The worm compost and tea are organic fertilisers for Aquila’s gardens, the veld regeneration project and the tunnels (soil rejuvenation). The earthworms eat cardboard, paper, fruit and vegetables and kitchen scraps. The earthworm farm has been manufactured out of recycled shipping containers. The fertilisers produced on site saves on fossil fuel, along with packaging and transport costs. The excess earthworm tea is sold in ARC’ shop for fundraising purposes. The earthworm tea is also used to supplement nutrients to ARC’s duckweed farm.
Eco Synergy Systems
Veld Regeneration Project / Alien Vegetation Removal: Thousands of non-indigenous trees were cut down and used to build Aquila’s thatch roofs. 2,000 indigenous trees have been planted in the veld to increase the “carrying capacity” of the land. Approximately 100 edible to game trees are planted monthly. At any stage, several hundred trees are tended to and prepared for planting at ARC. Compost from Aquila’s restaurant, horses, elephants and earthworms are organically used to fertilise our trees.
Aquila has for the past two years offered all visitors the opportunity to plant a tree in Africa as part of our Veld Regeneration Project.Aquila has been responding to the need for sustainable tourism over the last few years, before it became a talking point. We believe in ensuring our carbon footprint is minimal whilst offering our guests an African safari experience.
The re-introduction of safari game and the Big 5 to the Western Cape (buffalo, leopards, lion, elephants and rhino). Aquila is proud to have been the first game reserve to re-introduce the Big 5 (for the first time in 250 years, since they were shot out by colonial hunters).