Kenyan Couple Awarded the Most Sustainable Airbnb Hosts in Africa

Christian Lambrechts and Jane Wangui have been recognized for their exceptional achievement in creating the most environmentally sustainable Airbnb facility in Africa.

The couple dedicated to conservation hail from Timau, Meru in Kenya. The prestigious award ceremony took place on Monday evening in the vibrant city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Christian and Jane's eco-friendly accommodation exemplifies a commitment to educating visitors about sustainable practices in utilizing natural resources. It all started with the couple striving to establish a self-sustaining countryside, away from the commotion, without any intentions of hosting visitors.

Under little deliberation, however, they soon realised that opening the doors to guests could amplify the positive impact of their sustainability project. In her acceptance statement, Jane said that she was motivated to become a host to demonstrate how a home can be carefully constructed and designed to have a limited impact on the environment. The modest but charming cabin on their site is entirely powered by solar panels and boasts an inventive rainwater harvesting unit.

In order to minimize ecological disturbance, every aspect of the architectural blueprint was devised meticulously and made only of long-lasting timber sourced exclusively from renewable commercial plantations. As part of their dedication to environmental conservation, the couple has taken on the task of planting over 8,000 trees and aloes to prevent soil erosion, alongside 140 bee colonies to support the ecosystem. Jane stresses her staunch belief in minimizing the harmful impact on the environment, warranting the title of ‘superhost’ on Airbnb for educating her guests about sustainable practices within her accommodation.

Jane finds great joy in knowing that her home has inspired others to make positive changes in their own lives. In fact, some guests have even expressed their intention to replicate the eco-friendly practices they learned during their stay at the cottage which brings her a great sense of fulfilment.