NAIROBI (02/2012) – From the heart of Kenya came the stories of Elsa the lioness, the star of the novel and Academy Award-winning film, Born Free, and Penny the leopard, the star of the novel, Queen of Shaba, both taken care of by the same owner with the same goal in mind: to live in the wild. Elsa’s Kopje and Joy’s Camp, owned and operated by Cheli & Peacock, remain as a tribute to the cats’ journeys - safari camps that once housed Elsa or Penny – and carry on the conservation goals that the Adamson family held dearly.
Elsa became the first lioness successfully released back into the wild, the first to have contact after release and the first known to have cubs after release. After Elsa’s mother was shot charging two wardens, George and Joy Adamson took in and raised Elsa and two other cubs in Meru National Park where Elsa’s Kopje now stands. After a duration of six months with increasing difficulty in taking care of three cubs, the two larger cubs were sent to a zoo in the Netherlands. Instead of sending Elsa to a zoo, the Adamsons decided to keep her with the intent to free her back into the wild. As a result of many months training Elsa to hunt and survive on her own, the Adamsons were successful in the end. Although Elsa is no longer alive, guests of Elsa’s Kopje are able to visit her grave within the park.
After Elsa’s death, George and Joy Adamson’s interests went in separate directions, as did their lives (George wanted to continue to work with lions while Joy’s focus moved to other cats). Penny the leopard was eight weeks old when a ranger found her and handed her over to Joy. The process of teaching Penny how to hunt consisted of getting Penny to jump up at or chase animal skins, then chase hares until she caught one, until finally she progressed to hunting big gazelle. Penny was another success story of an animal in captivity taught to survive on her own and released into the wild. Penny had a litter of two cubs before the publication of Queen of Shaba.
Joy Adamson spent the rest of her life raising money for wildlife, thanks to the popularity of Born Free, sharing the proceeds with various conservation projects. These conservation efforts have been carried on by Cheli & Peacock’s ‘C&P Portfolio,’ a collection of 14 prestigious eco-tourism lodges that include Elsa’s Kopje and Joy’s Camp.
Elsa’s Kopje, named after Elsa the lioness and an Andrew Harper 2012 Grand Award Winner, is renowned for being one of the most elegant lodges in Africa. Elsa’s Kopje is almost invisible to the eye as you approach its home on Mughwango Hill. It blends into the rocky crags of the “kopje” (small hill), built above the site of George Adamson’s original campsite. Every cottage is the ultimate ‘room-with-a-view’ and is uniquely designed and crafted, incorporating the natural features of the rocky hillside. Rates range from $410 - $650 per person sharing per night, depending on the season. This includes game drives, line fishing, bush meals, sundowners, guided bush walks, local airstrip transfers, a range of drinks and laundry.
Joy’s Camp is built on the site of Joy Adamson and Penny’s tented home in Shaba National Reserve, amidst an elegant oasis in the arid lands of Samburu. The 10 chic canvas bedrooms have breathtaking views of the surrounding hills, overlooking a natural spring. Each tent is uniquely decorated with handmade glass and the vibrant fabrics of the local nomadic tribes, and each tent also has its own private veranda, ideal for game viewing. Rates range from $370 - $590 per person sharing per night, depending on the season. This includes game drives, guided bush walks, bush breakfasts along the Ewaso Nyiro River and gorge, sundowners, trips to Magado Crater, local airstrip transfers, a range of drinks and laundry.
For more information, visit Elsa’s Kopje and Joy’s Camp. You may also email info@chelipeacock.co.ke or call +254 (0)20 6003090/1.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
CHELI & PEACOCK NAMED 2012 TOURISM FOR TOMORROW AWARDS FINALIST
NAIROBI, Kenya (01/2012) Cheli & Peacock, Kenya’s leading destination management company,* has been chosen as a finalist in the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in the Conservation category that recognizes best practices in sustainable tourism worldwide. Cheli & Peacock is one of only three finalists in this category and the only Kenyan finalist overall.
Bestowed by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards count among the industry’s most prestigious. The vetting process is rigorous and includes site visits. Winners will be announced on April 17, 2012, during the World Tourism & Travel Council's Summit being held in Japan.
