Tuesday, November 29, 2011

INCREDIBLE ELEPHANT RESCUE

Dedicated Staff at Norman Carr Safaris in Zambia Help Save the Life of a Baby Elephant and Mother – With No Time to Spare

SOUTH LUANGWA VALLEY, ZAMBIA (11/11) – There is a rule in the Bush that man does not interfere with nature. But sometimes that rule needs to be broken, especially if an animal is about to die a cruel and grim death. This just happened in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia where a team of caring people from Norman Carr Safaris, the South Luangwa Conservation Society (SLCS) and the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) pulled together to save a baby elephant and its mother who were struggling to be free from the deep mud of the Kapani Lagoon. At first it was a losing battle but perseverance, courage and strength made the difference. For a truly heartwarming story, click on the link below: http://www.normancarrsafaris.com/cm/zambian_information/latest_news/dramatic_elephantrescue/

The South Luangwa National Park is Zambia’s premier wildlife destination and is renowned for its unspoiled beauty and varied habitats. Norman Carr was the first in the Luangwa Valley to believe it was possible to preserve wildlife and at the same time, directly benefit the local community through tourism. He introduced the idea of eco tourism to the valley more than 50 years ago and was the first to offer walking safaris. Though Norman Carr himself is deceased, the ideals upon which Norman Carr Safaris is founded are still practiced today and provide one of the most rewarding safari experiences possible.

Visit www.normancarrsafaris.com or www.slcszambia.org for more information about the work that these dedicated people do to conserve local wildlife and natural resources of the South Luangwa National Park.

RESTORED STEENBERG HERB GARDEN BRINGS BRIGHT FRESH FLAVORS TO HOTEL’S WORLD-CLASS RESTAURANT AND BISTRO

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (10/2011) Diners at Steenberg’s two award-winning restaurants will soon savor dishes featuring the wholesome goodness of delicious fresh produce picked from the estate’s revived, historic Herb Garden.

Chef Garth Almazan of Catharina’s and Chef Brad Ball of Bistro Sixteen82 (the year of Steenberg’s founding) are the brains behind the hotel’s latest “green project.” Both are passionate proponents of sustainable living, and both are creating dishes that will showcase seasonal vegetables and fruit, picked daily from the Herb Garden. The wide range of aromatic herbs is also a chef’s dream and range from thyme, rosemary and coriander to basil, lemon grass, rocket and chives.

Both Steenberg restaurants are recent recipients of the coveted American Express Platinum Card Fine Dining Award 2011. The revived Herb Garden, providing as it does “backyard to table” freshness, will further enhance the dining experience at Steenberg.

Chef Almazan strongly supports local producers, and sources most of his vegetables and fruit from surrounding farms. He says, “It will be a pleasure to serve fare from our own garden, as there’s little to beat the taste of a freshly-picked beetroot or leek. Our guests will taste the difference.”

Almazan pioneered the “Meat Free Mondays” campaign locally, serving up an exciting selection of new vegetarian dishes for lunch and dinner and adding new dishes weekly. He introduced the concept in 2009 as a way for Catharina’s to showcase fine dining vegetarian options and to raise awareness of climate change.

This approach to “going green” illustrates the creative approach Steenberg is taking towards keeping the estate’s carbon footprint as low as possible. Graham Beck Hospitality General Manager for Steenberg, Gaby Gramm, constantly looks for innovative ways to “green” the hotels operations. She says, “Every small effort made goes a long way towards conserving our corner of the planet for future generations.” The hotel already adheres to sustainable seafood guidelines. The Herb Garden will enhance the gourmet fare offered, while offsetting the estate’s carbon footprint.

The 500-square-foot Herb Garden, located behind the hotel Pool Bar, will be nourished by an advanced new food waste recycling system, using composting worms, which are being cultivated by Steenberg’s newly-appointed “lay worm farmers,” Luzuko Sompa and Sandile Mphothulo. The idea is to use earthworms to turn the organic waste on the farm into soil conditioners for the Herb Garden, and is being overseen by Full Cycle, a green living company that is committed to reducing waste and promoting sustainable development through innovative products and services.

