// Overview //
Sigma International & Partners Scale South Africa’s Sigma Tourism & Travel Green Lung Network
Sigma International, together with key ecosystem partners, proudly launched South Africa’s Sigma Tourism & Travel Green Lung at Vergelegen Wine Estate and is now extending the model to Brahman Hills as the second Green Lung. This complements the founding Western Cape site with a KwaZulu-Natal Midlands destination that strengthens the platform’s national footprint.
Vergelegen Wine Estate
Western Cape, South Africa- Original Green Lung launch destination
- Tourism green corridor and living ESG asset
- Linked to SMME carbon reduction legacy
- Designed for sector events, activations and visible impact
Brahman Hills
Hospitality & Wellness Estate • KZN Midlands- Established hospitality, wellness and events estate
- Second flagship Green Lung destination
- Extends the platform into KwaZulu-Natal
- Supports biodiversity restoration and regenerative tourism
// Green Lung Network Map //
Sites Across South Africa
Explore the Green Lung sites on the map.
Vergelegen Wine Estate
Lourensford Rd, Somerset West, Western Cape
The founding Green Lung site and reference destination for the national tourism-linked environmental legacy platform. Approximately 10 hectares committed, with access to a broader 2,000-hectare Vergelegen estate environment.
View on Google MapsBrahman Hills
Old Curry's Post Road, Nottingham Road, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
An established hospitality, wellness and events estate in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands — now also the second flagship Green Lung destination, extending regenerative tourism into the region.
View on Google MapsFuture Green Lung sites can be added as the model expands through tourism, corporate and ecosystem partnerships.
// Green Lung Context & Background //
What is the Sigma Tourism & Travel Green Lung?
The Sigma Tourism & Travel Green Lung connects biodiversity restoration, practical ESG participation and tourism-linked enterprise development. It creates places where partners, travellers and businesses can contribute to environmental restoration.
Strengthen Businesses
Build resilience, embed ESG, and support carbon-conscious tourism value chains.
Protect Ecosystems
Create jobs while protecting natural assets and making impact visible and lasting.
Inclusive Participation
Enable SMMEs to participate in sustainability-linked value chains and market access opportunities.
National Movement
Link sustainability, tourism growth, and economic inclusion into a scalable national model.
This initiative transforms the green agenda from a reporting exercise into a visible, living impact model that strengthens sector resilience and creates long-term legacy value.
// Why Multiple Sites Matter //
A Distributed Environmental Legacy Model
Each Green Lung site provides a place for restoration, tourism engagement and community participation. The network offers partners opportunities to support planting, local enterprise involvement and environmental learning.
- For destinations: stronger regenerative tourism positioning and visitor engagement.
- For corporates: practical ESG, reforestation and legacy planting opportunities.
- For SMMEs: access to sustainability-linked value chains and market activation.
// Why This Matters //
For Tourism, South Africa and the World
Tourism is one of the sectors most exposed to climate risk — but also one of the sectors best positioned to lead climate solutions. Recent environmental shocks, including flooding events impacting key tourism regions, reinforce the urgency for action.
- Creates a credible carbon reduction “home” for tourism businesses and travellers
- Supports sustainability commitments increasingly expected by global travellers
- Strengthens South Africa’s reputation as a responsible tourism destination
// Launch Site //
Why Vergelegen Remains the Founding Site
Vergelegen remains the founding Green Lung and symbolises the powerful connection between heritage and sustainability, tourism and environmental stewardship, economic growth and ecosystem protection. Its role now becomes even more important as the reference site for a broader national network. Anglo American Zimele remains a key existing partner of Sigma International.
Approximately 10 hectares committed, with access to a broader 2,000-hectare Vergelegen estate environment for long-term conservation, education and tourism-linked legacy activation. The committed footprint will evolve into:
// Powered by Partnerships //
ESD Experience, Now Integrated with ESG Delivery
This initiative reflects the evolution of over 23 years of ESD implementation experience — now fully integrated with ESG delivery. Together with partners including industry bodies, corporates and ecosystem leaders, the model demonstrates how ESD can deliver measurable environmental impact and how partnerships can create legacy assets beyond programme cycles.
Supported by / In partnership with
// Visible Impact //
Two Sites, Growing Nationally
As part of the tourism ESD legacy, tourism SMME carbon footprints were assessed and 488 trees have been planted or are committed for planting across the network — 463 at Vergelegen and 25 at Brahman Hills — supporting a measurable carbon reduction legacy linked to supported SMMEs. With Brahman Hills added as the second Green Lung, the platform can scale its environmental legacy across destinations, provinces and tourism value chains.
// What Happens Next //
Scaling the Model Nationally
- Expanding SMME participation across tourism value chains
- Partnering with corporates and travellers to co-fund impact programmes across Vergelegen, Brahman Hills and future Green Lung sites
- Linking Green Lung outcomes to carbon, climate and ESG reporting frameworks
- Scaling the model nationally through industry and ecosystem partnerships
// Our Commitment //
Sovereign Impact • Sustainable Growth • Shared Value Creation
The Sigma Tourism & Travel Green Lung reflects Sigma International’s long-term commitment to building resilient sectors, strengthening small businesses, and protecting the natural assets that make South Africa globally competitive.
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