July 22, 2025 • 18 mins
Pippa Hudson speaks to Lucy Cooke, marketing manager of Thonga Beach Lodge which was recognized as the country’s leading beach hotel at the annual World Travel Awards – the second consecutive year it has received this recognition.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, total switch of focus.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
We're doing some local armchair travel today and visiting a
part of the country.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
I confess I don't know.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Particularly well personally, the northern coast of Guaslin Natal. I've
been there once or twice for passing visits. I've never
spent any chunk of time there. I'm aware of the
significance of the Mangolies or wetland park. Had occasion to
visit it briefly more than thirty years ago, and it
was still called the Saint Lucia Wetland Area, and I
(00:28):
remember it being a place of haunting beauty, is what
I would say. There were these eerie mangrove swamps. There
was the crunch of dried crab shells underfoot as you
explored the estuaries.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
There was that.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Beautiful, rugged, wild coastline, and so much untouched beach front.
It was extraordinarily beautiful. But that was in sort of
nineteen ninety or nineteen eighteen, somewhere in the early nineteen nineties.
I think a lot has changed since then, including the
fact that the Saint Lucia Park was renamed the Siemongo
Liesa Wetland Park in two thousand and seven, including the
(01:03):
fact that it has in fact been incorporated into a
wider Transfrontier Marine Park which straddles South Africa, Mozambique and Swatini.
The area is also a declared a World Heritage Site
because of its rich biodiversity. In fact, the South African
portion constitutes the third biggest protected area in our country.
So there's been a huge effort to preserve this beautiful,
(01:26):
beautiful part of our coastline. And if you have had
the luxuary of spending a lot of time there and
want to share with us what makes it so special,
I would love to hear from you with a WhatsApp
to seven two five six seven one five six seven.
But as always in a place like this, you face
the delicate balancing act of, on the one hand, wanting
to develop human access so that people can visit these
(01:49):
places and appreciate them and learn to love them, because
we tend to protect the things that we love. And
as we had a conversation a week or two ago,
if people aren't engaged, if they aren't interested, if we
allow the ocean to remain an unknown for communities who
live by its side, we can't expect them to be
invested in preserving it and holding on to its pristine beauty.
(02:10):
So it's really important that we do allow human appreciation.
But how do you do that? How do you develop
to facilitate that appreciation in a way that doesn't damage
the landscape that you are looking at through over development.
It's a question that many communities are grappling with all
around the world, And of course the bald answer is
that you have to tread very very lightly to ensure
(02:33):
that what you design and what you put in place
to host visitors is in harmony with the natural environment
and encourages a sustainable way of operating in that space,
the sense that your visitors take only photographs and leave
behind only their footprints in the sand. And why am
I talking about all of this because today I want
to explore a venue which does seem to be getting
(02:53):
it very very right, so much so that it's just
been recognized as South Africa's leading beach hotel for the
second year running at the annual World Travel Awards, which
are kind of like the Oscars of the travel industry.
Tonga Beach Lodge was highlighted by the panel of judges
for its conservation leadership, recognizing how it manages to blend
(03:14):
a luxury visitor experience with sustainability and with community empowerment.
So there's a lot to like about this story and
to chat to us more about what has.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Been achieved there.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It's my great pleasure to welcome via Zoom Lucy Cook,
who is Tonga Beach's marketing manager. Lucy, congratulations to your
team on this second accolade and thanks so much for
your time this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Hi Paper, Thanks thanks for having.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Me, always a pleasure. Where exactly is Tonga Beach located?
For those who don't know the ins and outs of
this bit of coastline like me, I had to go
and look it up on a map, Can you just
try and locate us geographically?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yes? Sure, So it's about it's very remote, as you said,
it's about a five hour drive from King Sharka International
Airport at the north coast. It's only excess will by
four by four, so you would drive the last hours
on a sandy beach road along the coastal vegetated sand dunes.
