Conservation and Social Upliftment

CONSERVATION AND UPLIFTMENT

Aquila Private Game Reserve is a Big 5 safari destination and is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of wildlife. Aquilaโ€™s purpose is to protect and preserve Africaโ€™s increasingly threatened wildlife, while being fully committed to social upliftment, job creation, skills development and various sustainable empowerment programmes; through wildlife rehabilitation and re-introduction, land rehabilitation, anti-poaching programmes, eco-friendly tourism and community support.ย 

Creating the ideal, sustainable balance between nature conservation and the empowerment of the local community of Touws River in the Western Cape of South Africa, is at the core of how Aquila operates.

Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa, ARC and Saving Private Rhino NGO have been honoured to receive the most prestigious South African and internationally acclaimed awards for job creation, conservation and social upliftment.

These awards acknowledge the passion and commitment of the Aquila team and highlights their dedication to conservation, social upliftment, and responsible tourism.

NATURE PRESERVATION

Aquila Private Game Reserve prides itself in the preservation of its environment, with the on-going effort to protect the environment and its wildlife.

VELD REGENERATION PROJECT

At Aquila Private Game Reserve, approximately 100, edible to game trees, are planted monthly. An estimate of 2 000 indigenous trees have been planted in the veld to increase the carrying capacity of the land. Compost from Aquilaโ€™s restaurant, horses, elephants and worms are organically used to fertilize our trees.ย 

A miracle plant called โ€œSpekboomโ€, is able to fight climatic change and improves the quality of breathable air. It is known to have the capacity of taking in about 4 to 10 tonnes of carbon from a hectare’s environment. This it does by acting like a carbon sponge that sucks in all the unwanted carbon.ย 

Each bedroom at Aquila has a small Spekboom plant. Aquila offers visitors an opportunity to plant a tree in Africa as part of our โ€˜Veld Regeneration Projectโ€™.

CARBON OFFSETTING AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

The Eco-Synergy Project is a division of ARC (Aquila Rehabilitation & Conservation Centre).ย 

Aquila has embarked on an exciting exercise to reduce its carbon footprint. This program consists of a number of eco synergy systems that co-exist โ€“ amongst others, a waste management program that includes, worm farms and bio gas plants – resulting in community vegetable and herb gardens and an aquaponics system.

In addition to the Eco-Synergy Centre, Aquila has introduces a R3 Billion deal with a world leading international renewable energy company, and have built a concentrator photovoltaic solar plant 44MW CPV on Aquilaโ€™s land in order to supply much needed power to the Western Cape grid, in a time of load shedding, and a power shortage crisis.

A second 120KW CPV solar plant was built at ARC and consists of 12 large CPV panels that produce on-site renewable energy used by Aquila and ARC, and thereby, reducing our carbon footprint.

ENERGY, WATER SAVING, RENEWABLE ENERGY, WASTE MANAGEMENT

Aquila has a number of systems in place, in the long-term effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

DIY SOLAR CAN HEATERS

Used cooldrink, tin food cans, cardboard and reclaimed wood are used to make solar heaters to warm ARCโ€™s Aquaculture and Greenhouse systems in order to maintain optimum fish breeding temperatures of 26ยฐ C during winter.

BIOGAS

  • Biogas provides heat and energy and is obtained from slaughtered fish waste (30% of the fish), elephant dung, horse manure and all leftover meals
  • Biogas is low impact and will reduce the carbon footprint, as Aquila is currently using electricity and purchased gas.
  • The Biogas system has been bought and installed at Aquilaโ€™s kitchen.
  • Soup kitchen meals are also prepared using these systems.

AQUACULTURE /AQUAPONICS

Symbiotic relationships exist – whereby the fish waste fertilizes the water for the plants and the plant roots filter the water for the fish.

  • Low carbon footprint, organic, low impact, mostly reclaimed containers and materials used
  • Aquilaโ€™s menu has been restructured to include; fish, fruit and vegetables grown by ourselves or the local community
  • Excess Tilapia fish supplied to the soup kitchen

WASTE MANAGEMENT /RECYCLING & COMPOST

ARC has previously run a Food for Litter campaign that swaps litter for soup kitchen meals with 400 children a day (12 000 meals a month) during most winter months.

  • Waste collected is recycled and sold where possible.ย 
  • To make the project sustainable, the proceeds are donated to a local school and used for much needed school teachers.
  • Greenhouses use compost from Aquilaโ€™s restaurant, horses and elephant dung.
  • Earthworms eat cardboard, paper, fruit, vegetables, kitchen scraps and newspapers to produce compost and tea.
  • Aquilaโ€™s kitchen waste (paper, cardboard, newspaper, fruit and vegetables) and left overs are fed to worms & maggots and produce biogas.
  • Slaughtered fish waste, horse manure, elephant dung and leftover restaurant meals and kitchen waste produce biogas and are fed to maggots

ANIMAL WELFARE AND PRESERVATION

Aquila Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Conservation Centre (ARC) was established as a sanctuary for animals that can never be released into the wild again and a temporary home for those who need attention before being released into the wild.

