Goodbye Deepest, Darkest Africa
5 ECO-FRIENDLY SAFARI LODGES
A lot of Africa’s beauty comes from the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, warm sun and blue skies. But the sun is no longer just the source of suntans and sunburns. Throughout Africa, an increasing number of lodges are turning to solar power as their primary form of power.
Game Reserves are making use of bespoke solutions to minimise their eco-footprint and reduce their diesel consumption. Director of 1Energy, the Cape Town-based specialist in remote, off-grid solar installations, Andy Heathcote Marks explains that typically solar design should reduce diesel / generator energy consumption by 90%.
Here are a few game reserves who have taken the step to becoming more green:
1. Sanctuary Olanana, Kenya
Sanctuary Olanana, a luxury safari lodge on a private stretch of the Mara River in Kenya is committed to being an eco-friendly lodge. The lodge is Gold Eco-Rated by Ecotourism Kenya and won ”Africa’s Leading Eco-Lodge” in the World Travel Awards 2015. The lodge is currently being rebuilt to incorporate solar energy and energy-efficient solutions to create more eco-friendliness. Not only this, but they have a number of initiatives aimed at ecological preservation from tree-planting to beekeeping training.
2. Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Situated in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve’s Sanctuary Retreats’ Chief Camp has gone so far as to build their own solar farm. Using solar panels in combination with battery banks, the camp uses direct solar energy in the day and then stores energy for use at night.
3. Singita Kruger National Park, South Africa
Singita’s Sweni Lodge in South Africa’s Kruger National Park was completely redesigned in 2017 to put sustainability at its forefront. Using SolarAfrica and Tesla’s Powerpack system, Singita has developed a system which enables the lodge to turn off generators completely when enough solar energy has been produced.
4. Chobe Game Lodge, Botswana
Taking the solar step even further, not only has Botswana’s Chobe Game Lodge incorporated solar panels but also solar-powered boats into their safari experience. In October 2015, they launched Botswana’s first solar-powered boat. Their commitment to environmental preservation extends to greywater recycling, a biogas plant, a recycling plant and green design.
5. Serra Cafema, Namibia
Located on the banks of Namibia’s Kunene River, Serra Cafema is one of southern Africa’s most remote camps. Regarding its remote location and natural surroundings, Serra Cafema strives to remain as green as possible. The camp has implemented solar panels to reduce generator operation from 24 to only 8 hours per day.
