{"id":8213,"date":"2019-02-06T15:32:05","date_gmt":"2019-02-06T15:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thongabeachlodge.co.za\/?page_id=8213"},"modified":"2024-02-08T16:17:21","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T14:17:21","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/isibindifoundation.org\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tour story\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ta journey with purpose\n\t\t<\/h1>\n\t

A 29 year legacy of conservation and communities<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tOur Story\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

The founders and owners of Isibindi Africa Lodges, Brett and Paige Gehren, both come from a strong conservation background. This family owned and run luxury safari, island and beach collection of wilderness lodges is positioned in exceptional ecosystems in Southern Africa. Twenty-nine years of pioneering sustainable wildlife lodges, that is built on the bedrock that they include and empower our neighbouring communities.<\/p>\t\t\n\t

“We aren’t just offering the safari of a lifetime, we’re offering a future”<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tOur mission statement\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

To partner our wilderness lodges and neighbouring communities with supportive rural programs in education, farming, child nutrition, health and employment through micro business support. We aim to uplift our communities by investing in resources and skills training, while emphasising the importance and value of conserving protected areas for future generations.<\/p>\n\t“Our natural responsibility,
\nJOURNEY WITH PURPOSE<\/strong>”\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tOur Vision\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

Our vision is to invest in our communities -to create human fences between our protected areas and neighbouring communities, allowing for the flow of benefits within the communities to prioritise conservation.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tOur Values\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

Integrity \u2022 Respect \u2022 Accountability and Transparency \u2022 Commitment \u2022 Responsibility<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t” Travel is powerful when it connects us to a purpose and a community.”\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t

– Tom Brown Jr.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tConnecting to our eco-conscious community\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

Our purpose drives us all at Isibindi Africa Lodges, and so we are commited to incorporating eco-conscious systems and initiatives wherever possible, this includes:<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t

Removing single use plastics which includes replacing plastic water bottles with a reusable bottle for each guest<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t

Investing in large solar energy farms<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t

Creating micro-economies in neighbouring communities to supply our lodges<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t

Recycling unused lodge food into feeding schemes for neighbouring creches<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t

Refusing to serve seafood that is not ethically harvested<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tour family\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tat the Isibindi Foundation\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t

The foundation family is committed to partnering our conservation authorities and communities to ensure our protected areas maximise their flow of benefits to our neighbouring community projects.<\/p>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"VUSI\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVusi Khanyile\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n

PATRON OF THE ISIBINDI FOUNDATION<\/h3>\n

The Isibindi Foundation is delighted to have current chairperson of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF),…<\/p>\n View Team Member about Vusi Khanyile<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Brett_Paige_rs\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPaige Gehren\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n

DIRECTOR AND MAIN TRUSTEE<\/h3>\n

Paige practiced as an Environmental Economist for 9 years working for the Bureau of Natural…<\/p>\n View Team Member about Paige Gehren<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"brett-gehren\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBrett Gehren\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n

TRUSTEE<\/h3>\n

Brett completed a B.Comm degree at Stellenbosch University, but his love for the outdoors soon…<\/p>\n View Team Member about Brett Gehren<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"20220209_130318_B&W_rs\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLuke Martin\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n

MANAGER OF THE ISIBINDI FOUNDATION<\/h3>\n

Luke attended St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg and then went on to complete his Bcomm…<\/p>\n View Team Member about Luke Martin<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Nunu-Jobe---Isibindi-Africa-Trails\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNunu Jobe\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n

TRUSTEE<\/h3>\n

Nunu Jobe, otherwise known as the rhino whisperer, hails from the Kwa-Jobe area in Northern…<\/p>\n View Team Member about Nunu Jobe<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Blessing-Mngomezulu-3\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBlessing Mngomezulu\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n

FOUNDATION MEMBER<\/h3>\n

Blessing was born in Mnyayiza and is one of Isibindi Africa’s first employees. Blessing’s journey…<\/p>\n View Team Member about Blessing Mngomezulu<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Rob\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRob Campbell\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n

TRUSTEE<\/h3>\n

Originally hailing from Underberg Rob is a passionate conservationist and fly fisherman. A Chartered Accountant,…<\/p>\n View Team Member about Rob Campbell<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"810A9481_Abe_SQBW_1920px_web\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAbednego Nzuza\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n

Project Coordinator<\/h3>\n

Abednego Nzuza, Project Coordinator at the Isibindi Foundation,\u00a0is a passionate conservationist who brings a wealth…<\/p>\n View Team Member about Abednego Nzuza<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNEWS + Blogs\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"810A8844_byChantelleMelzer-2_1920px\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tK9 Anti-poaching and World Ranger Day\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t31st July 2023\t\t\t\t\t\t\n READ STORY about K9 Anti-poaching and World Ranger Day<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"IF_Screenshot-2023-04-02-at-15.16.53-copy\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTravelling with Purpose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t3rd April 2023\t\t\t\t\t\t\n READ STORY about Travelling with Purpose<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Isibindi_Foundation_1920px-23_std_ratio\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSustainability at Isibindi\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t26th January 2023\t\t\t\t\t\t\n READ STORY about Sustainability at Isibindi<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tView All News Stories\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

our story a journey with purpose A 29 year legacy of conservation and communities Our Story The founders and owners of Isibindi Africa Lodges, Brett and Paige Gehren, both come from a strong conservation background. This family owned and run luxury safari, island and beach collection of wilderness lodges is positioned in exceptional ecosystems in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12061,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8213","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nOur Story - Isibindi Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A 29 year legacy of conservation and communities. 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