The Sun and Sun Ray Ratings

The Sun & Sun Ray Rating System ©

African Array has developed a unique and intricate rating system to assess the quality of safari experiences in Africa. The Sun & Sun Ray Rating System is a positive based rating system (not a typical grading) that provides an overall rating as well as various category ratings summarising all facets of a safari operation which includes lodging, facilities, quality of service, wildlife experience, and the unique aspects of an operation. Furthermore bonus scores are achieved by lodges actively involved in conservation work and social projects within their local communities.

There are a number of different gradings and accreditations currently in the industry such as the Fair Trade in Tourism accreditation, various ‘Green’ or ‘Eco’ certifications and the common hotel based ‘Star’ gradings. The Sun and Sun Ray Rating system will not replace the need for or dilute the relevance of any of these, but rather incorporates any certifications and accreditations a lodge has achieved into its rating and review. Review consultants do a full assessment of a lodge’s operation and lodges will still be accurately rated even if they have not been Star graded or Green certified. Thus, for instance, a lodge that takes part in energy conserving practises, recycling and water saving measures will still rate highly when it comes to human impact even if it doesn’t have a ‘green’ rating as such.

In addition there will be detailed ratings for each category rated on the basis of 1- 10 ‘Sun Rays’ - 10 Sun Rays being the highest and 1 being the lowest. These ratings will only be displayed on the website and in the annual review publication. The core categories are Lodge and Camp, Facilities, Service, Safari Experience, Unique Features, Social Involvement and Conservation Initiatives. In addition ratings will be assigned to other categories such as Value for Money, Children Friendly, Safety and Security, Culinary Experience, Romantic, Wedding Venue, and Photography Potential. Detailed wildlife ratings for Big 5, mammals, birds, trees and reptiles are also calculated based on diversity of species, animal densities, habituation, specialist species and so forth.

The overall rating can be summarised as a ‘Sun Rating’. Lodges, Camps and Reserves will be able to market themselves as a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 ‘Sun’ safari experience. This can be used in conjunction with a lodge’s Star grading. For instance an upmarket lodge with an excellent safari operation in place will be able to market itself as ‘5 Star, 5 Sun’, ‘5 Star, 4 Sun’ or ‘4 Star, 5 Sun’ operation. Exquisite lodges and operations that rate highly in all areas are awarded a ‘Premier’ or ‘Apex’ status.

Sun Ratings Breakdown

1 Sun	A very basic lodge or safari operation that offers guests a very limited nature experience. Lodges with overall Sun Ray ratings of less than 4.5 are awarded a 1 Sun status.
2 Suns	A basic or comfortable lodge or safari operation that offers guests a limited nature or safari experience. Lodges with overall Sun Ray ratings of 4.5 to 5.5 are awarded a 2 Sun status.
3 Suns	A basic, comfortable or luxurious lodge or safari operation that offers guests a reasonable safari or nature experience. Lodges in this bracket often offer a reasonable safari experience at affordable rates. Lodges with overall Sun Ray ratings of 5.5 to 6.5 are awarded a 3 Sun status.
4 Suns	A comfortable, luxury or ultra luxury lodge or safari operation that offers guests a good general safari or wilderness experience. The operation is of a high standard and the lodges are often contributing in some way to social upliftment and conservation initiatives in the local area. Lodges with overall Sun Ray ratings of 6.5 to 7.5 are awarded a 4 Sun status.
5 Suns	An exceptional lodge or safari operation that provides guests with a great safari or wilderness experience. The lodge is usually situated on a well developed and managed reserve and game viewing is excellent. Lodges are often actively involved in conservation initiatives or social upliftment programmes within their local communities. Lodges with overall Sun Ray ratings of 7.5 to 8.5 are awarded a 5 Sun status.
5 Sun ‘Premier’	Exceptional lodges, camps and safari experiences that provide superior levels of service and accommodation, whilst simultaneously offering a top end safari or nature experience. These lodges are usually particularly unique and most are positively involved in some way or other with conserving their local environment and improving the lives of local communities within the catchment area that the respective operation is based. In addition to a 5 Sun status lodges achieving an overall Sun Ray rating of 8.5 Sun Rays and above are awarded the illustrious ‘Premier’ distinction.
5 Sun ‘Apex’	Extraordinary lodges, camps and safari experiences that provide the highest levels of service and accommodation, whilst simultaneously offering the ultimate safari experience. In addition these lodges are notably unique and are actively involved in conserving their local environment and improving the lives of local communities within the catchment area that the respective operation is based. In addition to a 5 Sun status lodges achieving an overall Sun Ray rating of 9.0 Sun Rays and above are awarded the exclusive ‘Apex’ distinction.