Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve, a four-star lodge based in the Cederberg conservation area of the Western Cape, unveiled its new and improved solar power farm in November 2022.
This makes the reserve a local and visitor favourite this summer season, free from loadshedding concerns.
Established in 1988, Kagga Kamma has always valued and upheld environmentally friendly practices.
The focus of the reserve is on preserving the natural landscape, protecting the native and endemic wildlife, and giving guests an eco-friendly way to stay.
The solar farm itself is large and powerful enough to sustain all of the lodge’s needs. It also has a fuel-powered backup generator that can keep the power on during the rainy season. This means that the local government will never have to service the Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve.
The solar energy system has the capacity to supply power to 50 average-sized family homes. At present, the solar farm at Kagga Kamma supplies enough energy to power 13 chalets, 15 lodge suites, 26 staff homes, as well as the reception, restaurant, bar, spa, laundry and communal areas. There are also provisions for any potential expansion of the lodge in the future.
At the official unveiling of the solar power farm, the chairperson of the Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve board, Niel de Waal, said, “As custodians of the reserve, we have a responsibility to minimise our environmental footprint. This new solar plant, which provides all of our energy requirements, is one of the last building blocks to make us truly green, sustainable and eco-friendly. We believe that sustainable tourism is incredibly important for the continued development of the tourism industry in South Africa and, as the stewards of this reserve, we have a duty to minimise the environmental impact of sharing this unique experience with our guests.”
The solar farm project aligns perfectly with Kagga Kamma’s mission towards being a true eco-lodge and functions alongside their many other environmentally friendly practises, such as the use of green amenities in the rooms and as part of their housekeeping services, the replacement of plastic straws with biodegradable ones, and the introduction of glass water bottles in the rooms. The reserve’s efforts towards sustainability continue, and this major project is a big step forward for the Cederberg-based lodge.
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Picture: Supplied
