Kwendalo nominated for prestigious Skål Award
Kwendalo is pleased to announce their nomination in the Skål International 2025 Sustainable Tourism Awards. This year’s awards have shattered all previous years, receiving an impressive 106 entries from 30 different countries, clearly demonstrating a burgeoning global commitment towards sustainable tourism and responsible practices.
In addition to recognising outstanding initiatives, the awards are bolstered by the support of prestigious partners. UN Tourism continues its exemplary role in amplifying the message of sustainable tourism by providing global platforms for showcasing winning projects. Meanwhile, Biosphere Tourism along with the Responsible Tourism Institute, partners since 2018, present the ‘Skål/Biosphere Sustainable Special Award’, which awards each winner with a one-year free subscription to the Biosphere Sustainable platform. This platform enables winners to craft their own tailored Sustainability Plan, symbolising a commitment to continual improvement and excellence. Furthermore, Sustainable Travel International joins forces with Skål International to bring these awards closer to the international tourism community and to turn the goal of recognising sustainability into reality.
Kwendalo has been nominated in the Social and Educational Programmes category for the shining work that they have done in launching the Harmony Project in South Africa, specifically their work with the staff and learners at Bahia Formosa School, the first international Harmony Accredited School in the world.
Kwendalo is a visionary regenerative farm and integrated wellness destination in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Inspired by the isiXhosa word meaning “of nature,” it is committed to real sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and human wellbeing through regenerative practices, education, and community engagement.
Kwendalo’s goal is to pioneer an innovative model for holistic wellness, nature-based education, and sustainability. The brand’s guiding theme of ‘Nature – Nurture – Nourish’ connects all its activities to six key dimensions of wellness. Dr. Cavill has personally funded the initiative to serve as a working prototype, including the Kwendalo Institute, the education, research and training arm of the organisation.
Kwendalo Institute’s programmes include The Harmony Project, Nature Referrals (NRx), and nature-based graduate programmes. The Kwendalo Foundation has since been established to attract support from CSR initiatives, philanthropists, and other funders interested in enhancing youth education and promoting natural approaches to adult wellbeing.
Each element of Kwendalo’s business model is interconnected and contributes to its broader wellness mission. For the purposes of the Skål Education and Social Activities Award, the focus covers the outcomes of The Harmony Project at Bahia Formosa School and the Kwendalo’s related sustainability learning activities.
Engagement with Bahia Formosa School laid the foundation for The Harmony Project’s implementation. Concurrently, Dr. Matthew Zylstra, Programme Coordinator for the Kwendalo Institute, began developing Nature Referrals (NRx) – a nature-based social prescribing model for South Africa. Partnerships have also been established with Stellenbosch University and Wageningen University in The Netherlands to develop graduate-level programmes.
Kwendalo was initiated in late 2019 when Dr. John Cavill acquired Rietvlei Country Estate – a 16-hectare family-run equestrian centre. Due to the onset of Covid-19 in early 2020, development of Kwendalo’s new vision for the land was limited to efforts such as securing permissions to repurpose buildings and initiating land restoration due to poor soil quality and low biodiversity. From early 2021, development resumed. The former Groom’s House was transformed into a Wellness Centre and Green Café, accompanied by a yoga studio. Existing guest units were refurbished into The Manor, offering six 4-star self-catering suites. A natural water purification system was introduced alongside restoring three dams for irrigation and wildlife.
An unused warehouse was repurposed into The Harmony Centre, home of the Kwendalo Institute’s operations, education and event activities, as well as offices for the Kwendalo Gardens team. The various buildings all now feature advanced BlueShield technology to protect staff and visitors from ambient EMF radiation.
Between 2020 and 2021, the menage was converted into the Market Garden, while several paddocks became the Chakra Garden. A medicinal herb garden with multilingual signage was also developed to support educational initiatives. These gardens supply fresh produce and herbs for the Green Café and local community via a Wednesday Market stall and onsite Farm Shop. Honey from Kwendalo’s apiary is also sold. Kwendalo formally opened in 2022.
In early 2024, Kwendalo built its first bird hide in partnership with Birdlife Plettenberg Bay, followed by a second later that year. Bird sightings on the farm have risen to over 120 species, including rarities. Kwendalo is now a registered Birdlife South Africa GoBirding destination, offering expert-led birding tours, ringing workshops, wellness therapies, and accommodation. A natural swimming pool was added as part of the broader natural regeneration initiative.
2024 also saw the launch of several new events. Kwendalo hosted the first Plett Bitou Birding Festival and served as a venue for local artists during the Plett Arts Festival. In November, it held its first international wellness retreat for a visiting group from California, who brought their own yoga and pilates instructors, supporting the goal of extending the local tourism season.
International research collaborations also expanded, with the Kwendalo Institute hosting its first intern from Wageningen University (NL) and leading the South African Resilience Academy’s working group on Human-Nature Connectedness, hosted by the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University. In 2025, the Institute launched its first short-form graduate course, “Rewilding for Resilience”.
The conversion of the Long Barn at the Stables began, transforming it into a 450 m² flexible venue – one of the largest on the Garden Route. Designed for events such as up to 500-seat conferences, theatre productions, weddings, art gallery, farmer’s market and pop-up restaurants, it includes an adjoining event kitchen that will double as a cookery school for learners of all ages. Senior staff have also received health and safety training to support the venue’s future use.
Learn more on www.kwendalo.com.
