Green Practices
Our Investments in Sustainable Operations
Our Investments in Sustainable Operations
Guided by Gondwana’s Sustainability philosophy, our operations are envisaged to leave minimal environmental impact while promoting a circular economy. From repurposing material and using renewable resources during property construction to resource disposal, we invest in practices and partnerships that benefit the planet.
Across Gondwana properties, it is standard practice to repurpose and transform on-site material before procuring alternative materials. This includes repurposing materials such as wood and metal from old infrastructure into new items.
During the construction of Etosha King Nehale and The Desert Grace, previous material remnants from construction were repurposed from the surrounding environment.
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For example, the walkways at The Desert Grace were constructed using crushed glass, which was sourced from other Gondwana properties and crushed on-site by a glass crusher. Over 200 tons of glass bottles were repurposed!
At Gondwana’s private nature parks, such as Gondwana Kalahari Park and Gondwana Canyon Park, wildlife waterholes were also constructed using crushed glass. This allowed for further repurpose of glass bottles as we opted for recycling the resources already at our disposal, while averting the carbon dioxide emissions associated with cement production.
At Etosha King Nehale, the main buildings were constructed using sandbags that were filled on-site, as this natural building material has remarkable sound and thermal insulation qualities.
Through these repurposing practices, Gondwana contributes to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, which promotes resource recycling, waste minimisation, and efficient use of resources.
To recycle used freshwater and reduce reliance on Namibia’s limited freshwater resources, 90% of Gondwana’s lodges are equipped with waste water treatment plants, where used freshwater is purified and reused on the lodge gardens. If a lodge does not have a garden, such as at The Desert Grace in the Namib desert, recycled water recharges the underground aquifer system.
In Namibia, freshwater resources are scarce and rainfall is unreliable, which calls for sustainable water management practices to benefit people, the environment, and the economy.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation · SDG 12In efforts to be self-sufficient, we harness Namibia’s abundant sunshine. Gondwana lodges are equipped with solar panels with the only exceptions being Zambezi Mubala Camp, The Delight Swakopmund, and The Weinberg Windhoek.
Lodges produce up to 53% of their energy from solar, and six of Gondwana’s lodges operate 100% on solar energy.
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean EnergyIn partnership with Rent-a-Drum, waste from Gondwana lodges across the country is recycled and disposed of in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Lodges are encouraged to avoid and eliminate single-use plastics; this practice is further enhanced as lodges utilise their own garden produce instead of store-sourced produce which comes in plastic packaging.
Gondwana has partnered with numerous like-minded organisations that recycle and transform resources in environmentally sustainable ways. From all Gondwana properties, used cooking oil is recycled into biofuel by BEE Biofuel Namibia.
Used engine oil is also collected and recycled by OilTech Namibia into firelighters, which our lodges purchase again. Electronic waste from properties, including computers, cables, and batteries, is recycled with NamiGreen.
In sustainable agriculture, Gondwana’s Self-Sufficiency Centre (SSC) at Kalahari Farmhouse near Stampriet supplies all Gondwana properties with organic meat and lodges have self-sufficiency gardens to cater for their basic fruit and vegetable needs. At Damara Mopane Lodge, each guest room has its own vegetable garden, which supplies 80% of the lodge’s required produce.
At Namib Desert Lodge and Canyon Lodge, netted tunnels cultivate herbs, tomatoes, lettuce and cabbage, and an aquaponics tank provides Zambezi Mubala Lodge with herbs and lettuce. With self-sufficiency gardens, lodges can reduce carbon emissions and plastic from store-sourced packaging and transport. We also utilise a naturally safe and sustainably produced fertiliser, which is produced by harnessing the Black Soldier Fly’s composting capabilities.
Through these practices and partnerships that focus on sustainability, notwithstanding Gondwana’s nature conservation initiatives, we strive in contribution to SDG 13: Climate Action, which is a goal significant to conserving Namibia’s people and ecologically sensitive landscapes.
During the past years our sustainability efforts at the lodges have been repeatedly acknowledged with the highest seal of quality awarded by the environmental initiative, Eco Awards Namibia. Similar to the star-rating system used for tourist accommodations, Eco Awards Namibia awards up to five flowers for environmental sustainability.
Categories include conservation and guiding, energy, water, legal compliance as well as employee management and health, amongst others. Participation in the Eco Awards is voluntary, and the accommodation is re-evaluated every three years.
Five flowers: the highest rating Eco Awards Namibia gives
2020 was the fifth consecutive year that a Gondwana Collection Namibia property has reached the final round of the Responsible Tourism Awards (RTA) and the second time to win the award.
Canyon Village scooped the prestigious award in the Accommodation Establishment category.
Namib Desert Lodge was the winner and set new standards by achieving the maximum score (100%) in terms of conservation and guiding, energy, water, staff and health, legal and NTB compliance.
