How to Safari in Namibia: Tips to Keep a Low Impact on the Environment

Our climate is changing and people’s activities are a direct contribution. How can traveler’s to Namibia keep it a “green” Namibia? Travelers are of no exception, and many would argue are a leading cause because of the planes we take to get us to amazing destinations such as Windhoek, Namibia. Nevertheless, what they don’t know is how travelers act at home and at their destinations. Our goal, on safari in Namibia, is to have the lowest impact possible on the environment, leaving behind a minuscule carbon footprint, and doing everything possible to leave Namibia not the same, but better than it was before our arrival.

Resources in Namibia are precious as it is the only desert nation in the Sub-Saharan. Energy and water go hand in hand. Both resources are scarce and not easily come by in the Kalahari or Namib Deserts. Travelers to Namibia should be extra conscience about how they use these resources; especially water! Use only what you need. Think basic, think simple, and think small. You will be surprised at how little you actually need to wash your body, brush your teeth, and even wash your clothes. When showering, turn off the water when soaping, the same when brushing your teeth, and when washing your clothes, dispose your grey water over a garden or fruit tree. These simple practices will bring the desert alive.

When it comes to accommodation, do your best to stay at places which openly act upon eco-friendly practices. Throughout Namibia -from Windhoek, Swakopmund, to the far north of Kaokoland and Owamboland – accommodation places which are friendly to the environment can easily be found. Namibia, as well as Africa, is leading the world with green practices and for many businesses in Namibia it’s not only the right thing to do, but it’s also the cheaper option. These methods, when combined with the masses, will undoubtedly make a tremendous difference to conserving precious Namibian resources that are critical for surviving in the desert.

In Africa, recycling is practiced, just in a different way than in Western societies. Africans are ingenious with innovative ways to convert garbage into a piece of art. Namibia is no exception. When traveling around, look to see how Namibians have used old tires, soda cans, and plastic bottles in innovative ways. This is most apparent at open markets in Okahandja and Swakopmund and even at the Namibia Craft Centre in Windhoek. Before discarding your garbage, think if there is a better way to recycle and not waste something which could be easily used again.

What lodges in Namibia are Eco-friendly and green? http://wildsafariafrica.com/contact/