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.

Repurposing Resources

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. 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.

Lodge Water Recycling and Saving 

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. Here, we support SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, as well as SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, in terms of water resources management.

Namibian Sunshine for Solar Energy

In 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. By investing in solar energy, we also invest in SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

Responsible Waste Recycling

In partnership with Rent-a-Drum, waste from Gondwana lodges across the country are 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.  

Partnerships for the Planet

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 utilize a naturally safe and sustainably produced fertilizer, which is produced by harnessing the Black Solder 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.