The Tourism for Tomorrow website posts, “Since 1985, Cheli & Peacock has been developing environmentally-friendly safaris and eco-camps in Kenya, with a focus on lesser-visited areas of significant biodiversity that have faced poaching and lack of resources. With 70% of Kenya's wildlife roaming outside of protected areas, they work with local communities to support wildlife conservation by providing economic benefits through bed-night levies, leasing agreements, and education initiatives. Their newly-formed Cheli and Peacock Community Trust focuses on continuing their successes in restoring wildlife to depleted areas, educating the next generation of Kenyan conservation leaders, and encouraging wildlife protection on locally-owned lands by working hands-on with rural communities to identify and support their needs.”
For more information, contact: Charlotte@CheliPeacock.co.ke
*Cheli & Peacock started in 1985 as a small mobile safari company and has burgeoned into Kenya’s leading Destination Management Company. In addition to serving as a tour operator, Cheli & Peacock owns and operates five eco-friendly lodges, and it manages and markets a collection of Kenya’s most renowned and elegant safari camps and lodges under “The C&P Portfolio.”
Bestowed by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards count among the industry’s most prestigious. The vetting process is rigorous and includes site visits. Winners will be announced on April 17, 2012, during the World Tourism & Travel Council's Summit being held in Japan.
The Tourism for Tomorrow website posts, “Since 1985, Cheli & Peacock has been developing environmentally-friendly safaris and eco-camps in Kenya, with a focus on lesser-visited areas of significant biodiversity that have faced poaching and lack of resources. With 70% of Kenya's wildlife roaming outside of protected areas, they work with local communities to support wildlife conservation by providing economic benefits through bed-night levies, leasing agreements, and education initiatives. Their newly-formed Cheli and Peacock Community Trust focuses on continuing their successes in restoring wildlife to depleted areas, educating the next generation of Kenyan conservation leaders, and encouraging wildlife protection on locally-owned lands by working hands-on with rural communities to identify and support their needs.”
For more information, contact: Charlotte@CheliPeacock.co.ke
*Cheli & Peacock started in 1985 as a small mobile safari company and has burgeoned into Kenya’s leading Destination Management Company. In addition to serving as a tour operator, Cheli & Peacock owns and operates five eco-friendly lodges, and it manages and markets a collection of Kenya’s most renowned and elegant safari camps and lodges under “The C&P Portfolio.”
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
WALK THE FOOTSTEPS OF A MASAI WARRIOR
Kenya (01/12) – For one week, or even a few days, leave behind overbearing technology and be transported to a life as a junior warrior in the plains of the Masai Mara. With the Warrior for a Week program at Saruni’s three safari lodges - Saruni Mara, Saruni Samburu and Saruni Samburu - anyone can learn the survival skills of world class warriors.
Each individual is trained and taught in the same way as a junior warrior of the Masai. Under the tutelage of their ‘Moran,’ or Warrior class, guests gain survival skills, become naturals with a bow and arrow, track animals, craft tools and build a nomadic home. Under close instruction, the apprentice sees how the Masai and their warriors view the world and live amongst its wild creatures. Experience first-hand the bush skills, folklore and ancient wisdom of these unique people and their way of life.
Consider this a rite of passage – arrive in Kenya a tourist, leave a warrior.
No other adventure offers this exploration and education of wildlife, wilderness and ‘life’ from one of the most well-known and interesting cultures left in Africa, the Masai. The traditions and semi-nomadic heritage of the local people are an important part of the experience at Saruni Mara, Saruni Samburu and Saruni Wild. And in the Masai Mara, these bush skills are a necessity for survival.
Saruni Mara is set in a remote valley of forests and hills overlooking the open savannas within the most exciting wildlife sanctuary of Africa, the Masai Mara. Accommodation is for 14 guests in six uniquely styled cottages. Each cottage has elegant Italian bathroom fittings, polished wooden floors and large bathrooms with canvas fronts that can be opened to offer a “shower with a view.” The lodge also offers its own private spa treatment center, the “Masai Well-Being Space.”
Saruni Mara’s sister camp, Saruni Wild, is an exclusive tented retreat in the same Northern area of the Masai Mara. With only three tents, it offers the ultimate private safari experience.
Saruni Samburu’s five villas are perched on a rocky outcrop in the Kalama Conservancy overlooking waterholes where the famous Samburu elephant, leopard, giraffe and zebra gather to drink. A fusion of large spacious houses with bold and dramatic African details, Saruni Samburu is the first and most exclusive design lodge of its kind in Kenya.
Saruni Mara, Saruni Samburu and Saruni Wild are part of Cheli & Peacock’s ‘C&P Portfolio’, a collection of 14 eco-tourism lodges located in the best parks of Kenya. Each property has its own footprint and style with a common theme: a luxurious elegance with conservation initiatives.
