What you can do

Make a conscious decision when choosing your holiday destination or activity to support eco-friendly lodges and activities such as African Game Lodge, and especially those who are truly doing something for local communities.  Sometimes being environmentally responsible means a higher cost of doing business, but it is the right thing to do, so we need your support.

Many species of animals and birds are suffering from the effects of secondary poisoning through pesticides getting into watercourses and their prey.

• Anatolian Guard Dogs
• Shepherds
• Kraaling
• Al Pacca
• Donkeys
• Relocation
• Supplement natural food source
• Reintroduce natural predators

 If you are a consumer of agricultural products, buy from suppliers who subscribe to non-lethal methods and buy wine with the Biodiversity Badge on it

 

No matter how big or how small your garden is, set aside an area to cultivate indigenous plants and let the indigenous grass grow and seed itself. Soon it will become a little habitat for wildlife and birds.

 

Be sensitive when you buy land. Understand that wildlife needs corridors to move between seasonal habitats and water supplies. Leave corridors of wild areas so that the wildlife can still move freely through your property and check fences regularly for snares.

 

The best conservation projects to support are those who are working to keep wild animals in the wild through education, awareness and habitat protection. Don't be fooled by a clever marketing campaign which says all the right things but you see no evidence when you visit.

 

Encourage recycling

If there is a municipal or voluntary recycling system in your community make sure that your school is making the most of it. Encourage students and staff to always sort out their recycling and let the kids know why you are doing it. If there is a refund on certain items, such as aluminium cans, then you can also encourage student's to collect cans as part of a fundraising activity for the school or an environmental charity organisation.

Switch off the lights and other appliances

Classrooms use a lot of energy in lighting. When you are out of the room make sure the lights are switched off. You can often leave the lights off during the day if there is enough natural light through the windows or you are doing an activity that does require the extra lighting, such as story time. If you have DVD players or computers in the room make sure they are completely turned off when not in use.

Walk or ride a bike to school

Okay, this might not be a possibility for everyone, but if school is close enough and the route is safe enough then encourage students to walk or ride a bike. By walking or biking students are getting some exercise and parent's are saving money by conserving energy as well being a bit easier on the environment and climate. Another possibility may be public transport.

Pack a healthy lunch

In the morning rush it is often easier to throw in a pre-packaged lunch from the grocery store than to make something with fresh products. But the ingredients for a healthy diet can also help the planet, especially if those ingredients are locally grown. Resources are also required for all of the additional packaging for those processed lunches and that packaging, which is typically non-biodegradeable, adds to growing mountains of landfill.

 

Save paper

How much paper is simply thrown away in your office every day? Reuse paper for scrap and recycle. Print on both sides of a page when possible. Companies can save significant sums on printing costs by publishing reports electronically rather than on paper, and customers have instant access to the report. Use e-mail and websites to market your products. Save money on printed publicity material and postage costs. Aim for the paperless office.

Find out how to reduce paper consumption in your workplace

Turn it off

Use a large power strip for your computer, broadband modem, scanner, printer, monitor and speakers. Switch it off when equipment is not in use. This is a practical way to cut 200 kWh per year. Make sure computers are switched off at night.

Love your laptop

Ask for a laptop instead of a desktop - it consumes 5 times less electricity. If you must have a desktop, make sure that you get an LCD screen instead of an outdated CRT screen.

Save power with you PC

Enable the power management function on your computer; contrary to popular belief, screen savers do not save energy.

Recycle office equipment

Donate old computers and office equipment to other organizations and institutions such as schools.

Don't travel unless you really have to

Use phone, e-mail or video conferencing wherever possible and/or organize a Climate Care Day.

Where to stay and What to do : African Game Lodge is a private nature reserve outside Montagu in South Africa. We offer affordable accommodation on a self-catering, B&B or Full Board basis , and outdoor nature activities such as game viewing,  hiking, cycling, mountain biking, biking, trail running and birding. As an added attraction, we have a cheetah awareness program and many species of game and wildlife on our game reserve. We are situated along Route 62 in the Cape Winelands, Western Cape.