastic thermo pots, non plastic plates and cutlery are also used.
In addition to the mosquito netting on all windows we supply ceiling hung bed-mosquito nets on request. Every 6 months (sometimes sooner) we must fumigate the rooms, to rid of us various small pests. We attempt to do this only in the low seasons and, of course, only in rooms that will remain vacant for some days to come.
We welcome suggestions from our guests, to become even greener. They can even help us implement the necessary changes.