Eco-friendly hotels in South Africa are not just about luxury; they pass a lesson on where the world is headed to.
Nature provides the best respite. A rustic cabin on a secluded beach or in the middle of the forest, with nothing to do but wander, unwind, and treat yourself. True, there are few things that can rejuvenate you quite like spending time in nature.
This is why it’s crucial that we consider ways to protect the natural wonders for which Southern Africa is famous. Its green accommodation provides excellent environment by giving you the following things.
- Reduce your water intake
- Green energy
- Reduce your trash output
So the next time you are in South Africa, look out for the following eco-friendly hotels.
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Teniqua Treetops
Teniqua Treetops. Photo/Wanderlast Movement
It’s located along the Garden Route in the Western Cape. The resort is one of the best eco-friendly hotels in South Africa. It consists of eco-friendly tree houses that guests can stay in on their own.
Each tree home offers a one-of-a-kind housing experience among the native forest. Further, it offers a self-sufficient compound of tented tree houses that provide their own food and catering.
They are located in a secluded area at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains. In order to have as little of an effect as possible on the surrounding ecosystem, the lodge runs on solar energy, collects rainwater for usage, and has dry toilets.
It has a rating of four stars or higher on numerous well-known travel review websites, including 4.5 stars out of a possible five on TripAdvisor.
The Bulungula Lodge
The Bulungula Lodge. Photo/TripAdvisor
The respected Rough Guide travel recommendation calls Bulungula Lodge “one of the world’s greatest ethical travel experiences.” The lodge is set on one of the most gorgeous and untouched beaches in South Africa.
The local Ngileni community owns and operates the Lodge. It’s a backpacker’s hostel in the Eastern Cape known for its popularity despite its modest size. The hotel is located directly on the ocean.
It’s welcoming environment, solar-powered accommodations, and other recycling initiatives, it ranks top in eco-friendly hotels in South Africa.
The Peech
Eco-friendly Hotels in South Africa. The Peech. Photo/Wallpaper
The Peech is a leading eco-friendly, stylish boutique hotel in Johannesburg. It boasts a prime location in Melrose, in the heart of the city, between Rosebank and Sandton.
The Peech in Johannesburg bucked the trend of boutique hotels not being regarded the most environmentally friendly. That was because of the type of tourism which focused more on personalized service and exclusive premium status.
The hotel, which is located in Melrose North in the very center of the city, adheres to the principles of fair trade tourism. It also provides support to local community organizations like the Little Eden Children’s Home.
In addition to solar-powered water heaters and green-zoned architecture, guests can take use of comprehensive water and trash recycling facilities.
iKhayalamafu, Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal
iKhayalamafu Drakensberg. Photo/Drakensberg Experience
There are eco-friendly cabins completely furnished at iKhayalamafu in the Monks Cowl Reserve in the Central Drakensberg. It’s part of the iKhayalamafu Mountain Reserve.
iKhayalamafu, translates to “House in the clouds” in isiZulu. It’s completely off-the-grid mountain retreat that runs on a combination of solar and hydroelectric power in the remote Central Drakensberg.
The facility is environmentally conscious in every way imaginable. From its recycling practices and locally sourced food supplies to the wildlife roaming freely and the stringently enforced low noise levels. This location is also a part of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That’s what makes it one of the best eco-friendly hotels in South Africa.
Oyster Box Hotel, Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal
Oyster Box Hotel. Photo/Natural World Safaris
The Oyster Box is a 5-star luxury boutique hotel and spa in Durban, South Africa. It has won multiple awards for its excellence. The hotel located in the center of one of the most popular beachfront tourist locations in South Africa, takes great pride in combining luxury with environmentally-sound practices.
These practices include the generation of solar power, the harvesting of rain water, and, an automated building management system. The system maximizes the venue’s energy efficiency thereby, making it one of the eco-friendly hotels in South Africa
CNN Travel highlighted the hotel as a pioneer in environmentally responsible travel and tourism practices.
