A visitor’s perspective
Text Annabelle Venter
Text Annabelle Venter
W elcome to Namibia! Spring is a good time to think about all things ‘green’. After all, nature is pushing out green shoots all around us. Well, maybe it’s not so obvious in Namibia but if you look closely, the trees are starting to quietly bud and more ostentatiously show their flowering prowess around this time of the year. Spring is about fresh growth and new beginnings in nature, and perhaps it is a good time for us to review how we live, and just as importantly, how we TRAVEL.
Do you strive to live a ‘green’ life at home, sorting rubbish for recycling, refusing plastic shopping bags, shopping thoughtfully and organically, only to toss all your good habits out of the plane’s window as soon as you step on board for a holiday? That may not be your intention, and it’s really quite easy to remain ‘green’ when you visit a new country. You may even save money, but more importantly the ‘feel good’ aspect is priceless and you will leave your host country better off than the average environmentally unaware visitor. Here are some tips for enjoying a ‘green time’ in Namibia.
Learn more about the desert’s small creatures on a living desert tour. Photo ©Sean McCulloch
Shop for handcrafted goods at Omba Art Gallery. Photo ©Elzanne Erasmus
Choosing your airline can be a daunting task when travelling abroad, so choose an airline which offers you the option to offset your carbon footprint by supporting local environmental projects. Be sure to choose reputable options so that you know your money is going to a good cause and not being squandered. Of course the greenest option is not to fly, but then how would you get here? And we love having visitors in Namibia!
Now that you have booked your plane ticket, the accommodation is next. Thankfully today more and more tourists go for ecotourism options and make sound choices when it comes to supporting establishments that subscribe to sustainable environmental practices which benefit the environment and staff as well as the local communities.
If you choose a camping holiday it’s a good idea to support community owned camping sites whenever available. Visit www.travelnewsnamibia.com/news/community-based-tourism-go-camping-culture for a list of these sites but don’t expect to book in advance as most of them don’t have telecommunications. You can book on arrival, on a first-come first-served basis.
If you are not into camping, keep in mind that most of our best lodges are situated in environmentally sensitive, pristine areas. Is the company you are considering doing all they can to lessen the lodge’s impact on that area? Visit www.ecoawards-namibia.org for a complete list of accommodation establishments around Namibia that have met the Eco Awards standards and earned ‘desert flower’ awards.
You have arrived in Namibia and need to get around. Hiring a 4×4 seems to be the obvious choice for most visitors these days, but may I suggest that it’s not always necessary? Check out your itinerary and see whether you really need a mean machine. Namibia has good tar roads criss-crossing the country and sometimes a smaller sedan car is sufficient, saving you fuel and money on rental. I have very comfortably travelled on Etosha’s gravel roads in a small car for nine days during the rainy season with no mishaps at all. Twenty-five years ago everyone travelled in small Citi Golfs as there was nothing else to hire! But if you really need that 4×4, then here are a few eco-tips to lessen your impact on the environment:
Depending on how you spend your money in Namibia you contribute to the sustainability of projects both good and not so good. So it’s wise to do some research online before your visit.
Be environmentally conscious and hire a SunCycle to get around. Photo ©Marita van Rooyen
And that is why you wanted a green holiday. Right?
This article was first published in the Spring 2015 issue of Travel News Namibia.