Solitaire

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This sparsely populated area, unsuitable for agriculture, is adjacent to one of the largest game parks in Africa, the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The park, however scenic, is mostly rocks, 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, more unimpeded tracts of productive land will be needed 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 main 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. Tourism requires electricity. We do our best to ameliorate its effects on this remote and ancient desert 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. We're on track to have no floodlights and no unshielded bulbs by late 2020. 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 buried in the desert; over 20 tons of scrap metal were removed for recycling since 2016. Thousands of tourists pass through Solitaire, and many tons of refuse are sent to a recycling facility each year. After 60+ years of farming impact, an estimated 1 ton of scrap metal remains for processing and removal.

Fences:

We take them down.