The Wild Coast is one of the environmental jewels in South Africa’s crown and renowned around the world for its unspoilt natural beauty.
The Wild Coast Sun, as an important stakeholder and custodian of this ecologically sensitive and largely unspoilt section of coastline, supports all efforts to preserve and protect this unique environment.
This year, the Wild Coast Sun intends further stepping up its sustainability efforts, including through the continued production of eco bricks and pavers.
In 2021 the resort converted 253 tonnes of waste into eco aggregate. It will also be implementing further energy savings by installing prepaid electricity meters in various facilities.
The Wild Coast Sun resort is located at Mzamba Beach, adjacent to the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, the Red Dessert Nature Reserve, the Mkambati Marine Protected Area and the Mzamba Fossil Formations.
The annual Sardine Run and the Petrified Forest are popular local tourist attractions.
The Wild Coast region is home to unique flora and fauna, as well as abundant marine life, all of which come together to sustain local communities and the regional economy. From the outset, the Wild Coast Sun was designed to fit into its surrounding landscape.
The buildings were designed and positioned on the property so as to interfere as little as possible with the environment and the natural view.
Wild Coast Sun General Manager Peter Tshidi says: “All of us who call the Wild Coast home have a duty of care to protect, preserve, nurture and develop in a sustainable manner and which has the best interests of the area and its people at heart.”
The Wild Coast Sun is the Sun International Group’s only beachfront resort and second oldest property after Sun City, having celebrated its 40th birthday at the end of 2021.
In that time, it has placed a deep emphasis on environmental management and preservation and focused on initiatives which has significantly reduced its carbon footprint and impact on its surroundings. Key initiatives have included:
- 2014 – Wild Coast Sun introduces new waste management processes to separate food waste from other waste. Vuka Uzenzele Trading is formed to manage the compost site and to plant up and manage a vegetable garden
- 2015 – The Wild Coast Sun begins to divert waste from being compacted
- 2016 – Skips and compactors are removed from the property to prevent mixing of waste. All waste is collected, separated and stored in crates at the waste centre. A Zero Waste Contractor is appointed
- 2017 – All non-hazardous waste is recycled as much as possible and waste that cannot be recycled is processed into waste aggregate and turned into eco-blocks used in building and paving
- 2018 – The Wild Coast Sun undergoes certification through the Green Buildings Council of South Africa to become the first Zero Waste to Landfill facility in the country, and on the continent.
According to Tshidi, people and the environment are at the centre of the Wild Coast Sun’s approach. The Wild Coast annually celebrates key environmental days and campaigns such as Arbour month, World Environment Day and National Marine Week. “We are committed to caring for people and the environment and we are focused on minimising waste of natural resources and to prevent pollution to the environment.”
Local wildlife is protected, including the Vervet monkeys who have made the resort their home Tshidi says. All guests are cautioned not to feed the troop.
The six local species of green snakes are also protected and where needs be, relocated away from the main resort and people. Protected trees include the Black and White Mangrove, Red and White Milkwood, Pondo Poison Pea and the Swazi Onion Wood.
All the trees that form part of the Dune Forests in front of the hotel are collectively protected. The same cannot be said of alien and Invasive plants, which the resort staff are determined to weed out.
The Mexican Sunflower in particular is a fast-growing and aggressive category 1 weed which competes against indigenous plants, forming dense, extensive colonies along roads, riverbanks and urban open spaces.
In 2021, the Wild Coast Sun‘s Alien and Invasive Plant Control Programme managed to remove 70% of alien plants on the estate. 2021 Arbor Month (September) Tshidi led Wild Coast Sun Arbor Month activities with the planting of an indigenous Natal Mahogany (Trichilia emetica) in the property’s organic vegetable and herb garden. Tshidi emphasised the importance of only planting indigenous trees that are found in the local area of the Eastern Cape and lower South KwaZulu-Natal area.
As part of Arbor Month activities, the resort donated Natal Mahoganys, Spekboom and several waterwise plants to the Free Methodist Junior Secondary School.
International Coastal Clean-up Day – September 18
Almost 60 eco warriors took part, collecting a total of 1,895 kilogrammes of waste off the Wild Coast beach. After the clean-up, pupils from local schools showcased and sold their wares made from waste material at the Waste 4 Change Market. Prizes were handed out to those who collected the most waste and to the most innovative recycled and upcycled products displayed at the market.
- The Wild Coast Sun donated Spekboom plants and compost to Wild Coast Ithuba Community College.
World Environment Day – June 5
Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra) is a very special indigenous plant. One hectare of Spekboom can remove between 4 and 10 tons of carbon from the atmosphere per year and it can live up to 200 years. In addition, it is a strong waterwise plant and is edible, with a high nutritional value. The Wild Coast Sun donated Spekboom plants and compost to Wild Coast Ithuba Community College.
World Water Day – March 22
Clean Water and Sanitation is one of the Sun International Group’s Sustainability Goals. Many local schools surrounding the Wild Coast Sun have no water and toilets are mainly long drops. The resort provided 12 new toilets with running water to Khanyisani SP School in Redoubt in the Eastern Cape. The Wild Coast Sun used 3,000 kiloliters less water in 2021 compared to 2020. The savings were achieved by means of smart water meters installations at Concessionaire outlets. The golf course is irrigated with recycled grey water while the water park has a closed water circuit system.
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