The Responsible Tourism Awards, initiated by Namibia Media Holdings (NMH), aim to acknowledge tourism companies that practise eco-tourism and invest in the local communities where they operate.
Sustainability is Gondwana’s guiding philosophy, with its pillars rooted in people, planet, and partnerships. In a country where tourism drives significant revenue and many rural communities rely on natural resources for sustaining livelihoods, these three pillars unite to create an inclusive, sustainable model that benefits and stimulates communities, nature, and Namibia’s economy.
Gondwana’s sustainability philosophy promotes ethical travel, truly affording guests the opportunity to invest in travel experiences that prioritise social, cultural, and environmental responsibility. At our lodges, sustainability initiatives are implemented as we intertwine eco-tourism with exceptional hospitality experiences, and we invite guests to join us on our sustainability journey.
As a guest, you can support Gondwana’s sustainability initiatives in various ways. From adopting a Quiver tree to adhering to Namibia’s national laws surrounding biodiversity conservation, guests have a myriad of ways in which they can champion regenerative and conscious travel in Namibia, and beyond.
Gondwana’s Adopt-a-Quiver Tree project in Gondwana Canyon Park promotes ecosystem restoration, as indigenous trees are re-introduced into the park to strengthen existing, but dwindling, Quiver tree populations.
By adopting a Quiver tree, you can do your part in protecting the delicate ecosystems of the Fish River Canyon landscape, which are at risk from climate change, and aid in upholding its beauty and biological importance for generations to come. Read more about how you can support Gondwana’s Adopt-a-Quiver Tree project here.
Numerous Gondwana lodges are situated in communal conservancies and operate under legal business contracts with conservancy partners, which ensures that local communities benefit equitably from revenue generated by lodges.
These surrounding communities offer enriching cultural heritage tours and activities for guests – immerse yourself in their local traditions and cuisine, while supporting community development and cultural preservation. Inquire about cultural heritage activities on offer at our lodges, and support community-based tourism during your stay with us.
Gondwana’s lodges are situated in Namibia’s most breathtaking yet ecologically sensitive landscapes. Thus, efficient use and management of resources is essential in ensuring the long-term viability and beauty of these landscapes.
Throughout our lodges, keep an eye out for our Green Hands signage, which provide guidelines for guests on how they can be resource efficient when it comes to water, energy, and waste.
Due to the remote nature of the majority of Gondwana’s lodges, guests are afforded the opportunity to unwind in a beautiful natural landscape – which is also the place that local fauna and flora call home. A few of Gondwana’s Collections are also located in Gondwana’s private nature parks: the Namib Collection in Gondwana Namib Park, the Kalahari Collection in Gondwana Kalahari Park and the Canyon Collection in Gondwana Canyon Park. We therefore encourage guests to be mindful of fauna and flora which they are likely to encounter at Gondwana’s lodges and in-park, by considering these guidelines:
The impact of sustainability initiatives is amplified as guests support local nature conservation and community-based tourism activities, use resources efficiently, and honour fauna, flora, and landscapes. This impact may not be immediately visible in surrounding ecosystems but has a strengthening and relieving effect on them, stabilising their intricate connections and ability to thrive amidst changing climatic conditions.
In this way, communities are empowered through sustainable environmental management, and guests can truly champion ethical travel as they leave a positive impact and support fellow communities, nature, and economic development during their travels.
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Guests at our lodges always marvel at the appetising buffets with large selections of fresh salads and delicious meat products. Our secret is the Gondwana Self-Sufficiency Centre (SSC). It is a farming operation which includes greenhouses as well as its own on-site butchery and smokehouse.
The SSC near the village Stampriet forms part of the Kalahari Farmhouse, one of the smaller Gondwana lodges. Owing to the ready supply of water by a multi-layered aquifer system, Stampriet is the perfect location for the SSC. From here all of Gondwana’s accommodation establishments are supplied with organic meat.
Furthermore, all Gondwana lodges are encouraged to establish self-sufficiency gardens to cater for their basic fresh fruit and vegetable needs. The size and design of the garden depends on the property. At Damara Mopane Lodge, each guest room has its own vegetable garden, which supplies 80% of the lodge’s required produce.
Namib Desert Lodge and Canyon Lodge have netted tunnels where herbs, tomatoes, lettuce and cabbage are grown. Zambezi Mubala Lodge has an aquaponics tank for supplying guests with herbs and lettuce. Thus, the lodges can reduce the carbon footprint that comes with store-bought vegetables’ packaging and transport.
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Solar Energy for Lodges and Camps in Namibia
Energy Efficiency Initiatives
We are committed to creating a sustainable and eco-friendly environment for our guests and the planet. Our energy efficiency initiatives are designed to reduce our carbon footprint while providing you with a comfortable and memorable stay.
We closely monitor electricity consumption at our lodges. Each lodge reports its daily electricity usage and generator readings to an online, live and interactive platform, so potential faults or excess usage can be detected and addressed promptly. Our standard for lighting across all properties is energy-efficient options such as LED bulbs, daylight-switching and motion-sensor lights, alongside low-energy equipment like heat pumps instead of conventional geysers.
