Solitaire

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This sparsely populated area, unsuitable for agriculture, is adjacent to the largest game park in Africa, the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The park, however scenic, is mostly desert; sand dunes and gravel plains. Critical grasslands and watersheds to the east are largely on fenced-off, private property.

Ungulates require the ability to move freely in search of grazing and water. Our keystone species, like cheetah, require healthy prey populations to exist in this harsh ecosystem. As climate change intensifies, the age of the Anthropocene will call for many more unimpeded tracts of productive land to support an intertwined web of wild animals and prevent their extinction. Even common species may experience population crashes under the pressure of a warming climate and habitat loss.

How it works:

The village of Solitaire is the funding vehicle for our conservation projects. Every cup of coffee, every piece of apple pie purchased, contributes to conservation. We believe that sustainable tourism supports conservation, not only by allowing us to revitalize the landscape and restore its biodiversity, but through job creation and training in tourism and science, giving all citizens a stake in the future of a healthy Namib.

Water:

Since taking over management in 2015, we have achieved a 50% savings in water usage through xeriscaping, infrastructure repair and conservation. We are in the planning stages of a water recycling project that will serve all our irrigation needs.

Power & Light:

We’re currently building a solar park to provide 50% of our daytime power needs. The mass tourism industry demands air conditioning in lodge rooms, even here, in this remote and ancient desert. It’s a policy we struggle with, and try to ameliorate its negative effects on the environment through improved building practices and closely managing power usage.

Let’s all turn down the lights. In our quest for a return to dark skies, we’ve removed 40% of existing light fixtures and reduced wattage in what remains. Our goal is to have no floodlights and no unshielded bulbs by 2019. Western Namibia is blessed with one of the darkest night skies in the world. Pollution from artificial light interferes with our ability to see the dazzling natural night sky, and negatively impacts the normal functioning of nocturnal species.

Waste:

We recycle refuse that was previously burned or simply dumped in the desert; 20 tons were sent to a recycling facility last year, and 10 tons of scrap metal was removed for recycling. After 60+ years of farming impact, an estimated 2 tons of scrap metal remains for processing and removal.

Fences:

We take them down.