So it's right near the border of Mozambique, just before Pontadoro.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Okay, Pontadora, I have been to, so I can picture
it very well. Would you say that last but only
accessible by a four x four and on along a
coastal road. Is that a service that you as a
lodge offered to listeners to their drive to a certain
point and then get furried in.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Or are people allowed to self drive if they have
a four by four?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yes, we offer both. So if guests have a four
by four, they're welcome to drive themselves. It's a beautiful road. Otherwise,
if they don't, they can park near Sodwana Bay and
we offer a transfer service that's provided in partnership with
our community that we are next to.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
And we'll talk about the community involvement in just a moment.
How long has Tonga Beach Lodge actually been there, Lucy,
it's been.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
There about I think it's twelve years now that it's been.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
There, Okay, so more than a decade. You're well established
as a destination. What do you think it is that
makes you stand out from other similar ventures? I mean,
tell us about some of the unique experiences that visitors
to Toonga Beach will enjoy that you can't easily find
in other beachfront venues.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
So I think what makes the most magic at Tonga
is just how remote it is, and as you said
earlier when you're explaining the Samangaliso Wetland Park, you just
have this massive expanse of beach where it is so remote.
Like you said, these only footprints that you will find,
yours will be the only footprints there. There are no
other accommodations for miles and miles in either direction of
(05:34):
the coast. The reefs there are untouched that you go
snorkeling in. You get to witness in the summer months
and the turtle laying and nesting and then the hatching
as well. The turtles come back to the same beach
every year to lay their eggs. It is just the
most remote and beautiful part of South Africa I feel,
and with our warm casalin waters as well, it makes
(05:57):
it a year round location. So if you're looking for
a winter beach getaway, Tanga Beach will be your place
to go to.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
You've mentioned the snorkeling, and you also mentioned the fact
that you're relatively close to Sidwana Bay, which I know
is a kind of local mecca for scuba divers. Do
you facilitate snorkeling and scuba diving trips from the hotel.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yes, all of our activities are from our lodge. We
have our own in house dive master. We have snorkeling guys,
marine guys or guys from the local community as well
that we've upskilled. And yes, because we're so remote we
are about an hour from Sidwana, we would be the
only ones on those reefs. So our diving reefs are
snorkeling reefs. We would be the only ones there. So
(06:39):
it's like your own private, little marine reserve.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
And that is an extraordinary thing to offer. And particularly
with the degradation of reefs around the world, to be
able to offer pristine reefs with an uncrowded environment is
something very very special. I mean, the marine world beneath
the waves is magnificent. Do you want to talk to
us a little about what you can expect to see
on one of your Snorklan trips.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yes, sure, so it's my absolute favorite activity to do there.
One of my favorite sightings has been seeing the octopus
move from rock to rock. I've seen it quite a
few times when I've been up there. It's absolutely incredible
to see. We often see lionfish, We've seen the eels
up there, We've seen the manta rays and all those beautiful,
(07:23):
colorful tropical fish that you expect to see, you know,
in finding Nemo, only right there beneath the waves on
our reefs. It is absolutely amazing what lives beneath our ocean,
right there on our shore.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
You've given me goosebumps because I had the experience of
snorkeling with manta rays about three weeks ago in Limbongen
and it was one of the most incredible things I
have ever experienced in my life. Completely humbling, a little
bit terrifying, it has to be said, but just I mean,
these massive, incredibly magnificent, majestic creatures. To be able to
share the water with them was extraordinary. So that's very
(07:57):
exciting to hear that you can offer that as well. Now, Lucy,
being able to go and enjoy the marine environment. One thing,
the turtle engagement on the beachfront, I would imagine, has
got to be incredibly carefully managed.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Tell us a little bit.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
More about what you can experience there, and I would
guess it's going to vary depending on what time of
the year you are there.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Yes, so the turtle season runs from November to February
every year, so November and December is typically when you
get your loggerhead and your leather back turtles. That is
their nesting season. So we are we have the concession
to do beach walks where we can go walk in
the evenings. We only do it in the evenings. We
(08:38):
can go walk and look for the turtles and view
their nesting or we also offer the turtle four by
four drives. So this is quite unique because it can
be anytime from seven o'clock at night to twelve o'clock
at night because we can only go at the low
tide because we don't want to disturb any of the
nests or turtles on there. So we drive along the
(08:58):
low tide mark and we can go and look for
these turtles. We observe them from a safe distance. And
then what that does is it also helps the authorities.