Rescue and Rehabilitation Initiatives

From time to time Aquila is fortunate enough to be able to rescue and release animals from the Centre. We have released 3 mountain leopards, numerous lynx, porcupines, owls and many other species. ARC is also home to a newly created Education centre which houses information on our Eco Synergy systems as well as information on the plight of the Rhino.

SAVING PRIVATE RHINO

The Saving Private Rhino initiative was launched after a poaching incident in 2011 to ensure the future conservation of Africaโ€™s rhino and wildlife heritage by providing the most comprehensive integrated anti-poaching solution available free to any private game reserve in Africa that needs assistance defending its wildlife.

Aquila initiated the โ€˜Saving Private Rhinoโ€™ program which is funded by Aquila and contributions from the public. This program extended its operation to now focus on education, rhino rehabilitation and rapid rhino response should assistance be required by private game reserves during any alleged poaching incident: http://savingprivaterhino.org/ย 

SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT

CULTURE PRESERVATION

Aquila Private Game Reserve is admired for the restoration of pride to the people of the local Touws River community and the conservation of the Karoo land.ย 

As one of the largest employers of the Touws River community, Aquila works closely with local Touws River Municipality, in assisting with the preservation and development of local structures, education of the community, and is attentive to the local culture and community needs.

Aquila believes in the ongoing effort of investing in the future of the community, sponsoring teachers at the local school, soccer and rugby teams, ensuring that the local community obtains a good education and empowering them to succeed in the future.ย 

Aquila also continues to host school children from previously disadvantaged local schools on complimentary day trips to the reserve. Aquila believes that urban children learn more about nature, wildlife, sustainable social upliftment, conservation and responsible tourism in one day, while visiting Aquila and ARC, than could ever be taught in a classroom.

LOCAL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Aquilaโ€™s efforts to uplift the nearby Touwsriver community include winter soup kitchens and a recycling โ€˜food for litterโ€™ campaign.ย 

BLANKETS FOR LITTER CAMPAIGN

In Touws River, temperatures can drop to -7 degrees C. Over the years, Aquila has traded over 12 000 blankets during most winter months for litter.ย 

This project ensured that the Touws River community is kept warm, the town clean and school teachers are subsidised.

Aquila believes that our efforts have educated our staff and the community on the value of living responsibly and created an opportunity for them to live more comfortably and sustainably.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Aquila is a business in South Africa that complies with the laws of the country and respects the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Since inception, Aquila has welcomed guests from various genders, cultures, religions, regions, races or languages and offer all of its guests the same quality of service โ€“ with no exceptions.

Our staff are treated with the same level of respect and all religious, cultural or sexual preferences are embraced. Our digital presence celebrates Christmas, Eid and Pride Month (to name a few) โ€“ as an indicator of our welcoming nature and workplace.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

LOCAL EMPLOYMENT:

Aquila Private Game Reserve is situated approximately 12km from the town of Touws River and is one of the largest employers of Touws River, employing approximately 500 previously members of the Touws River community (which has a 97% unemployment rate in a town of approximately 15 000 people).

Aquila is proud to have contributed multi millions in salaries over the last 21 years which has empowered the local community of Touws River and assisted with the creation and sustainability of small businesses within the community (for example, a majority of the doors, bricks and windows in the developments at the reserve have been proudly made by the local community).ย 

Given that one salary feeds multiple persons in Touws River, approximately 35% of the 15000 people in Touws River are directly dependent on the employment opportunities offered by Aquila.ย 

In addition, a majority of the food supplies, veterinarian services, labour, building supplies and material are outsourced by Aquila to local companies.

EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION AND TRAINING:ย 

Aquila prides itself on economic development, upliftment and responsible tourism and has selected candidates from the local community of Touws River to uplift and train such candidates in relation to wildlife, conservation and sustainable farming and development.ย 

The majority of Aquilaโ€™s previously disadvantaged employees have been trained in the tourism, hospitality and conservation industries.ย 

Aquila is dedicated to on-going training programmes, including but not limited to, health and safety, security, first aid, firefighting and information technology.

95% of all previously disadvantaged staff members have been trained to be fully competent and certified as game rangers, drivers, waitresses, chefs, registered security officers and anti-poaching guards, housekeepers, front and back of house staff, game capture and translocation rangers.

Members of the Touws River community have previously been awarded Nature Site Guide qualifications in a joint venture with a local training provider, the Nature College. During 6 months of rigorous practical and theoretical in-house training, the aspirant candidates are educated on a variety of subjects such as geology, desert ecology, fynbos, birds etc.ย 

Aquila Private Game Reserve not only provides their qualified guides as mentors to all the candidates, but also paid for the training and evaluations.

