safari net – follow up
Whether you are snorkelling over gardens of vibrantly-coloured reef coral or strolling on white powder sand beaches in the shade of swaying palms, interacting with the whimsical wonders of nature is part of what makes Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas such a blissfully calming resort. From the way the guest villas were designed and built around the island’s trees so that not one had to be cut down during its construction to the underwater restaurant that allows guests to dine in the company of the local marine life, it is clear that nature at Anantara Kihavah is respected and actively celebrated. As part of an ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental conservation, the resort has introduced two new green spaces to provide natural sanctuaries of calmness and serenity for its guests.
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL IN THE NALA ORCHID GARDEN
The local Maldivian word nala translates as “beautiful” and with approximately 1,200 orchids of 25 different varieties, the Nala Orchid Garden is certainly one of the most exotically beautiful locations in the whole of Anantara Kihavah Maldives. Guests can enjoy the garden at their leisure or take a guided tour with the resident Orchid Guru, who is always happy to share his wealth of knowledge about the different orchid varieties found at the resort and provide tips on how to grow and treat them.
Enveloped by the sweetly intoxicating scents from orchid varieties such as Cattleya, Dendrobium, and Mokara, the Nala Orchid Garden also presents a delightful setting in which to indulge in an elegant afternoon tea. Quite aside from the fairy-tale surroundings, guests are spoiled for choice with the finest tea, coffee, or champagne available with either Maldivian or English sweets.
EVERYTHING GROWN THE NATURAL WAY IN THE ORGANIC GARDEN
Verdantly lush and environmentally friendly, the Organic Garden at Anantara Kihavah Maldives is a green space in every sense of the phrase. More than just a nice place to enjoy nature, however, it is also a vegetable and herb garden, with some of the produce being used as ingredients in drinks and food served at the resort’s food and beverage outlets. If you time your visit to the Organic Garden just right, you may even be able to enjoy a refreshing glass of sugarcane juice from the garden.
Guests who are interested in learning more about organic gardening or who simply want to enjoy a scenic stroll through the lush garden can join the resort’s resident organic gardener for a guided tour as he shares fascinating details about the sustainable practices implemented.
For a more hands-on approach, guests can also join the resort’s ‘Spice Spoons’ cooking classes, which include a visit to the Organic Garden to learn about the garlic scapes, fennel, green chilli, Maldivian chilli, basil, spinach, green watergrass, red water grass, aloe vera leaf and any other ingredients used in the recipes they learn. Depending on the season and availability, guests may also be able to pick their own herbs and vegetables for their cooking class, a truly satisfying experience.
The new green spaces at Anantara Kihavah Maldives not only reaffirm its ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental conservation but underline just how much nature is celebrated in sanctuaries of calmness and serenity.