We get to report back to them what turtles we've seen,
how many nests we've seen, and it helps with all
their data and statistics that they tray together.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Oh that's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
So while enjoying this incredible experience, you can actually be
part of the sort of citizen science element as well,
which is great. Keith Keith asking on the WhatsApp how
you sort of keep track of visitors and manage to
make sure that they play by the rules and don't
interfere in any respect. It sounds like the whole process
is a very closely guided one.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Lucy, Yes, it is so.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Our Tonga Beach Lodge is quite a small lodge. It
only has twelve rooms and then our guest vehicle would
only have about nine guests, maybe even less. And we
have our two guides that would go with them, and
they very closely monitor the guests. They advise them what
a safe distance is. We've got the red torches because
you shouldn't shine any torches onto the turtles. It confuses them.
(10:00):
And they are very skilled then how to handle the turtles,
not to handle them, but handle the viewing process. And
our guests have been very respectful.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
I'm glad to hear that, Keith, thanks for asking the question.
Just for anybody who's come in midway. Our guest joining
us by a zoom this afternoon. Lucy Cook, who is
the marketing manager of Tonga Beach Lodge. They were recently
recognized for the second consecutive year as South Africa's leading
beach hotel in that category at the World Travel Awards,
an incredibly prestigious recognition for the second year running. Says
(10:33):
a lot about your ability to keep on walking the
walk and talking the talk in this respect.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Lucy, we've got a.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Voice note from a listener with a question for you,
and then I want to talk about the sustainability aspect
of the lodge itself and about community empowerment. But first,
Judy is curious about catering. I think let's take a listen, Haab.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
I'd love to know about Tongka Beach Hotel, particularly, how
do you resource your food and equipment if you're so remote?
Is it flown in by helicopter? Because I'm sure that
since you've won this award that you maintain the highest
(11:16):
standards at the meals that you offer and all of
your resources. So how on earth do you manage it?
Sounds incredible, very tempting.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Doesn't it, Just Judy, it's a great question.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
And yes, indeed five star catering included in your rate
at Tonga Beach Lodge.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Lucy, what's the answer, how do you manage that very
big challenge?
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yes, it is a very big challenge indeed, and our
executive sad he is very organized. You need to be
very organized and you've got to plan ahead, you really
really do, so he would plan the menu. It's all
done by road transport. We that definitely don't helicopter anything in.
But it's all sourced locally as much as we can.
(12:00):
We can't source locally, we get from our head office
which is based in Belito or via road transport. Yeah,
so that's it. You'd have to ask our executive chef.
He does it very well and very effectively. He's been
doing it again for about I think twelve years from
his son as the Tonga chef and he's now executive
chef of all of our lodgers.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Okay, so Sana more Judy, thanks for asking an interesting question.
Now you've mentioned locally sourced and I know this is
part of the ethos of the lodge that is very
very important to you. That you are not just there
for the twelve rooms and the twenty four odd guests
who might be staying in them. Lucy, this is a
business which was partly recognized because of what it has
(12:41):
done to community, to empower the local community.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Won't you expand on that and tell us a little
bit more about how you've worked with them.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Yes, sure, so, being so remote, our neighbors, our closest
neighbors are the Bibi community, So we've partnered with them.
About ninety percent of our staff at the lodge them
abebe Community, and each guest when they stay at Tonga
Beach Lodge, they would pay a foundation levee and those
levees go towards projects that our Isabendi Foundation runs in
(13:11):
that community. So just to give you an idea some
of the projects that we're running there, We've helped them
at bb Primary School. We recently reroofed the school. We
built a new kitchen for them, We've done a grade
our classroom, We've supplied extra teachers to the school. And
what we want to do. What we do do is
we offer guests a cultural tour where they can then
(13:32):
go on a tour with our guides and go and
see exactly where this money is going in the community.