  • All Ranger Trained and Certified as Local Area Field Guides.
  • All Supervisors and Rangers trained in First Aid
  • Maintenance Staff & Rangers Trained by local Fire Department in Fire Fighting
  • Management and Supervisor Training with General Manager over a period of two days
  • Anti Poaching Team Training ongoing basis with industry professionals
  • Fire-Arm Competencies Training for Anti Poaching Teams
  • Assisting many staff with acquiring their driverโ€™s licenses

ย 

ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF THE BUSINESS: MANUFACTURE RATHER THAN BUY

Aquila proudly creates jobs by manufacturing on-site, which in most cases prove more expensive.ย 

Instead of buying doors, windows, bar counters, stair cases, tables, benches, and bricks for building; Aquila prides itself in the creation of manufacturing opportunities, which in turn results in job creation, leading to the economic viability for the business.ย 

  • Despite the additional effort, expense and time delay in manufacturing our own bricks Aquila has chosen this route to create jobs and as a result most of the facilities and accommodations at Aquila have been built with bricks manufactured on site.
  • Rather than buy poles we created jobs by cutting down thousands of exotic trees that we treated and used in the construction of the buildings.
  • Rather than buy doors, windows, bar counters, stair cases, tables and benches, Aquila proudly created jobs by manufacturing the same on-site, which in most cases proved more expensive.
  • Rather than buy ready-made maggot and earthworm farms, Aquila / ARC went to the effort to manufacture the same whilst recycling food containers.
  • Reeds for thatching were harvested locally and have been used for the many large roofs at Aquila.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The property accepts guests from across the globe and needs to encourage and implement the highest level of health and safety. Ongoing training is offered to all staff and the property needs to comply with various international standards in order for it to accept guests.

Further to the staff training and minimum standard property requirements, our guests can visit in conform knowing that we comply with the Labour relation and Health and Safety recommendations of the South African Government in order to have a valid grading certificate.

Looking into the future, we are already implementing health and safety protocols for a post-COVID operation and will welcome guests to a safe and hygienic safari experience. Guests can familiarise themselves with our Safe Service Safaris protocol: https://aquilacollection.com/safe-service-safaris/

Further to the abovementioned, all the tourism bodies that Aquila belongs to and participate in, require us to offer the highest standards possible to our guests and offer world class training and skills upliftment to our staff.

Although all guests sign in with an indemnity, we also offer reassurance to our agents and suppliers of our liability insurance cover.

ARC (Aquila Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Conservation Centre) is a non-profit section 21 organisation # 2004/011009/08
It was established as a sanctuary for animals that can never be released into the wild again and a temporary home for those who need attention before being released into the wild.

ARC Robben Island

On the 29 April 2008 Searl Derman, the owner of Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa, came across a newspaper article headlining how the fallow deer and rabbits were starving on Robben Island. Searl Derman immediately contacted the appropriate authorities asking how he could assist them. He then set out to meetย with Robben Island, and the other involved parties in order to find a solution to the problem at hand.ย 

Rescue and Rehabilitation Initiatives

From time to time Aquila is fortunate enough to be able to rescue and release animals from the Centre. We have released 3 mountain leopards, numerous lynx, porcupines, owls and many other species. ARC is also home to a newly created Education centre which houses information on our Eco Synergy systems as well as information on the plight of the Rhino.

Orphaned Rhino Calf

A desperate drama is playing out at Aquila Private Game Reserve, in the western cape, after the birth of the third baby rhino in the past 3 months. The two calves born, one in October and the other in mid-December are both thriving, but the third calf, born in the early hours of this morning (New Years Eve) is being rescued from dehydration after being rejected by its mother. To further complicate matters the calf has attached itself to the father, who is very aggressive and is making it impossible for Vets to get near the calf.

Saving Private Rhino

The โ€œSaving Private Rhinoโ€ initiative has been established to ensure the future conservation of Africaโ€™s rhino and wildlife heritage, by providing the most comprehensive, integrated anti-poaching solution available to every private game reserve in Africa which needs assistance defending its wildlife.

Black Eagle Initiative

Cape Townโ€™s Big 5, Aquila Private Game Reserve, was created 15 years ago, and is named after the rarely-sighted Black or Verreauxโ€™s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii). This raptor is regularly seen from a distance by eagle-eyed rangers and Aquilaโ€™s guests.

As part of a leopard monitoring programme, Aquila staff place cameras at the site of recent kills made by several of the elusive and endangered nocturnal Cape Mountain Leopards that hunt on the Reserve.

Eco Synergy Systems

The re-introduction of safari game and the Big 5 to the Western Cape (buffalo, leopards, lion, elephants and rhino). Aquila is proud to have been the first game reserve to re-introduce the Big 5 (for the first time in 250 years, since they were shot out by colonial hunters).

Aquaculture / Aquaponics:ย Approximately 30,000 tilapia fish are based at ARC and Aquila. Aquilaโ€™s menu has been restructured to include these fish where possible.