Giving back

Giving back

At Bua River Lodge, we’re mindful that we are guests in this beautiful Reserve and neighbors to the communities who have called it home for generations. We see ourselves as their partners, caring for this special place and ensuring it benefits both visitors and local alike.

From the start, we’ve worked closely with our neighbours. The Lodge was built with local materials and skills: 17,000 bundles of local reed just for our thatch, poles for all the builds, fish from the lake, tomatoes from local gardens, and honey from a village grandfather. Even the wood in our bathrooms tells a story—repurposed from trees brought down in storms or by elephants.

Every stay makes a difference. A portion of your booking supports African Parks, who manage the Reserve and run community projects like irrigation schemes, tree planting, and mushroom drying. Looking ahead, we at Bua are hoping to create a cooperative farm just outside the Reserve with the communities located there, safe from curious elephants and cheeky monkeys. This will provide fresh produce for our chef to get creative with, whilst also enriching local diets, and strengthen local food security.

We’re starting to explore collaborations with tree-planting initiatives and mentorship programs for local youth. This is just the beginning—and we’ll continue to share our journey with you as it unfolds.