They can see what they are contributing towards. So it's
a nice full circle moment for the guests seeing what
they are doing. And then we also had a great
story from a guest who came to stay there and
he did the community tour and he was asking one
(13:53):
of our GUIDs, you know, what is an issue that
needs resolving here, and they said that them. Abebi Primary
School is doing so well now with the help of
the fund, but the next high school is about fifteen
kilometers away, and the children are having to walk to
school and back and they have to give up really early,
they get back really late at night. So what this
guy did was he donated a four by four converted
(14:15):
shorts to the community. And with the foundation, we've helped
with the fuel and the driver. These kids are now
driven to school and back every day and this convert advice.
So it just, yeah, it really is amazing that we
can bring guests, show them what they can do and
how they can help. So yeah, what.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
An amazing story, and what a powerful demonstration of how
that proper touch point can be converted into long term
support after the listeners have left. That's an incredible story.
The other thing we need to talk about before we
were out of time, Lucy, is the issue of sustainability.
As you've said, you've kept it small. You very closely
monitor and manage the guest interactions with the sort of
(14:55):
the wild experiences around you. But my understanding is that
even the lodge itself, the way it's been built and
the way it operates in terms of what you will
use in terms of packaging, all of that has been
planned with minimal impact in mind. Would you like to
elaborate a bit.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Yes, So the way it's built, it's all built on
stilts with wooden walkways to have as minimal impact on
the sand dunes as possible. We also have no single
use plastics. We use glass bottles. And then and as
an initiative we have is when you go onto the beach,
there's little paper bags there and if guests pick up
plastics from the beach and bring it back to the bar,
we give them a free cocktail. So we're encouraging guests
(15:33):
to interact with us that help us conserve the beach.
Our foundation is regularly involved in beach cleanups. We employ
a marine monitor to teach the community about sustainable harve
harvesting of the rock pools and fishing. So, yeah, we
have I could speak forever, so I know you're limited
this time. We have loads of initiatives there. All of
our activities are low impact, where they don't take anything
(15:55):
from the.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Environment, and that is obviously what brought you to the
of the World Travel Awards. So my final question to you, Lucy,
is really why an accolade like this matters. Obviously, it's
a pat on the back for you and your team
that says we recognize you doing good work, keep it up,
well done. But do you think there's a broader reach
that the kind of spotlight this place is that it
(16:17):
can be done this way is going to encourage others
to be more responsible about the way they develop travel opportunities.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Yes, exactly, that it's showing that this model works, that
there is a way to be sustainable and still offer
a high end hospitality need. So definitely, I hope it
does encourage other lodgers to follow suits and yeah, who
knows what we could do if we follow this project
all over.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Lucy Cook, thank you so much for joining us, and
again to you and the whole team involved at Tonga
Beach Lodge, Congratulations on the second win in a row
being recognized at the World Travel Awards as South Africa's
leading beach hotel.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
It's been a pleasure having you on the show today.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Thank you so much, Peppa, thank you for your time.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
You two keep well and for those who are appetites wetted.
Whether the travel a wallet can sustain them is another
thing entirely. But to check out more about the lodge,
including the rack rates, what's involved and included in that rate,
and how you can get to book to experience it,
please visit Tonga Beach Lodge dot co dot z A
t h n GA Tonga Beach Lodge And Fiona thanks
(17:22):
saying what an incredibly uplifting story. That's the reason we
wanted to tell this story. And Fiona, thanks for recognizing
that that. I know this is an experience that might
be way beyond the budget of some travelers listening. But
I love the fact that everything about the way this
place has been developed is mindful of how special that
location is and mindful of the fact that preserving that
(17:43):
pristine environment is essential to the future of development in
this area. And I think what it shows in terms
of what is possible is what is so important about
this story. And then you look at other areas which
have not walked the walk and talked the talk kind
of a loud input over development to ruin what was
once a pristine tourist hotspot. It really does sort of
(18:07):
show a very stark comparison a negative one versus this
incredibly positive story, so congratulations again.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
The website Tonga Beach Lodge dot co, dot c a
All right, total switch of focus.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
We're doing some local armchair travel today and visiting a
part of the country.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
I confess I don't know.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Particularly well personally, the northern coast of Guaslin Natal. I've
been there once or twice for passing visits. I've never
spent any chunk of time there. I'm aware of the
significance of the Mangolies or wetland park. Had occasion to
visit it briefly more than thirty years ago, and it
was still called the Saint Lucia Wetland Area, and I
(00:28):
remember it being a place of haunting beauty, is what
I would say. There were these eerie mangrove swamps. There
was the crunch of dried crab shells underfoot as you
explored the estuaries.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
There was that.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Beautiful, rugged, wild coastline, and so much untouched beach front.