At our properties, rooms are fitted with eco-friendly and energy-efficient appliances that deliver high performance with low energy consumption. From refrigerators to air conditioning units, we choose appliances that support our sustainability goals and minimise our environmental impact.
With Namibia’s abundant sunshine, Gondwana Collection Namibia has harnessed solar energy to power its lodges, contributing to a more sustainable future for the tourism industry. To date, 85% of our lodges are equipped with solar panels, six properties run entirely on solar power, and 53% of the energy produced at our lodges comes from the sun.
Since 2018, Gondwana has equipped its lodges with solar infrastructure in partnership with SolarSaver – the only exception being Zambezi Mubala Camp.
Solar has allowed Gondwana to mitigate the unreliable energy supply from the national grid operated by NamPower, and to cushion itself from increases in NamPower tariffs. Excess power generated by the lodges is fed into the national grid, contributing to the overall energy mix.
The urban hotels, The Weinberg Windhoek and The Delight Swakopmund, have also embraced green energy. While both rely on grid power, The Delight uses solar panels to supplement its hot water supply, further reducing its environmental impact.
Since the SolarSaver plants were installed, Gondwana has saved over N$4.13 million (2022: N$2.98 million) – proof of the long-term viability of renewable energy. Our goal remains to supply most of our energy from our own solar generation, further reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
In partnership with SolarSaver, we monitor solar production and usage at every lodge, including our environmental impact – the carbon dioxide, oil barrels and trees saved by opting for solar power. We are also exploring innovative solutions like green hydrogen and other green energy sources, propelling progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.
Gondwana’s total energy usage has risen steadily with the growth of its operations – from 3,071,117 kWh in 2021 to 3,694,802 kWh in 2022 and 4,143,248 kWh in 2023, with a target of 4,200,000 kWh for 2024.
Over the same period, energy used per person per day fell from 15 kWh to 12 kWh, with a target of 10 kWh for 2024. That reduction shows our commitment to optimising energy consumption while welcoming more visitors.
Solar production at our lodges has grown every year – and so have the savings in oil, carbon and trees.
The production of solar energy has been a key focus for Gondwana. In 2021 our lodges generated 1,913 MWh of solar energy, rising to 2,061 MWh in 2022 and 2,131 MWh in 2023, with a target of 2,200 MWh for 2024.
Every megawatt-hour the sun provides is one that doesn’t come from fossil fuels – reducing our carbon footprint and our operating costs at the same time.
2023 figures are projections as published; 2024 targets are 2,300 tonnes of CO₂, 1,400 barrels of oil and 6,200 trees.
Every lodge running on solar reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and our carbon footprint.
Live monitoring, energy-efficient appliances and continuous improvement across our operations.
We set out to source 50% of lodge energy from solar by 2021, rising to 80% by 2023.
Success measured not just in financial terms, but in our positive impact on the planet and local communities.
Our commitment to sustainability shows in the eco-friendly appliances at all our lodges, where energy-efficient settings are standard – a sign of our lodge teams’ understanding of, and dedication to, eco-practices.
Energy-efficient LED bulbs light our guest rooms, communal areas, kitchens and laundries, and our eco-friendly appliances include microwaves, washing machines and tumble dryers – maximising their benefits while minimising consumption in our most energy-hungry operations.
Walk-in cooler rooms and freezers have strictly regulated access and reminder signs to keep doors closed, holding temperatures steady. Some lodges use traditional cooler rooms, like wine cellars: thick, spaced brick walls packed with insulation such as charcoal or newspaper. At Chobe River Camp, water trickles down the outer walls into the insulation, and the airflow through the bricks cools the room inside.
New energy-efficient technology introduced across our properties from 2023.
At Palmwag Lodge and Camp, old electrical geysers are being replaced with hybrid solar-powered heat pumps.
A centralised, solar-powered hot water supply system serves the new employee bathrooms.
Energy-saving ice-making machines optimise functionality and energy use in our kitchens and bars.
A dedicated cleaning system keeps air conditioners running efficiently, using less energy for the same comfort.
Additional solar infrastructure and optimised energy management reduce our reliance on NamPower during peak hospitality hours.
We are exploring green hydrogen and other green energy sources to further enhance our sustainability efforts.
Gondwana Collection Namibia’s commitment to green energy and energy efficiency sets a benchmark for the tourism industry in Namibia. By embracing renewable energy, we reduce our environmental footprint and generate savings that can be reinvested into our operations and community development initiatives.
As we continue to introduce new energy-efficient technologies, we aim to show that tourism can lead the way in sustainable practice – contributing to a greener, more prosperous Namibia where tourism and conservation coexist for the benefit of all.
Solar installations and energy initiatives at Gondwana lodges across Namibia.
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