In a developing country such as South Africa, the tourism industry is so important. It is one of the world’s fastest-growing economic sectors and can be used as a great tool for promoting sustainable development and accelerating poverty eradication. Community-minded and always willing to help out when needed, we understand that tourism is directly linked to conservation and community development, and embraces that responsibility wholeheartedly.
Here are 3 of the many ongoing projects that Ants is currently involved with:
Ant and Tessa Baber founded the Save the Waterberg Rhino foundation in 2012. The foundation aims to raise funds to protect rhinos on privately owned land within the Waterberg Biosphere area. Soon after it was founded, Save the Waterberg Rhino teamed up with The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and StopRhinoPoaching.com to help private landowners safeguard rhinos from poachers. A team of respected members of the community, rhino owners, rhino specialists, and security experts help to manage the Save the Waterberg Rhino foundation.
We are active supporters of the African Community Outreach non-profit organisation. The project supports hundreds of poverty-stricken families, widows, and orphans in the Vaalwater area by visiting with them in their homes, providing food, medical care and assisting children in getting into schools. African Community Outreach relies on donations from the general public, businesses, and the commercial sector for funding. It costs R20 per day to feed a child and guests at Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill often donate generously towards this worthy cause.
Community Support and Upliftment
We also work in partnership with the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve on the YES Project (Youth Environmental Services). This provides unemployed youths from the area with training and skills to get back into employment. There are four training projects; wildlife security, chef training, housekeeping and nature guiding. Ants offers placements for all of the above and the majority of the staff are employed from the local community.
It seems safe to say that when you’re staying with us; your conscience can rest at ease![:]