It was extraordinarily beautiful. But that was in sort of
nineteen ninety or nineteen eighteen, somewhere in the early nineteen nineties.
I think a lot has changed since then, including the
fact that the Saint Lucia Park was renamed the Siemongo
Liesa Wetland Park in two thousand and seven, including the
(01:03):
fact that it has in fact been incorporated into a
wider Transfrontier Marine Park which straddles South Africa, Mozambique and Swatini.
The area is also a declared a World Heritage Site
because of its rich biodiversity. In fact, the South African
portion constitutes the third biggest protected area in our country.
So there's been a huge effort to preserve this beautiful,
(01:26):
beautiful part of our coastline. And if you have had
the luxuary of spending a lot of time there and
want to share with us what makes it so special,
I would love to hear from you with a WhatsApp
to seven two five six seven one five six seven.
But as always in a place like this, you face
the delicate balancing act of, on the one hand, wanting
to develop human access so that people can visit these
(01:49):
places and appreciate them and learn to love them, because
we tend to protect the things that we love. And
as we had a conversation a week or two ago,
if people aren't engaged, if they aren't interested, if we
allow the ocean to remain an unknown for communities who
live by its side, we can't expect them to be
invested in preserving it and holding on to its pristine beauty.
(02:10):
So it's really important that we do allow human appreciation.
But how do you do that? How do you develop
to facilitate that appreciation in a way that doesn't damage
the landscape that you are looking at through over development.
It's a question that many communities are grappling with all
around the world, And of course the bald answer is
that you have to tread very very lightly to ensure
(02:33):
that what you design and what you put in place
to host visitors is in harmony with the natural environment
and encourages a sustainable way of operating in that space,
the sense that your visitors take only photographs and leave
behind only their footprints in the sand. And why am
I talking about all of this because today I want
to explore a venue which does seem to be getting
(02:53):
it very very right, so much so that it's just
been recognized as South Africa's leading beach hotel for the
second year running at the annual World Travel Awards, which
are kind of like the Oscars of the travel industry.
Tonga Beach Lodge was highlighted by the panel of judges
for its conservation leadership, recognizing how it manages to blend
(03:14):
a luxury visitor experience with sustainability and with community empowerment.
So there's a lot to like about this story and
to chat to us more about what has.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Been achieved there.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It's my great pleasure to welcome via Zoom Lucy Cook,
who is Tonga Beach's marketing manager. Lucy, congratulations to your
team on this second accolade and thanks so much for
your time this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Hi Paper, Thanks thanks for having.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Me, always a pleasure. Where exactly is Tonga Beach located?
For those who don't know the ins and outs of
this bit of coastline like me, I had to go
and look it up on a map, Can you just
try and locate us geographically?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yes? Sure, So it's about it's very remote, as you said,
it's about a five hour drive from King Sharka International
Airport at the north coast. It's only excess will by
four by four, so you would drive the last hours
on a sandy beach road along the coastal vegetated sand dunes.