Other green initiatives employed by Steenberg include the use of a generator to manage energy consumption; using energy-saving light bulbs throughout the property; ensuring that biodiversity on the farm is maintained to reduce land disturbance; using borehole water for the property’s extensive gardens as well as for the hotel’s swimming pool; effective waste management of non-renewable room amenities; and educating staff and guests by way of training and newsletters.

For further information:

Steenberg Hotel
+021-713-2222
www.steenberghotel.com
Follow us on twitter @SteenbergHotel

READERS OF CONDE NAST TRAVELER PICK STEENBERG HOTEL IN SOUTH AFRICA AS THE BEST HOTEL IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peggy Healy/Virginia Haynes
Montgomery Communications
phealy@montcom-ny.com
212-209-3915; 551-579-2375 (cell)

READERS OF CONDE NAST TRAVELER PICK STEENBERG HOTEL IN SOUTH AFRICA AS THE BEST HOTEL IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST


CAPE TOWN, South Africa (11/2011) Readers of Condé Nast Traveler have rated the Steenberg Hotel in Cape Town as the Top Hotel in Africa and the Middle East in this year’s Condé Nast Traveler US Readers’ Choice Awards. With an impressive score of 95.7, it claimed the winning title ahead of another six South African hotels which made it onto the list of Africa’s top 20 hotels. Steenberg was also listed among the Top 100 Travel Experiences in the world.

The final winners were culled from more than eight million votes cast in Conde Nast Traveler’s annual Readers' Choice Awards survey. These awards reflect the combined opinions of 28,876 Condé Nast Traveler readers rating the cities, islands, and hotels they visited in the past year, and the airlines and cruise ships they traveled on. For its range and depth, the Readers' Choice Awards are a unique and trusted source of advice globally, thanks to some of the most discerning and demanding travelers in the US.

Marking a triumphant year of major international accolades for Steenberg as a tourism destination, this award follows on the heels of scooping the coveted title of Best Luxury Hotel in Africa by www.TripAdvisor.com, the world’s largest travel site, in its 2011 Travelers’ Choice awards. Steenberg was also rated one of Cape Town’s top gourmet destinations when both its fine dining restaurant, Catharina’s, and its more informal Bistro Sixteen82, were awarded the coveted American Express Platinum Card Fine Dining Award in 2011. Adding to this remarkable roll of honors, Steenberg Vineyards was named Global Winner Wine Tourism Services in the Great Wine Capitals’ Best of Wine Tourism Awards 2011.

Gaby Gramm, General Manager of the Steenberg, commented, ‘It’s a significant honor to be voted the top hotel on the African continent by readers of the respected Condé Nast Traveler magazine, who count among the world’s most selective travelers. It’s especially heartening that votes are cast based on guests’ perceptions of their stay with us. As the first in the Constantia Wine Valley to be recognized among the best in the world on this important international platform, we believe this will help to shine the spotlight on our valley as a destination with numerous tourism attractions.”

For the complete 2011 Condé Nast Traveler US Readers’ Choice Awards list, visit
http://www.concierge.com/images/cnt/pdf/2011-Readers-Choice-Awards.pdf

Tel: + 021 713-2222
Email: reservations@steenberghotel.com
Visit: www.steenberghotel.com
Follow on @SteenbergHotel


MORE ABOUT STEENBERG

The elegant Steenberg Hotel offers deluxe accommodation comprising 21 rooms and three Heritage Suites set among the vineyards. The oldest farm in the Constantia Wine Valley, Steenberg is just 20 minutes from the center of Cape Town. It offers two distinct culinary experiences at fine dining restaurant Catharina’s, and at cellar door restaurant Bistro Sixteen82. Other facilities on the estate include the Steenberg Winery, a state-of-the-art conference facility; the 18-hole championship Peter Matkovich golf course; the luxurious Ginkgo Spa and a swimming pool.