“Warrior for a Week” is an included activity at the Saruni properties; therefore, there is no additional fee required to take part in this cultural activity. The activity should be booked in advance.
Saruni Mara’s and Saruni Samburu’s rates start from $390 per adult/night. Saruni Wild’s rates start from $910 per night, for a party of four. These all inclusive rates exclude flights, conservation fees, spa treatments and champagne and luxury spirits.
For additional information, visit http://www.chelipeacock.com/ or call +254 (0)20 6003090/1.
Each individual is trained and taught in the same way as a junior warrior of the Masai. Under the tutelage of their ‘Moran,’ or Warrior class, guests gain survival skills, become naturals with a bow and arrow, track animals, craft tools and build a nomadic home. Under close instruction, the apprentice sees how the Masai and their warriors view the world and live amongst its wild creatures. Experience first-hand the bush skills, folklore and ancient wisdom of these unique people and their way of life.
Consider this a rite of passage – arrive in Kenya a tourist, leave a warrior.
No other adventure offers this exploration and education of wildlife, wilderness and ‘life’ from one of the most well-known and interesting cultures left in Africa, the Masai. The traditions and semi-nomadic heritage of the local people are an important part of the experience at Saruni Mara, Saruni Samburu and Saruni Wild. And in the Masai Mara, these bush skills are a necessity for survival.
Saruni Mara is set in a remote valley of forests and hills overlooking the open savannas within the most exciting wildlife sanctuary of Africa, the Masai Mara. Accommodation is for 14 guests in six uniquely styled cottages. Each cottage has elegant Italian bathroom fittings, polished wooden floors and large bathrooms with canvas fronts that can be opened to offer a “shower with a view.” The lodge also offers its own private spa treatment center, the “Masai Well-Being Space.”
Saruni Mara’s sister camp, Saruni Wild, is an exclusive tented retreat in the same Northern area of the Masai Mara. With only three tents, it offers the ultimate private safari experience.
Saruni Samburu’s five villas are perched on a rocky outcrop in the Kalama Conservancy overlooking waterholes where the famous Samburu elephant, leopard, giraffe and zebra gather to drink. A fusion of large spacious houses with bold and dramatic African details, Saruni Samburu is the first and most exclusive design lodge of its kind in Kenya.
Saruni Mara, Saruni Samburu and Saruni Wild are part of Cheli & Peacock’s ‘C&P Portfolio’, a collection of 14 eco-tourism lodges located in the best parks of Kenya. Each property has its own footprint and style with a common theme: a luxurious elegance with conservation initiatives.
“Warrior for a Week” is an included activity at the Saruni properties; therefore, there is no additional fee required to take part in this cultural activity. The activity should be booked in advance.
Saruni Mara’s and Saruni Samburu’s rates start from $390 per adult/night. Saruni Wild’s rates start from $910 per night, for a party of four. These all inclusive rates exclude flights, conservation fees, spa treatments and champagne and luxury spirits.
For additional information, visit http://www.chelipeacock.com/ or call +254 (0)20 6003090/1.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
SILENCE IS GOLDEN: “KALAHARI SAFARI OF SILENCE”
LONDON, England (01/2012)- EXPERT AFRICA, one of Southern Africa’s leading designers and operators of personalized tours, is offering a Kalahari Safari of Silence in response to a trend to escape the noise of everyday life. “Botswana’s Kalahari is a vast and often silent wilderness. We believe that it’s an ideal place for those seeking solitude,” says EXPERT AFRICA’S Managing Director, Chris McIntyre.
The thirst for silence is evident in the rise of travelers looking for “retreats,” places free of TV, Internet, computers, cell phones and other electronic devices, where luxury is the location. Some of these are “reading retreats,” others are spiritual; still others are trips into the wilderness, such as EXPERT AFRICA’S Kalahari Safari of Silence (see rates and details below). A recent column in the New York Times lamented the absence of silence in our lives, saying, “There will be fewer and fewer of what Virginia Woolf called ‘moments of being,’ intense sensations that stand apart from the ‘cottonwool of daily life.’”
One place to experience “moments of being” is in the middle of the northern Kalahari, an area of huge, flat saltpans. The Makgadikgadi and Nxai pans were at the center of a great lake that dried up thousands of years ago, leaving behind some of the largest saltpans in the world. It’s a harsh, sparse landscape, but it offers isolation as complete as anywhere in Southern Africa, and a wealth of hidden treasures. The pans play a vital role in the area’s ecosystems; their geology is unique, their history is fascinating, and they’re incredibly photogenic.