So it's right near the border of Mozambique, just before Pontadoro.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Okay, Pontadora, I have been to, so I can picture
it very well. Would you say that last but only
accessible by a four x four and on along a
coastal road. Is that a service that you as a
lodge offered to listeners to their drive to a certain
point and then get furried in.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Or are people allowed to self drive if they have
a four by four?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yes, we offer both. So if guests have a four
by four, they're welcome to drive themselves. It's a beautiful road. Otherwise,
if they don't, they can park near Sodwana Bay and
we offer a transfer service that's provided in partnership with
our community that we are next to.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
And we'll talk about the community involvement in just a moment.
How long has Tonga Beach Lodge actually been there, Lucy,
it's been.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
There about I think it's twelve years now that it's been.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
There, Okay, so more than a decade. You're well established
as a destination. What do you think it is that
makes you stand out from other similar ventures? I mean,
tell us about some of the unique experiences that visitors
to Toonga Beach will enjoy that you can't easily find
in other beachfront venues.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
So I think what makes the most magic at Tonga
is just how remote it is, and as you said
earlier when you're explaining the Samangaliso Wetland Park, you just
have this massive expanse of beach where it is so remote.
Like you said, these only footprints that you will find,
yours will be the only footprints there. There are no
other accommodations for miles and miles in either direction of
(05:34):
the coast. The reefs there are untouched that you go
snorkeling in. You get to witness in the summer months
and the turtle laying and nesting and then the hatching
as well. The turtles come back to the same beach
every year to lay their eggs. It is just the
most remote and beautiful part of South Africa I feel,
and with our warm casalin waters as well, it makes
(05:57):
it a year round location. So if you're looking for
a winter beach getaway, Tanga Beach will be your place
to go to.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
You've mentioned the snorkeling, and you also mentioned the fact
that you're relatively close to Sidwana Bay, which I know
is a kind of local mecca for scuba divers. Do
you facilitate snorkeling and scuba diving trips from the hotel.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yes, all of our activities are from our lodge. We
have our own in house dive master. We have snorkeling guys,
marine guys or guys from the local community as well
that we've upskilled. And yes, because we're so remote we
are about an hour from Sidwana, we would be the
only ones on those reefs. So our diving reefs are
snorkeling reefs. We would be the only ones there. So
(06:39):
it's like your own private, little marine reserve.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
And that is an extraordinary thing to offer. And particularly
with the degradation of reefs around the world, to be
able to offer pristine reefs with an uncrowded environment is
something very very special. I mean, the marine world beneath
the waves is magnificent. Do you want to talk to
us a little about what you can expect to see
on one of your Snorklan trips.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yes, sure, so it's my absolute favorite activity to do there.
One of my favorite sightings has been seeing the octopus
move from rock to rock. I've seen it quite a
few times when I've been up there. It's absolutely incredible
to see. We often see lionfish, We've seen the eels
up there, We've seen the manta rays and all those beautiful,
(07:23):
colorful tropical fish that you expect to see, you know,
in finding Nemo, only right there beneath the waves on
our reefs. It is absolutely amazing what lives beneath our ocean,
right there on our shore.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
You've given me goosebumps because I had the experience of
snorkeling with manta rays about three weeks ago in Limbongen
and it was one of the most incredible things I
have ever experienced in my life. Completely humbling, a little
bit terrifying, it has to be said, but just I mean,
these massive, incredibly magnificent, majestic creatures. To be able to
share the water with them was extraordinary. So that's very
(07:57):
exciting to hear that you can offer that as well. Now, Lucy,
being able to go and enjoy the marine environment. One thing,
the turtle engagement on the beachfront, I would imagine, has
got to be incredibly carefully managed.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Tell us a little bit.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
More about what you can experience there, and I would
guess it's going to vary depending on what time of
the year you are there.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Yes, so the turtle season runs from November to February
every year, so November and December is typically when you
get your loggerhead and your leather back turtles. That is
their nesting season. So we are we have the concession
to do beach walks where we can go walk in
the evenings. We only do it in the evenings. We
(08:38):
can go walk and look for the turtles and view
their nesting or we also offer the turtle four by
four drives. So this is quite unique because it can
be anytime from seven o'clock at night to twelve o'clock
at night because we can only go at the low
tide because we don't want to disturb any of the
nests or turtles on there. So we drive along the
(08:58):
low tide mark and we can go and look for
these turtles. We observe them from a safe distance. And
then what that does is it also helps the authorities.
