As we continue with this month’s stories of paying it forward and giving back to our planet and its inhabitants, what better time to launch our highly anticipated (not to mention information-packed!) &Beyond Impact Review. Although we have been fully committed to caring for the land, wildlife and people for more than 25 years, this marks the official launch of our first-ever impact review and we’re thrilled to finally share it with the world.
This comprehensive and fact-driven report is 25 years in the making and speaks directly to the origins of &Beyond (as well as our social development partner Africa Foundation) and the absolute unwavering commitment of our shareholders and almost 2 000 staff to &Beyond’s core guiding principal of “Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People.”
We hope that this long-awaited review gives our guests and travel partners informative and reassuring insights into how we function as a responsible tour (and lodge) operator. While it highlights our achievements and environmental success stories, it also provides a clear vision of where we are headed from a sustainability perspective. We trust that it will reassure our guests – past, present and future – that their decision to travel with &Beyond was and is a sound one and that their travel dollars (euros, pounds, rands, etc.) are in fact being put to good use and that, simply by travelling with us, they continue to make a meaningful and lasting difference to our precious planet.
The &Beyond impact review boasts more than 130 informative pages of real stories and real data that have a real impact. Guests visiting our lodges will soon see this brochure in their suites, where they can quietly page through the facts, figures and victories and pore over the minute details. May it give them comfort and make them proud to be part of the &Beyond family; after all, there’s no denying that our guests arrive as friends and leave as family.
This meaty document is a reminder that we all need to work together to come up with new and inventive ways to protect our ecosystems and live gently upon this earth. There is only one Earth; there is no Planet B, so let’s tread lightly together.
Today being #GivingTuesday around the world, it seemed like the perfect launch date for the digital version of our &Beyond Impact Review. Although this holiday was originally associated with the frenzied post-Thanksgiving / pre-Christmas shopping, it now officially kicks off the charitable season with a drive towards end-of-year giving and much-needed global philanthropy. This review is our way of giving back to the planet; a gift that will hopefully keep giving for generations to come. Here are just a few sneak-peek highlights…
Go to Impact Review
Our impact journey
A wonderful walk down memory lane, this detailed timeline highlights our 25-year legacy and reinforces why we are globally recognised for our “3 C’s” (Care of the Land, Wildlife and People) and the delivery of extraordinary guest experiences on three different continents.
The &Beyond Phinda story
This is a detailed case study of how our conservation model works. Did you know that we have expanded the biodiversity under our care at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve by 118% in 25 years? Back in 1991, &Beyond Phinda was just over 13 000 hectares. Over time, fences have been removed and surrounding land incorporated and we’re proud to say that Phinda now encompasses an impressive 28 622 hectares of pristine, game-rich, Big Five wilderness. Bearing in mind that the entire Sabi Sand Game Reserve is 65 000 hectares with 30+ lodges and camps, &Beyond Phinda, with its six intimate lodges, is a worthy jewel in our conservation crown.
Our impact platforms
Here, the quote “we shall win, only by working together” is of the essence. This useful page explains how we continue to work hand-in-hand with like-minded partners (Africa Foundation, WWF and Great Plains Conservation to name a few) to develop worthy and trusted campaigns (e.g., Rhinos Without Borders, Oceans Without Borders, &Beyond Life, etc.) that will assist us in raising funds for, implementing and communicating our conservation, sustainability and community empowerment goals.
Our vision 2020
Established in 2015, Vision 2020 aims to unite all &Beyonders across three continents with a set of unified goals and key focus areas within each of our ‘care pillars’ (land, wildlife and people). This has increased our impact by establishing the necessary discipline and accountability when measuring and reporting against our agreed goals for Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife and Care of the People. The bulk of this impact review is an in-depth update on our actual progress against each of the goals set within our current financial year.
From reducing our carbon footprint, installing water treatment and bottling plants and eventually becoming plastic-free, to protecting endangered species, creating local employment and facilitating education and health care to those less fortunate … these are just some of the unified goals that inspire us to come to work each day, to delight each and every guest, to protect each dramatic landscape and to constantly watch over the wildlife. It is these goals and success stories that make us #proudlyandbeyond.
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