There’s a saying that the silence is so complete in the vast, silvery-white Makgadikgadi Pans that you can hear your own blood flowing. Occasionally, the pans host fleeting herds of Kalahari game, but essentially this is a wilderness. For most of the year, these great pans cover some 3900 square miles of the Kalahari in a thin crust of salt. It’s an eerie, other-worldly environment. “Around January to March, if the rains have been good, the pans flood,” says McIntyre. “Then grasses spring to life, and often flamingos arrive, together with a huge migration of zebra and wildebeest. Although unpredictable, this is one of Africa’s great wildlife spectacles.” Another spectacle is the millions of stars that can be seen through the pollution-free environment.
McIntyre’s expertise is based on years of travel and research within Southern Africa. He is the author of more than a dozen guidebooks to Southern Africa, from the first English-language guide to Namibia and Botswana, first published more than 20 years ago, to all three editions of the Botswana guidebook published by Bradt Travel Guides.
KALAHARI SAFARI OF SILENCE
Rates for the 10-night safari that includes Botswana’s Nxai and Makgadikgadi pans as well as the Okavango Delta start at US $5,183 per person sharing.
Flights ex-Maun, Botswana
4 nights Nxai Pan Camp, Nxai Pan
3 nights Kwara Camp, Okavango Delta
3 nights Camp Kalahari, Makgadikgadi Pans
Includes:
All flights and transfers, starting in Maun and ending in Maun.
All meals, non-premium drinks (including South African wine, beers and local spirits) and activities.
All park fees.
Excludes:
Flights to and from Maun, Botswana
Any fine wines, champagnes and premium spirits
For more information, visit: www.expertafrica.com or + 44 20 8232 9777
The thirst for silence is evident in the rise of travelers looking for “retreats,” places free of TV, Internet, computers, cell phones and other electronic devices, where luxury is the location. Some of these are “reading retreats,” others are spiritual; still others are trips into the wilderness, such as EXPERT AFRICA’S Kalahari Safari of Silence (see rates and details below). A recent column in the New York Times lamented the absence of silence in our lives, saying, “There will be fewer and fewer of what Virginia Woolf called ‘moments of being,’ intense sensations that stand apart from the ‘cottonwool of daily life.’”
One place to experience “moments of being” is in the middle of the northern Kalahari, an area of huge, flat saltpans. The Makgadikgadi and Nxai pans were at the center of a great lake that dried up thousands of years ago, leaving behind some of the largest saltpans in the world. It’s a harsh, sparse landscape, but it offers isolation as complete as anywhere in Southern Africa, and a wealth of hidden treasures. The pans play a vital role in the area’s ecosystems; their geology is unique, their history is fascinating, and they’re incredibly photogenic.
There’s a saying that the silence is so complete in the vast, silvery-white Makgadikgadi Pans that you can hear your own blood flowing. Occasionally, the pans host fleeting herds of Kalahari game, but essentially this is a wilderness. For most of the year, these great pans cover some 3900 square miles of the Kalahari in a thin crust of salt. It’s an eerie, other-worldly environment. “Around January to March, if the rains have been good, the pans flood,” says McIntyre. “Then grasses spring to life, and often flamingos arrive, together with a huge migration of zebra and wildebeest. Although unpredictable, this is one of Africa’s great wildlife spectacles.” Another spectacle is the millions of stars that can be seen through the pollution-free environment.
McIntyre’s expertise is based on years of travel and research within Southern Africa. He is the author of more than a dozen guidebooks to Southern Africa, from the first English-language guide to Namibia and Botswana, first published more than 20 years ago, to all three editions of the Botswana guidebook published by Bradt Travel Guides.
KALAHARI SAFARI OF SILENCE
Rates for the 10-night safari that includes Botswana’s Nxai and Makgadikgadi pans as well as the Okavango Delta start at US $5,183 per person sharing.
Flights ex-Maun, Botswana
4 nights Nxai Pan Camp, Nxai Pan
3 nights Kwara Camp, Okavango Delta
3 nights Camp Kalahari, Makgadikgadi Pans
Includes:
All flights and transfers, starting in Maun and ending in Maun.
All meals, non-premium drinks (including South African wine, beers and local spirits) and activities.
All park fees.
Excludes:
Flights to and from Maun, Botswana
Any fine wines, champagnes and premium spirits
For more information, visit: www.expertafrica.com or + 44 20 8232 9777
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.
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
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.
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
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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.
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