We get to report back to them what turtles we've seen,
how many nests we've seen, and it helps with all
their data and statistics that they tray together.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Oh that's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
So while enjoying this incredible experience, you can actually be
part of the sort of citizen science element as well,
which is great. Keith Keith asking on the WhatsApp how
you sort of keep track of visitors and manage to
make sure that they play by the rules and don't
interfere in any respect. It sounds like the whole process
is a very closely guided one.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Lucy, Yes, it is so.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Our Tonga Beach Lodge is quite a small lodge. It
only has twelve rooms and then our guest vehicle would
only have about nine guests, maybe even less. And we
have our two guides that would go with them, and
they very closely monitor the guests. They advise them what
a safe distance is. We've got the red torches because
you shouldn't shine any torches onto the turtles. It confuses them.
(10:00):
And they are very skilled then how to handle the turtles,
not to handle them, but handle the viewing process. And
our guests have been very respectful.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
I'm glad to hear that, Keith, thanks for asking the question.
Just for anybody who's come in midway. Our guest joining
us by a zoom this afternoon. Lucy Cook, who is
the marketing manager of Tonga Beach Lodge. They were recently
recognized for the second consecutive year as South Africa's leading
beach hotel in that category at the World Travel Awards,
an incredibly prestigious recognition for the second year running. Says
(10:33):
a lot about your ability to keep on walking the
walk and talking the talk in this respect.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Lucy, we've got a.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Voice note from a listener with a question for you,
and then I want to talk about the sustainability aspect
of the lodge itself and about community empowerment. But first,
Judy is curious about catering. I think let's take a listen, Haab.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
I'd love to know about Tongka Beach Hotel, particularly, how
do you resource your food and equipment if you're so remote?
Is it flown in by helicopter? Because I'm sure that
since you've won this award that you maintain the highest
(11:16):
standards at the meals that you offer and all of
your resources. So how on earth do you manage it?
Sounds incredible, very tempting.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Doesn't it, Just Judy, it's a great question.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
And yes, indeed five star catering included in your rate
at Tonga Beach Lodge.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Lucy, what's the answer, how do you manage that very
big challenge?
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yes, it is a very big challenge indeed, and our
executive sad he is very organized. You need to be
very organized and you've got to plan ahead, you really
really do, so he would plan the menu. It's all
done by road transport. We that definitely don't helicopter anything in.
But it's all sourced locally as much as we can.
(12:00):
We can't source locally, we get from our head office
which is based in Belito or via road transport. Yeah,
so that's it. You'd have to ask our executive chef.
He does it very well and very effectively. He's been
doing it again for about I think twelve years from
his son as the Tonga chef and he's now executive
chef of all of our lodgers.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Okay, so Sana more Judy, thanks for asking an interesting question.
Now you've mentioned locally sourced and I know this is
part of the ethos of the lodge that is very
very important to you. That you are not just there
for the twelve rooms and the twenty four odd guests
who might be staying in them. Lucy, this is a
business which was partly recognized because of what it has
(12:41):
done to community, to empower the local community.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Won't you expand on that and tell us a little
bit more about how you've worked with them.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Yes, sure, so, being so remote, our neighbors, our closest
neighbors are the Bibi community, So we've partnered with them.
About ninety percent of our staff at the lodge them
abebe Community, and each guest when they stay at Tonga
Beach Lodge, they would pay a foundation levee and those
levees go towards projects that our Isabendi Foundation runs in
(13:11):
that community. So just to give you an idea some
of the projects that we're running there, We've helped them
at bb Primary School. We recently reroofed the school. We
built a new kitchen for them, We've done a grade
our classroom, We've supplied extra teachers to the school. And
what we want to do. What we do do is
we offer guests a cultural tour where they can then
(13:32):
go on a tour with our guides and go and
see exactly where this money is going in the community.
