LAUNCHED PROJECTS
LUXURY LODGES INDONESIA
Driftwood Lodges have partnered with the NGO in North Sumatra island, Indonesia to bring ultra-luxury safari style lodges to this amazing part of the world. Indonesian rainforests are currently under huge threat from deforestation for palm oil, poaching and illegal activities. Tourism is a way to ensure the preservation of these large tracts of land and the vast array of wildlife that they currently hold. There is currently minimal tourism in these areas, and what little activities currently focus around low income/ high impact tourism that relies on large amounts of people going on budget trekking trips through the forest on foot to see specific species of animals. While this form of tourism is useful, the ecological damage caused by the large influx of people and minimal jobs created can cause more harm than good from an ecological and community standpoint. The ultra-luxury market would ensure high income/low impact tourism, which has been shown to do much less damage and be more sustainable for conservation. Driftwood is therefore building 4 lodges throughout this area under the Driftfree brand, to fill the current gap and create a sustainable tourism practice that ensures minimal impact for the forest and high impact for the communities thereby enabling conservation. Of these four properties; two will be based on the border of the Gunung Leuser Game Reserve in North Sumatra province, these 2 lodges will focus on allowing guests to see the critically endangered Sumatran Orangutan, as well as many other endemic mammal and bird species. The introduction of 2 high end luxury lodges will create direct employment for approximately 160 local people, ending their reliance on exploitation of the forest for survival and ensuring that this area is well protected.
These lodges incorporate a sweeping aerial walkway through the forest, ensuring that guests have a truly immersive experience to appreciate all factors of the forest and enjoy the variety of wildlife available. A third lodge will be on a 12 000ha private concession of land bordering the Kerinci Seblat National Park in West Sumatra province. This area is most notable for having the highest density of tigers in the world outside of India, and is the last remaining stronghold of the Sumatran tiger. Other keystone species are Sumatran Rhino, the smallest and most endangered rhino species, Sumatran elephant, sunbear, clouded leopard, golden cat, leopard cat, tapir and a myriad of other mammal, primate, bird and other species. With approximately 80 direct jobs for local people this lodge will create a huge impact on the local community ensuring that they too do not have to relay on the forest for survival, leading to the creation of a safe haven for these animals. The fourth lodge will be an island lodge based off the west coast of North Sumatra, near the city of Sibolga. An island lodge ensures that we are not just preserving the land but also the coral reefs and oceans surrounding Indonesia. The creation of this lodge will bring around 75 jobs to the local population, ensuring that income generated can minimize the affects of over fishing and create “no-take” zones so that the marine species can return to their natural numbers. The ultra luxury island lodge will create a circuit within Indonesia in which international travelers can move between the 4 lodges. All lodges are built using sustainable materials and building techniques, ensuring a minimal footprint for outstanding properties. The Driftfree model is one of innovative adventure tourism, based on creating unique and bespoke experiences for all guests in settings of unparalleled natural beauty. Dining is planned using different location to create moments tailored for the guests’ wants and needs during their stay while still maintaining a wildlife experience that is entirely singular. Activities on offer include guided drives (where available), guided walks, animal hides to wait for the animals in comfort, photographic tours, community tours, snorkeling, oceanic safaris and scuba diving on the islands, forest/ocean to table food experiences where guests learn how to sustainably utilize the abundance around them and create meals from this produce with the chef, being involved in conservation initiatives, a full spa at each lodge and many others. These lodges will set a new benchmark in luxury tourism, not just for Asia but worldwide.