“As a proud South African business, we are committed to ensuring that every guest experience contributes to the long-term well-being of our region,” says Denis Goffinet, owner at Needles Safari Lodge, which is nestled in the Marloth Park conservancy on the southern boundary of Kruger National Park.
The lodge offers eight rooms, each with windows and a wooden deck overlooking the bush, where guests can watch wildlife such as warthogs, giraffe, zebra, kudu, wildebeest and impala move freely through the property. Daily game drives are also available. For dinner, guests gather around a communal table and indulge in meals made fresh from locally-sourced ingredients.
The road to responsibility
To achieve certification, the third-party auditor evaluated Needles Lodge against more than 180 criteria across the FTT principles (Fair Share, Fair Say, Respect, Reliability, Transparency, and Sustainability), through a process that included on-site staff and guest interviews, document reviews, and field inspections.
"The process has been a valuable journey for our team," shares Denis. "It gave us the opportunity to reflect on how we operate, formalise what we already do, and identify areas where we can improve. Most importantly, the certification process reinforced our commitment to looking after our staff, supporting our local community, and operating responsibly in a sensitive natural environment.”
Taking care of the community
In addition to providing a peaceful place for guests to break away from their busy lives, Needles Lodge’s commitment to responsible tourism also includes ensuring fair and safe working conditions, supporting staff development, and investing in local community initiatives.
The lodge is a member of The Code, upholding a strict zero-tolerance policy towards the sexual exploitation of children in tourism. This includes training staff to recognise and report risks, and creating safe spaces for children – through monthly financial and other donations to the Komati Care Centre, which helps the homeless and unsupervised children of Orlando.
And, in addition to sourcing from local suppliers, the lodge implements energy efficiency, waste management and water conservation.
A continuous commitment to credibility
FTT Certification is an ongoing commitment, with full re‐audits every three years to ensure continual alignment with the FTT Standard’s evolving benchmarks. “We invite accountability and open dialogue as part of our journey towards responsible tourism,” Denis concludes.
By choosing an FTT-certified member, guests help grow local economies, protect fragile ecosystems, and educate future generations.
For more information about Needles Safari Lodge, visit www.needleslodge.com or email denis@needleslodge.com
“As a proud South African business, we are committed to ensuring that every guest experience contributes to the long-term well-being of our region,” says Denis Goffinet, owner at Needles Safari Lodge, which is nestled in the Marloth Park conservancy on the southern boundary of Kruger National Park.
The lodge offers eight rooms, each with windows and a wooden deck overlooking the bush, where guests can watch wildlife such as warthogs, giraffe, zebra, kudu, wildebeest and impala move freely through the property. Daily game drives are also available. For dinner, guests gather around a communal table and indulge in meals made fresh from locally-sourced ingredients.
The road to responsibility
To achieve certification, the third-party auditor evaluated Needles Lodge against more than 180 criteria across the FTT principles (Fair Share, Fair Say, Respect, Reliability, Transparency, and Sustainability), through a process that included on-site staff and guest interviews, document reviews, and field inspections.
"The process has been a valuable journey for our team," shares Denis. "It gave us the opportunity to reflect on how we operate, formalise what we already do, and identify areas where we can improve. Most importantly, the certification process reinforced our commitment to looking after our staff, supporting our local community, and operating responsibly in a sensitive natural environment.”
Taking care of the community
In addition to providing a peaceful place for guests to break away from their busy lives, Needles Lodge’s commitment to responsible tourism also includes ensuring fair and safe working conditions, supporting staff development, and investing in local community initiatives.
The lodge is a member of The Code, upholding a strict zero-tolerance policy towards the sexual exploitation of children in tourism. This includes training staff to recognise and report risks, and creating safe spaces for children – through monthly financial and other donations to the Komati Care Centre, which helps the homeless and unsupervised children of Orlando.
And, in addition to sourcing from local suppliers, the lodge implements energy efficiency, waste management and water conservation.
A continuous commitment to credibility
FTT Certification is an ongoing commitment, with full re‐audits every three years to ensure continual alignment with the FTT Standard’s evolving benchmarks. “We invite accountability and open dialogue as part of our journey towards responsible tourism,” Denis concludes.
By choosing an FTT-certified member, guests help grow local economies, protect fragile ecosystems, and educate future generations.
For more information about Needles Safari Lodge, visit www.needleslodge.com or email denis@needleslodge.com