They can see what they are contributing towards. So it's
a nice full circle moment for the guests seeing what
they are doing. And then we also had a great
story from a guest who came to stay there and
he did the community tour and he was asking one
(13:53):
of our GUIDs, you know, what is an issue that
needs resolving here, and they said that them. Abebi Primary
School is doing so well now with the help of
the fund, but the next high school is about fifteen
kilometers away, and the children are having to walk to
school and back and they have to give up really early,
they get back really late at night. So what this
guy did was he donated a four by four converted
(14:15):
shorts to the community. And with the foundation, we've helped
with the fuel and the driver. These kids are now
driven to school and back every day and this convert advice.
So it just, yeah, it really is amazing that we
can bring guests, show them what they can do and
how they can help. So yeah, what.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
An amazing story, and what a powerful demonstration of how
that proper touch point can be converted into long term
support after the listeners have left. That's an incredible story.
The other thing we need to talk about before we
were out of time, Lucy, is the issue of sustainability.
As you've said, you've kept it small. You very closely
monitor and manage the guest interactions with the sort of
(14:55):
the wild experiences around you. But my understanding is that
even the lodge itself, the way it's been built and
the way it operates in terms of what you will
use in terms of packaging, all of that has been
planned with minimal impact in mind. Would you like to
elaborate a bit.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Yes, So the way it's built, it's all built on
stilts with wooden walkways to have as minimal impact on
the sand dunes as possible. We also have no single
use plastics. We use glass bottles. And then and as
an initiative we have is when you go onto the beach,
there's little paper bags there and if guests pick up
plastics from the beach and bring it back to the bar,
we give them a free cocktail. So we're encouraging guests
(15:33):
to interact with us that help us conserve the beach.
Our foundation is regularly involved in beach cleanups. We employ
a marine monitor to teach the community about sustainable harve
harvesting of the rock pools and fishing. So, yeah, we
have I could speak forever, so I know you're limited
this time. We have loads of initiatives there. All of
our activities are low impact, where they don't take anything
(15:55):
from the.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Environment, and that is obviously what brought you to the
of the World Travel Awards. So my final question to you, Lucy,
is really why an accolade like this matters. Obviously, it's
a pat on the back for you and your team
that says we recognize you doing good work, keep it up,
well done. But do you think there's a broader reach
that the kind of spotlight this place is that it
(16:17):
can be done this way is going to encourage others
to be more responsible about the way they develop travel opportunities.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Yes, exactly, that it's showing that this model works, that
there is a way to be sustainable and still offer
a high end hospitality need. So definitely, I hope it
does encourage other lodgers to follow suits and yeah, who
knows what we could do if we follow this project
all over.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Lucy Cook, thank you so much for joining us, and
again to you and the whole team involved at Tonga
Beach Lodge, Congratulations on the second win in a row
being recognized at the World Travel Awards as South Africa's
leading beach hotel.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
It's been a pleasure having you on the show today.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Thank you so much, Peppa, thank you for your time.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
You two keep well and for those who are appetites wetted.
Whether the travel a wallet can sustain them is another
thing entirely. But to check out more about the lodge,
including the rack rates, what's involved and included in that rate,
and how you can get to book to experience it,
please visit Tonga Beach Lodge dot co dot z A
t h n GA Tonga Beach Lodge And Fiona thanks
(17:22):
saying what an incredibly uplifting story. That's the reason we
wanted to tell this story. And Fiona, thanks for recognizing
that that. I know this is an experience that might
be way beyond the budget of some travelers listening. But
I love the fact that everything about the way this
place has been developed is mindful of how special that
location is and mindful of the fact that preserving that
(17:43):
pristine environment is essential to the future of development in
this area. And I think what it shows in terms
of what is possible is what is so important about
this story. And then you look at other areas which
have not walked the walk and talked the talk kind
of a loud input over development to ruin what was
once a pristine tourist hotspot. It really does sort of
(18:07):
show a very stark comparison a negative one versus this
incredibly positive story, so congratulations again.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
The website Tonga Beach Lodge dot co, dot c a
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