Information
Eco Stars:
5 star
Stars:
unrated
Location:
Africa
Country:
The Gambia
Sandele Eco-Retreat and Learning Centre
Guests are accommodated in very spacious, domed Lodges that have separate en-suite facilities
and a wardrobe/dressing area. Each Lodge shares a small plunge pool and a spacious, private terrace. Guest Rooms have a magnificent view over
the ocean and are large and elegant.
Food served: Full board service in the Lodges (a three course breakfast, two-course, light lunch and a three-course dinner) is included in the room price.
A very high standard of cuisine is provided, together with drinks, snacks, cakes, biscuits and beverages – (all available at additional cost).
Half board excludes lunch. The Guest Rooms will eventually be serviced by a separate restaurant. At present all guests use one restaurant that is placed in the middle of the site.
Sanitation: Each Lodge has en-suite facilities including a shower and hand basin and a separate composting toilet. Composting toilets are odour-free,
hygienic and safe and – most particularly – they save 75% of the potable water that is usually used in hotels and houses. Guest Rooms have similar
facilities.
Facilities: Restaurant service are available all day (or meals are served on request in the beachside shack or in the Lodges – this room service is
not available in the Guest Rooms). Sandele has a very quiet, remote beach with security staff on duty and shade areas, pool beds with mattresses
are provided at no charge. Guide services, cultural encounters with local people, bicycles, taxi services; laundry service, airport transfers are a significant feature of Sandele.
Green Star Rating Results:
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Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Energy Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - Systems installed: PV water pumping; PV and wind turbine electricity generation; Solar hot water heating; ecological construction using compressed, stabilised earth blocks (CSEBs).
Water Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - Grey water re-cycling; water free composting toilets; rainwater harvesting.
Disposal Rating: ★★★★ (4)
Staff Comment - Plastic bottles re-cycled to a nursery for seed planters; wine bottles re-cycled by a local business that uses them for home made soft drinks; all kitchen waste used for compost or given to a staff member’s local pig farm
Eco-Active Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - Guests receive a brochure that outlines the company’s eco policies; MoU signed with the local community that includes: * the donation of the entire project to the local community after 25 years; *commitment that at least 670% of the staff will come from the local community; *commitment to pay a proportion of the Eco-Retreat’s income quarterly into a fund for village developments. Staff are trained as guides to escort guests on tours of the site in order to point out the eco-active aspects of the Retreat.
Protection Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - Guests are offered a complementary excursion into the local village, escorted by a villager/staff member from the Retreat, in order to learn about local culture, attend musical and other events (eg Naming ceremonies, weddings and so on). All fish, poultry, eggs are purchased from the local village and, whenever possible, vegetables are locally purchased. Staff are encouraged to interact with guest by invitation of the guests to discuss their local connections, culture and so on. Guests are encouraged to use other local guides and facilities (for fishing, bird watching, dug out canoe river trips and cycle riding).
Contact Details
Name:
Sandele Eco-Retreat and Learning Centre
Address:
Kartong,
The Gambia
Telephone:
+2 20 771 1209
Website:
www.sandele.com
E-mail:
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