The Dunes Country House is a four-star country house based in the Eastern Cape’s beautiful seaside village of St. Francis Bay. This eco-tourism business is committed to preserving coastal fynbos and wetlands and facilitates a variety of initiatives to ensure that staff are treated fairly and local economic benefits are realised.

One of FTTSA’s key principles is Respect for Environment, which can be measured in relation to planning, operational management and investment in conservation activities. The Dunes Country House demonstrates a concerted effort in all of these areas, particularly through its involvement in the St. Francis Bay Conservancy’s ongoing alien eradication programme and other initiatives to protect delicate species and eco-systems. The Dunes’ alien eradication programme also provides all the firewood necessary for keeping staff and guests warm during the winter months.

The Dunes Country House invests in the surrounding area by buying local goods and supporting local enterprises like Henry’s Vegetable Garden. The Dunes has provided Henry – a local entrepreneur – with a small parcel of land to create a vegetable garden which is fertilised by The Dunes’ newly installed vermicomposter (worm farm). Henry provides The Dunes’ kitchen with home grown produce for staff and guests to enjoy. In addition, The Dunes’ kitchen aims to serve only “sustainable” seafood guided by the South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI).

The Dunes Country House offers an ongoing education programme about HIV/AIDS in various languages (English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa). As a further commitment to its staff, The Dunes invests in a broad range of skills development including chef training, spa therapy, First Aid, fire safety, recycling and training on conservation.