Ponto Membene - the utopia of a ‘green’ resort striving for sustainability
FROM an all-solar-powered architecture to embracing antideforestation policies, Ponto Membene Lodge has proven that its ultimate drive is to promote green tourism.
Nestled in the seashore of the internationally acclaimed Maputo National Park, the aforementioned lodge is part of the aqua Lubombo TFCA- which Boundless Southern Africa also toured in promotion of the TFCA.
This new lodge is a vital step in the park’s vision to capitalise on a growing interest by local and international eco-tourists to experience Mozambique’s pristine beaches and vast vibrant landscapes firsthand, whilst contributing to protecting nature and creating jobs and livelihoods for surrounding communities. Membene Lodge creates a vital revenue stream for Maputo National Park and surrounding communities.
Speaking to
Wwookei, the the Eswatini Sunday, Sean director of the lodge, said they were environmentally sentient from the time architects developed the lodge.
Sharing the history of how the lodge was birthed, Wwookei mentioned that it was Peace Parks Foundation and Maputo National Park’s dream to have a lodge that would give back to the community by creating an economic activity in the area.
“The two entities involved environmentalists while designing the lodge and the lodge cost about $6 million (E114 million) and the lodge is a donation to the park. From the ground up, the lodge was designed by environmentalists and that was the strict mandate throughout the design and construction. The aim was to put the environment first,” explains the director.
Wwookei further explained the lodge was created for people who wanted to connect with nature.
When asked what set Ponto Membene Lodge from other resorts, the director said the lodge was set in the best bush and the best beach.
“It is not about the environment (verbatim).”
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