In short, our goals are to to help nature flourish, while minimising our negative environmental impact.
Let Nature Flourish
We chose the site for Rainbow Lodge because the land had already been cleared. Building here allowed us to protect the area and help it heal. Since we opened in 2007, a young forest has grown up around us. Wildlife has returned and it’s flourishing.
Reduce Our Environmental Impact
We believe we are having a net positive effect on our local environmental. We try to keep negative impact as small as possible. For example:
- We run on solar power, which is always enough in the dry season. In addition, we are working on a mini-hydro system to improve power in the rainy season.
- We avoid single-use plastics wherever we can.
- Our drinking water is filtered on site and is provided to guests in jugs.
- We pack tour food in reusable containers, and take-away food in biodegradable boxes from Only One Planet
- We use biodegradable bin liners from cleanbodia, and eco-friendly toiletries from Kambio Nature
Inspire and Educate Guests
We are always learning about the plants and animals around Rainbow Lodge. Gee even discovered two new insect species right here:
Gee and Phearom often share their knowledge and enthusiasm with guests. When someone feels uneasy about local wildlife, we help to ease their concerns by explaining animal behaviour. Many guests appreciate our passion and insights. We also talk about the threats facing wildlife, and what we are doing to help protect it.
Regrow Native Hardwood Trees
In 2023, we began planting native hardwood trees, starting with 100 saplings, followed by 200 more in 2024. Guests generously donated the funds and even helped us plant them. We aim to expand our tree planting into the nearby nature reserve.
Protect the Adjacent Nature Reserve
Unfortunately, people sometimes set illegal wildlife snares in the jungle near to Rainbow Lodge, even though it is part of Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary. During our treks, we keep watch and report any snares to the local protection agency. When we are running frequent jungle tours, there are almost no traps near the paths we use. In contrast, after not using the trails for two years, due to COVID-19, we found around 200 snares.
We want to have a bigger impact. Therefore, we are seeking funds to pay for wildlife scouts. They would be able to patrol a larger area, more frequently than us. In addition, we hope to purchase a number of trail cameras so we can better understand the animals living in the forest.