CapeNature, the provincial government entity tasked with managing the Western Cape’s nature reserves, has established itself as a leader in ecotourism through innovative green developments and investment, driving a 43% increase in visitor numbers and a 20% increase in revenue over the past two years.

CapeNature’s green development journey started in 2010 with a decision to build tourism facilities in the Kogelberg Reserve, a World Heritage Site and widely considered to be the heart of the Cape floral kingdom.

“We wanted to do a development with the philosophy of touching the earth lightly,” said Sheraaz Ismail, CapeNature’s Executive Director for Eco-Tourism and Access.

Given the protected environments in which CapeNature operates, planning is essential.

“Each of our protected areas has a conservation development plan that dictates where in the landscape we can do appropriate tourism developments,” he said.

Ismael noted that working in protected areas did come with some limitations. “It means that you don’t have a blank canvas; nature is your canvas.”

Working with a team of like-minded architects and engineers, CapeNature started development, first of its Oudebosch cabins, and the Mbali collection, the development’s second phase.

Building from scratch, the entity looked at the orientation of the buildings in the landscape to maximise natural light, and ensure that they were warm in winter and cool in summer to avoid artificial heating.

Building materials were carefully selected and, for Oudebosch, 94% of materials came from the local area, not only reducing the carbon footprint, but contributing to economic development in the region.

“The job creation aspect is at the forefront of what we do. You need the staffing to do developments like this.” He added that outsourcing services like maintenance and laundry also helped to create jobs in the community.

The roofs of the buildings have been planted with fynbos, and rainwater harvesting and solar panels ensure the best use of resources. The eco-swimming pool diverts water from the river through a reed bed to clean it, to avoid using chemicals and ensure there are no harmful returns in the environment. They also reintroduced indigenous plants into the area.

The green philosophy was carried through into the decisions taken inside the cabins and with the decor.

This included chandeliers made from recycled bottles, low-energy appliances, and waterless, eco-toilets.

“The toilets took some convincing but our customers don’t mind,” Ismael said.

Customer consumables like soaps and shampoos have also been chosen to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

‘The full nine yards’

“We went the full nine yards,” said Ismael.

And the commitment has paid off. The development has been the recipient of several green design awards, and occupancy rates are at 80%.

“Yes, we are a provincial authority but we are competing with the best in the business.”

With the Mbali Collection, an independent feasibility study showed a return on investment within eight to 12 years, but Ismael said it had been achieved in six.

But more than this, “we left Kogelberg in a better condition than we found it”.

CapeNature’s development pipeline includes an eco-development at the Goukamma Nature Reserve on the Garden Route, and the development of the longest canopy boardwalk at the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve near Swellendam. Still in the planning phases, construction is estimated to begin in the next 18 to 24 months.

The boardwalk, like all CapeNature’s new developments, will be constructed to be universally accessible.

Ismael said at the Kogelberg development, universal access “wasn’t an afterthought, it was built in”. This was done by bringing in accessibility consultants, and getting the input of Warriors on Wheels to get feedback.

They are also working to retrofit CapeNature’s existing facilities to ensure that they are more accessible.

Making reserves accessible to as many people as possible is also helping to drive the conservation message.

“By making our reserves accessible to the public, we make conservation relevant, changing the mindset,” he said.