Committed To Responsible Tourism

At Umlani Bushcamp, everything we do is influenced by our commitment to responsible tourism. This means that we take great care to treat people and the environment with respect by actively minimising the negative impact on our surroundings and making positive contributions wherever possible.

Umlani Bushcamp is SATSA Approved (www.satsa.com) and has proudly carried the Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) certification for 15 years, being the 14th property to receive this accreditation in South Africa. We hereby guarantee that we operate in accordance with Fair Trade criteria such as fair wages and working conditions; fair distribution of benefits; and respect for human rights, culture and the environment.

To qualify for this trademark, Umlani Bushcamp goes through a stringent assessment procedure once a year. For more information, please go to www.fairtradetourism.org.

Here is an overview of initiatives that we have in place, as well as some planned for the future.

Environmental

We are committed to minimising the footprint we leave in our natural environment. This is reflected through:

  • Operating with 100% alternative energy sources (using only solar power with a standby generator)
  • Using 100% non-toxic and biodegradable cleaning products
  • Practicing a towel and linen reuse programme
  • Low-flow showerheads and toilets for water conservation
  • Indigenous, water-wise gardens that consist of draught resistant plants, maintained using organic gardening practices
  • Purchasing all fresh produce locally
  • Using organically grown vegetables in the kitchen, where possible
  • Using no individual packaging in the restaurant (sugar, butter etc.)
  • Recycling all waste and composting all organic waste on site
  • Using only lead-free paint in the camp
  • Educating our guests and staff on various aspects of environmental awareness
  • Membership of the Timbavati Association, a non-profit organisation dedicated to conservation by maintaining the biodiversity of species
  • Writing policies on environmental practices and regularly measuring our impact in various areas
  • Reducing waste by replacing individual soap and lotions with dispensers
  • Brewing and using EM (effective microorganisms) to manage our fat trap, septic tanks and grey water system, which completely neutralizes any harmful bacteria
  • We plant and maintain eight indigenous trees per month in partnership with Greenpop
https://b-cdn.springnest.com/media/doc/g0/umlani_tree_certificate.pdf

Greenpop Collaboration with Umlani! 🌳💚

It's official, Umlani is now a part of the TREEvolution! 🌳


💚 We are thrilled to have partnered with Greenpop as an official monthly Pledge Partner. As part of this collaboration, we are committed to supporting holistic ecosystem restoration and planting 8 indigenous trees each and every month! 💚

Umlani Tree Certificate Here! 🌳

The Greenpop Foundation NPC is a leading environmental non-profit organisation (NPO#: 151-411 NPO; PBO#: 930050622) based in Cape Town, South Africa.
We are on a mission to educate for action.
As an antidote to eco-anxiety, we aim to inspire enthusiasm and build capacity for positive
environmental action. Our work is diverse. We provide technical and financial support for
reforestation and urban greening projects. We craft creative eco-education curriculums and
awareness campaigns. We run engaging nature-based events and experiences. From getting our
hands dirty running local projects to consulting for global organisations, we turn ideas into impact.

Greenpop was founded in 2010 and has since worked across Sub-Saharan Africa and empowered thousands of people around the world to get active (not anxious) about the future of our planet.

Gift a Loved One & Plant your own Tree! 💚🌳

Explore Greenpop's Restoration Sites 🌳

Join the Treevolution
Website: www.greenpop.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Greenpop
Instagram: @GreenpopSA
LinkedIn: @Greenpop
Email: [email protected]

Greenpop Website💚🌳

Socio-Economic

Our FTT certification is a third-party stamp of approval that we operate in accordance with strict socio-economic guidelines. Below are specific initiatives:

  • Writing policies on local recruitment; internal skills development and promotions; and employment equity
  • At least 80% of our staff are from the local community
  • We proudly build capacity within our local community by training our staff in such a way that they can grow and develop their careers. Proof of this is that 10 local employees who started at Umlani as apprentices are now working as rangers, trackers, chefs and in management roles at other neighbouring lodges
  • We run an in-house Ranger and Tracker Apprentice programme
  • We source most of our products locally, and have a programme in place to constantly monitor and improve this
  • We are involved in and support a number of charities through our work, including:
    • The Timbavati Foundation - https://timbavati.co.za/timbavati-foundation/ 
    • A monthly financial contribution and 10% of the conservation levies collected by Umlani are allocated to the foundation
    • The local Phelwana Clinic through the Timbavati Foundation
    • The Timbavati Foundation Bush School Environmental Programme
    • Nourish
    • StreetSmart
  • We support local business and SMMEs like Ringetani
  • Educating our staff about HIV/AIDs including prevention, living with and managing the disease, and facilitating access to ARVs
  • We have recently completed a survey as part of the ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) Framework for Tourism Businesses project by UN Tourism and the University of Oxford SDG Impact Lab - https://www.unwto.org/tourism-statistics/environmental-social-governance-tourism
  • We give our guests opportunities to participate in and/or contribute towards all initiatives that we are involved in

This list was compiled as a quick overview of our initiatives. Should you require further information, or if you would like to see our full policy document, please do not hesitate to contact us.

View FTT Website

Responsible Purchasing

At Umlani Bushcamp, we are committed to promoting sustainability and protecting our natural environment. We encourage our guests to make informed, responsible purchasing decisions during their stay and travels. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

Avoid Unsustainable Flora and Fauna Products
Please refrain from purchasing items made from endangered plants and animals, such as porcupine quill jewelry or carvings from indigenous woods. These products contribute to the depletion of precious resources and threaten biodiversity. Our gift shop does not stock such items, and our team is happy to share more information on why these practices are harmful.

Choose Sustainable Seafood
If you’re planning to enjoy seafood during your stay or elsewhere, we recommend using the SASSI (Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative) app. It provides easy guidance on which fish and seafood choices are sustainable, helping you avoid contributing to overfishing or the depletion of threatened species.

Respect Fair Bartering Practices
In markets where bartering is customary, we encourage you to respect local traditions while paying fair prices. This ensures a positive experience for everyone and supports local artisans and traders.

Support Ethical and Community-Friendly Purchases
Look for markets and items that benefit conservation efforts or are Fair Trade and ethically produced. By choosing these products, you directly contribute to community upliftment and sustainable development.

Our team is here to help if you have any questions or need advice on responsible shopping during your visit. Together, we can ensure your travels support the preservation of our planet and the well-being of local communities.