Safari Conversations - the Singita podcast

By: Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard
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  • Summary

  • Welcome to ‘Safari Conversations’ – the Singita Podcast. 30 years ago, our Founder, Luke Bailes, had a dream of creating a pioneering ecotourism brand that could help save pristine wilderness areas in Africa for future generations. The first chapter of this story started when we built Singita Ebony Lodge, in the Sabi Sand, in 1993. But truly, it began long before that, on a piece of land his grandfather owned and where they spent holidays as a family at Castleton. So much has happened in the last 30 years, to where we find ourselves now – owning and managing award-winning lodges across four countries in Africa. And, we are looking to expand our conservation footprint even further. As a brand we’ve always been devoted to conservation and working alongside NGO partners and guests who share our vision. But at the heart of it all, you’ll find the many incredible people who work at Singita. Welcome to our Podcast – where you’ll meet some of the very talented people who make our life-changing safaris a reality.
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Episodes
  • Cooking Up Dreams - Inside Singita's Community Culinary School with Prue Leith Culinary Institute

    Cooking Up Dreams - Inside Singita's Community Culinary School with Prue Leith Culinary Institute
    Oct 28 2024
    A tasty tale today. Meet three phenomenal chefs with different roles but they agree that the Singita Community Culinary Schools (SCCS) gives them goosebumps.
    Chef Adele Stiehler-van der Westhuizen, managing director of Prue Leith Culinary Institute, hosts a chat with Chef Nande Magojo (Chef Skills Developer at Singita Kruger) and Chef Andrew Nicholson (Singita’s Group Executive Chef).

    SCCS, partnering with Prue Leith Culinary Institute, trains youth from communities near Singita's lodges in South Africa, Tanzania, and Rwanda. With over 100 graduates since 2007 and a 92% employment rate – it’s really cooking! In Tanzania, 100% of the graduates are still thriving in our six lodges. Andrew highlights how successful female graduates are, taking on leadership roles.

    From simmer to sizzle. Adele and Andrew discuss the growth from Singita Kruger to Tanzania and Rwanda, with plans for Zimbabwe, and Botswana! Adele and Nande (who runs the classes) chat about the life of students and how they progress through theory, exams, and learning from seasoned chefs; graduating with talent in a year. Some even met Dame Prue Leith!

    The Prue Leith Institute shares these aims with Singita: To create culinary excellence in Africa; to be conscious of our impact (zero waste); to create chefs in touch with nature and respect ingredients; and to be connected to their cultures. We want them to share the continent's abundance on their plates. They all believe that chefs should be culinary conservationists.

    Guests can book a cooking class with the students at the lodge, which helps support their studies. Let them teach you to make chakalaka - a favourite!

    Relax, pour a glass of wine, and let us serve you a story that's equal parts inspiration and education, with a sprinkle of humour.

    "Ukudle kamnandi" (eat well) Singita Community Culinary School · The Prue Leith Culinary Institute · Cooking Class · Donate · One student per year costs $12,000 · South Africa · Rwanda · Follow Prue Leith Instagram · Singita Lebombo SCCS · Singita website
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    33 mins
  • Style & Design - Wildly Creative. The Team Designing Game-Changing Safari Experiences

    Style & Design - Wildly Creative. The Team Designing Game-Changing Safari Experiences
    Sep 30 2024
    Singita has worked with Cecile & Boyd for 30 years and the same people are still in the room today. Today, we unpack this enduring partnership – what makes it successful and fun, what drives the constant inspiration for new lodges as Singita expands.

    Lindy Rousseau (Singita’s Strategist) chats to Geordi de Sousa Costa and Paul van den Berg (Designers and Partners at Cecile & Boyd). They discuss their partnership, the evolution of their design, and vision for future. This exceptional business relationship is built on trust, collaboration, passion, and a shared vision of conservation.

    There are so many parallel stories here. Singita and Cecile & Boyd just celebrated their 30th anniversaries; both are family-owned and run; small, purpose-driven businesses with common values; both passionate about aesthetics. And who was the fabulous Cecile?

    We start when Luke Bailes hired Boyd Ferguson and Geordi in 1993 to design a pioneering lodge – Singita Ebony. Cecile & Boyd's approach at every lodge has evolved with organic, sustainable, and African design. They’re now excited about local art, artisans, and materials. It's about simplicity, authenticity, and minimising the footprint with deep connections to nature. Singita allows them creative freedom - a powerful part of the process, whether it’s a new lodge (such as Singita Kwitonda) or a refresh. We ask where the inspiration comes from.

    From humble beginnings, Cecile & Boyd has grown to interior design, architectural concepts, creative direction, and two stores. From one lodge in 1993, Singita has grown into an award-winning conservation and ecotourism brand with 19 lodges in four African countries. And soon, Botswana.

    This lively conversation embodies a quote: Milton Glaser, the famed American graphic designer, said, “You don't have to like the people you work with. But it's funny how when you do, the magic happens.” The next era of Singita Ebony · About Cecile & Boyd · Cecile Tilley Memoir · Another pioneering design, Singita Lebombo · Ebony · About Singita's history · Lebombo · GAPP Architects & Urban Designers · HesseKleinloog · Singita website
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    47 mins
  • Saving a Species: Vultures - EWT's Mission to Keep Africa's Vultures Soaring

    Saving a Species: Vultures - EWT's Mission to Keep Africa's Vultures Soaring
    Sep 6 2024
    A species in a downward spiral. Not cute or cuddly, but vultures play a crucial role as nature's clean-up crew. In this episode, Dr. Gareth Tate, the Birds of Prey Program Manager for the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), chats with Ben Nichol (Conservation Impact Lead for Singita Lowveld Trust) (SLT) about vulture conservation. They discuss their role in ecosystems, the threats they face, and what's driving the alarming decline.

    Fast facts:
    • There are 23 species of vultures worldwide; 11 migrate through Africa.
    • Vultures can clean up an impala carcass (40kg) in just 10 minutes.
    • India's vulture population plummeted by 98%.
    • In SA, white-backed vultures have declined by 95% in 20 years.
    • A single poisoning event can wipe out 50-100 vultures, along with hyenas, jackals, and lions.
    • Several species are heading towards extinction and are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered globally.

    We spell out the African vulture crisis – the major impact of poisoning (and secondary poisoning); habitat loss; collisions with power lines; and illegal poaching for belief-based medicine. It's not all doom-and-gloom, as Gareth sees real hope for the future.

    Hear about EWT's amazing conservation efforts - "vulture safe zones"; rapid response to poisoning; tracking technology (over 400 birds across huge ranges); and a new 'Vulture Ambulance' in the Greater Kruger Park, with an almost 100% success rate with rescued birds.

    Every donation funds field staff, poisoning response, rehabilitation, the Raptor Emergency Fund, and tracking satellites. The SLT supports the EWT Large Raptor and Wildlife Poisoning Rapid Response programs. Singita Guides assist with rapid response to poisoning. SLT aims to offer secure habitats, contributing to the Vulture Safe Zone Alliance. www.ewt.org.za EWT Saving a Species: Vultures · Singita Lowveld Trust · Donate to the Singita Lowveld Trust · Saving a Species of Concern · Wildlife reports from Singita Sabi Sand · Vulture Day - Home · Singita website
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    32 mins

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