The five-star Hotel Izulu, considered the jewel of KwaZulu-Natal's North Coast, and the only member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux in the area, celebrated its fourth birthday in September by making a solid commitment to operating in a greener, more eco-friendly environment. The hotel unveiled an Orangery, an organic herb and vegetable garden and a wormery, all of which are proving to be great successes.

The Orangery, overlooking the Indian Ocean, has been planted in the new landscaped garden with a range of citrus trees surrounded by numerous water features. Topiary is a prominent element of the garden, which creates a place for relaxation and reflection for guests. Designed to be wheel-chair friendly the paths will encourage exploration of the whole garden where extensive signage will explain exactly what is being cultivated.

Designed by landscape gardener Rene van der Westhuizen of Cape Town-based Viridian Consulting, the herb and vegetable garden is already successfully providing a daily supply of fresh organic vegetables for use in GiGi's restaurant under the direction of celebrated Executive Chef Floris Smith.

The elegant à la carte restaurant has also created a special fourth birthday menu, which enhances its famed South African and classical dishes to a more modern and health-oriented style.

General Manager Keith Macvicar says: "This is only the first phase of going green, we intend taking the property to another level where eco-friendly procedures will further enhance our high levels of five-star hospitality."

The principle source of food for the garden is the output from the 'wormery'.

Worm composting, or vermi composting, is the process of using earthworms to break down kitchen and garden waste, to create faster than normal composting. Compared to ordinary soil, the earthworm castings (the material produced from the digestive tracts of worms) contain five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus and 11 times more potassium. They are rich in humic acids and improve the structure of the soil. Due to its success it is soon to be extended to cater for much higher volumes.

Hotel Izulu has gained a sterling reputation over the past four years as a private retreat to many local and Hollywood celebrities due to its location, high levels of service and its celebrated Impilo Beauty Spa.

The treatments provided are of exactly the same standard as those offered by a Clarins Gold Status Spa in Paris or Switzerland. Guests are presented with a wish list of unique and restorative facials and advanced skin therapies by a team of dedicated professionals. The spa is a place of enlightenment where holistic rejuvenation combines with the warmth of the tropical sun and the joy of the Indian Ocean.

For more information and to book online, visit http://iafrica.safarinow.com/go/HotelIzulu/

To celebrate Hotel Izulu's fourth birthday, we're giving away a fabulous weekend away for two people, valued at R6400!

To stand a chance of winning all you have to do is enter your details below!

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Competition rules
  • The prize consists of two nights' bed-and-breakfast accommodation for two people sharing an Executive Suite.
  • 2 x one-hour stress relief massages at the award-winning Impilo Beauty Spa.
  • Transport to Hotel Izulu and any other costs not mentioned above are not included in the prize and will be for the prize-winner's account.
  • The prize is valid until 24 April 2009, and is subject to availability.
  • One completed entry per person, per competition.
  • Winners will be contacted by email or telephone and announced on the iafrica.com site.
  • The prizes cannot be exchanged for cash.
  • The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Closing date: 23 October 2008