Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate Strengthens Sustainability Commitment with Travelife Gold Certification
Walker Bay estate becomes one of the few South African wine and hospitality properties to secure the internationally recognised Travelife sustainability standard for its private villas
Hermanus, South Africa — Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, the award-winning wine estate set on the shores of the Bot River Lagoon in the Walker Bay Wine Region, is delighted to announce that its luxury villa collection has been formally awarded Travelife Gold Certification. The accreditation places the estate among an elite group of South African properties to meet the rigorous environmental, social and operational sustainability criteria set by Travelife, an internationally recognised sustainability certification scheme aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
The certification follows a comprehensive independent audit covering more than 150 sustainability criteria across energy and water management, waste reduction, biodiversity, supply-chain ethics, community engagement and guest communication. Benguela Cove’s villa offering — a portfolio of fully serviced, exclusive-use homes overlooking the lagoon and the estate’s working vineyards — was assessed against the same standards applied to leading hotels and lodges across Africa, Europe and Asia.
What This Means for UK and International Trade Partners
For UK tour operators, DMCs and travel advisors who are increasingly required by clients and corporate procurement teams to source verifiably sustainable accommodation, Benguela Cove’s certification provides clear, audited assurance. The estate can now be confidently positioned as a responsible-tourism destination for leisure clients, incentive groups, weddings and private buy-outs, with sustainability credentials that can be communicated directly to end consumers and corporate buyers.
Key sustainability initiatives recognised in the audit include:
- Lagoon and biodiversity stewardship — ongoing protection of the Bot River Lagoon ecosystem, including indigenous fynbos rehabilitation and partnership with local conservation bodies.
- Renewable energy and water efficiency — solar generation across estate operations, rainwater harvesting and active monitoring of consumption against published reduction targets.
- Local sourcing and community investment — prioritisation of suppliers from the Overberg region, employment and skills development for staff drawn predominantly from neighbouring communities.
- Waste reduction across villa operations — elimination of single-use plastics, structured recycling streams and a guest-facing sustainability programme delivered in-villa.
- Cellar and vineyard practice — sustainable viticulture under WIETA and IPW frameworks, complementing the estate’s wider environmental commitments.
Comment from the Founder
“We have always believed that luxury and responsibility must work hand in hand. Travelife Gold Certification is not a marketing exercise — it is an independent confirmation that every part of the villa experience at Benguela Cove, from how we source our wine and food to how we manage water and energy, has been built to a standard our UK and international partners can rely on. We want trade buyers and their clients to know that choosing Benguela Cove means choosing a property that is measurably contributing to the protection of one of the Cape’s most beautiful natural environments.”
— Penny Streeter OBE, Founder and CEO, A24 Group
About A24 Group
A24 Group is an international business founded and led by Penny Streeter OBE, with operations spanning healthcare staffing, luxury hospitality and wine. The group’s hospitality portfolio includes Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate in the Walker Bay Wine Region of South Africa, Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens and Leonardslee Family Vineyards in West Sussex, Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate in West Sussex, Cerf Sanctuary on Cerf Island in the Seychelles, and De Waterkant Studio in Cape Town. The group’s wine estates are connected by the “Follow the Swallow” brand narrative, with award-winning winemaker Johann Fourie crafting wines across both Benguela Cove and Leonardslee Family Vineyards.
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is a 200-hectare working wine estate set on the shores of the Bot River Lagoon, approximately 90 minutes from Cape Town and 15 minutes from Hermanus. The estate offers a luxury villa collection, the Moody Lagoon restaurant, cellar tours and tastings, lagoon cruises, vineyard activities and dedicated wedding and conference facilities. Benguela Cove wines are exported to the UK, USA and selected international markets.
Trade & Media Enquiries
Soné Kuhn, Travel Trade & Relationships Manager (South Africa)
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, Walker Bay
Marcus Leach, ML Representation — UK Trade Representative
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens | Mannings Heath
