A new Kalahari bushman story: Sustainability is the heart of contribution
Transfrontier Park Destinations (TFPD) has a long-held vision of partnering with communities to commercialise their tourism assets, create sustainable job opportunities and encourage sustainable economic activity. It is with the invaluable support of home grown global companies that it has been possible to achieve and build on this vision.
One of TFPD’s projects is !Xaus Lodge, (pronounced Kaus, with a traditional click) a now-thriving 4-star graded and Fair Trade Tourism certified community-based tourism initiative, offering a unique Kalahari desert environment experience for visitors. It has recently championed the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park, the ancestral home of the ǂKhomani San and Mier communities, being declared an International Dark Sky Sanctuary.
!Xaus means ‘heart’ in the Nama language and the lodge is built on a dune overlooking alarge heart-shaped salt pan. Born out of the !Ae !Hai Kalahari Heritage Park land claim settlement of 2002, it’s owned by the local ǂKhomani San and Mier communities.
Glynn O’Leary, co-founder and CEO of TFPD, says: ‘the ǂKhomani San and Mier communities are some of the most misunderstood and marginalised communities in South Africa so we are always delighted to channel funding from local businesses towards upliftment in these communities.”
He goes on to say, “I am excited that the historic multi-million rand global Rooibos industry has recently made its first annual pay out to the National Khoi and SanCouncil and the South African San Council in a world-first, landmark agreement.” The Rooibos industry has pledged its commitment to environmental stewardship and protection of biodiversity, which is in alignment with TFPD’s own values of responsible environmentalism and tourism.
Similarly, Oryx Desert Salt supports !Xaus Lodge on anon-going basis. O’Leary says, “We’re proud to be associated with Oryx Desert Salt as they sustainably harvest their sun-dried salt from 300 million yearold underground rivers in a pristine area in the Kalahari Desert as well as package their product in a sustainableway. It was their generous sponsorship that enabled ourhead chef, Lientjie Isaks, to travel to the UK for a once-in-a-lifetime UK- chef exchange experience.” Lientjie was able to bring back her freshly acquired skills to the!Xaus Lodge, improving recipes and menus.
TFPD is impressed with the commitment shown by Oryx Desert Salt to voluntarily contribute to local communities. “This is a business that’s grown incredibly over the last 12 years, created and managed by single mom, Samantha Skyring,” says O’Leary. “It now employs 20 people, services +- 1600 retailers, 3500 restaurants and even an airline. Their salt is distributed to over 20 countries and recently launched nationallyin Whole Foods Market stores USA, yet their business ethos always ensures they contribute to localcommunities, making a difference where it counts.”
TFPD is keen to see more South African businesses follow the lead of the Rooibos industry and Oryx DesertSalt in supporting the preservation and well-being of the Kalahari Bushman communities.
ABOUT ORYX DESERT SALT – GIVING BACK
We support small local businesses, build partnerships and advocate for eco-awareness. The success of our business is built on the interconnection between a number of different partners and suppliers. We believe in impact sourcing (choosing to source locally where ever possible, supporting small, often women-owned businesses) and building collaborative relationships (for example, our chefs and cooking schools are valued ambassadors). We spread our supportive net wide to include contributing to local community upliftment and encouraging care for the ecosphere that is our earth. Our cotton bags, aprons and shopper bags are manufactured by a women’s home industry community group which has grown from one to seven women as we have grown. Macassar Pottery which produces the Oryx Salt pots, is a self-sustaining social enterprise founded in 2010, offering a safe space for the community, youths in particular, to discover and follow their dreams. There, locals are upskilled to be entrepreneurs through their unique ceramic ware. The business is co-owned by its employees. We believe in contributing to previously marginalised communities. A percentage of monthly turnover is donated to the Khomani San and Mier communities who own !Xaus Lodge in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari Desert. For more information visit www.tfpdfoundation.org
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SOURCES:
https://www.tfpdfoundation.org/ https://www.tfpd.co.za/lodges/xaus-lodge
https://www.darksky.org/aehai-kalahari-heritage-park-of-south-africa-earns-international-dark-sky- sanctuary-status/
https://www.capetownetc.com/uncategorised/r12-2-million-paid-out-to-khoi-and-san- communities-by-rooibos-industry/
https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/449525/r12-million-paid-out-to-khoi-and-san-by-rooibos- industry-in-historic-move
!Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park of South Africa earns International Dark Sky Sanctuary Status – International Dark-Sky Association