Whale Huys Eco Villa
A thatched, solar powered self-catering villa above Walker Bay with some of the best land based whale watching in the world.
Google reviews
Google rating · 4.7/5 · 26 reviews
Stored Google rating; this is separate from the Accommodation Eco Score or Throne Score. The current Google rating may have changed.
Read reviews on Google MapsAbout Whale Huys Eco Villa
Environmental evidence and weighted assessment
2.4/5 Accommodation Eco Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 36.3%
Green flags
- Energy and climate, level 3/4.
The sustainability page lists solar panels supplying most electricity with battery backup, solar geysers, LED lighting throughout, A-rated appliances and an induction hob.
Source · 2026-10-29 - Water, level 3/4.
Low flow taps are fitted and grey water is harvested for the garden.
Source · 2026-10-29
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature, biodiversity and regeneration | 30% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as being surrounded by nature | 7.5 / 30 points | The sustainability page makes a general claim about not disturbing the surrounding fynbos and names a guest-sponsored tree planting partner, but no protected area or measured outcomes. “We do all we can to not disturb this natural environment, and encourage our guests to do the same.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Energy and climate | 15% | 3/4 · Several systems, such as on site renewables plus at least 80% LED lighting, natural ventilation and metered monitoring; the stay's own vehicles and boats count here | 11.25 / 15 points | The sustainability page lists solar panels supplying most electricity with battery backup, solar geysers, LED lighting throughout, A-rated appliances and an induction hob. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Water | 10% | 3/4 · Several systems, such as rain harvesting plus wastewater treatment and reuse plus low flow fittings | 7.5 / 10 points | Low flow taps are fitted and grey water is harvested for the garden. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Waste and plastic | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Food, farming and sourcing | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Buildings, heritage reuse and land use | 15% | 2/4 · One specific practice, such as a historic building reused, local natural materials, or passive cooling design | 7.5 / 15 points | The thatch roof regulates temperature passively and the deck is made from recycled material. Source · 2026-10-29 |
| Measurement, transparency and certification | 5% | 2/4 · Specific practices, systems and named suppliers published | 2.5 / 5 points | The sustainability page lists specific systems including solar power, solar geysers, LED lighting and low flow taps, with no certificate or measured data. “Solar panels supply most of our electricity Grid-link and battery back-up mean the lights stay on even during load shedding.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Accommodation Eco Score weights: Nature, biodiversity and regeneration 30%, Energy and climate 15%, Water 10%, Waste and plastic 10%, Food, farming and sourcing 15%, Buildings, heritage reuse and land use 15%, Measurement, transparency and certification 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years. Guest travel is not scored; everyone gets there how they can.
Purity, what touches your body
1.4/5 Purity Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 10%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water you drink and bathe in | 25% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 25 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Food on your plate | 20% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 20 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Grounds and pest control | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only | 3.75 / 15 points | The sustainability page says mosquito nets replace chemical repellents, but gives no land management or spray policy. “Mosquito nets remove the need for chemical insect repellants” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Cleaning, laundry and fragrance | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as eco friendly products | 3.75 / 15 points | The sustainability page claims eco-friendly soaps and cleaning products without naming any. “Only eco-friendly soaps, shampoos & cleaning products” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Linen, towels and mattresses | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Air and quiet | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Pool and bathing water | 5% | 2/4 · Optimised chlorine dosing, saltwater chlorination or supplementary ozone or UV treatment | 2.5 / 5 points | The home page lists a solar-heated salt-water infinity pool, which is saltwater chlorination. “GOURMET KITCHEN SOLAR-HEATED SALT-WATER INFINITY POOL FRIENDLY TO WELL-BEHAVED PETS” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Purity Score weights: Water you drink and bathe in 25%, Food on your plate 20%, Grounds and pest control 15%, Cleaning, laundry and fragrance 15%, Linen, towels and mattresses 10%, Air and quiet 10%, Pool and bathing water 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
People, ownership, work and community
1.3/5 People Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 7.5%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership and control | 30% | 1/4 · Ownership stated without detail | 7.5 / 30 points | The home page names the owners as a Dutch and American couple who bought the villa in 2014, so foreign ownership caps this at level 1. “Whale Huys self catering accommodation was lovingly created by Bruce and Eelco, a Dutch/American couple” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Local work and fair pay | 25% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 25 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Community benefit | 20% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 20 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Access to beach and land | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Culture and heritage | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. People Score weights: Ownership and control 30%, Local work and fair pay 25%, Community benefit 20%, Access to beach and land 15%, Culture and heritage 10%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
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Collected research sources
These source pages were captured on 2026-10-02. Capturing a page does not establish a rating or verify its claims. Only the reviewed pillar evidence above earns assessment points. Missing findings remain unavailable.
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