Responsible Tourism Award Accommodation Finalists - Gondwana Namib Desert Lodge - 2018

Serving as a small oasis in the desert, the Gondwana Namib Desert Lodge is perfectly situated at the foot of ancient fossilised sand dunes that are found within the 12 500 ha Gondwana Namib Park, which is part of the greater Namib Desert. Waking up early to watch the sunrise play and transform the colour of these remarkable dunes is a photographer’s dream.

Visitors should not miss out on the sunrise or sun-downer drives, during which the interesting origin and formation of the dunes will be explained by one of the friendly and knowledgeable guides. While on these excursions, guests are also taken out on foot and shown the remarkable ecosystem consisting of lizards, insects, plant life and other hidden treasures that exist in this harsh sandy environment.

While modern amenities ensure a pleasant stay at Namibia Desert Lodge, it is still designed to run in an eco-friendly manner, with solar panels providing much of the power required by this accommodation establishment. The 1 700 solar panels installed on the roofs of guest chalets and several other buildings generate 200 000 kWh of electricity per year and cover 50% of the lodge’s energy needs.

Gondwana lodges are run as tight-knit communities with the Gondwana-group being committed to social responsibility and community support programs, which bring about a positive change in the environment and its dependent communities. The Gondwana Care Trust - established in 2017 - is a dedicated Corporate Social Initiative (CSI) fund. This operation is responsible for the management of all CSI-initiatives in which Gondwana is engaged.

The Gondwana Care Trust currently supports more than 20 projects across Namibia. Its efforts include the donation of food, clothing, bedding, educational products for schools and the supporting of important environmental programs.

Gondwana’s Environmental Officer Quintin Hartung will tell you that the Namib does not accommodate a large community, but Gondwana tries to assist where they can. One of the local projects supported by the Gondwana-group is the community school “Little Bugs” located approximately 80km from the lodge.

Gondwana also invests in training of staff, which includes specialized on-site training such as tour guide-, chef- and maintenance courses. Hartung is proud to inform Gondwana-guests that selected employees also attend the Gondwana Leadership Academy at the Kalahari Farmhouse in Stampriet in February of every year.

Frank Steffen