Our climate is changing and people’s activities are a direct contribution. How can travelers to Namibia maintain a “green” Namibia? Travelers are no exception, and many would say they are a major cause due to the planes we take to take us to amazing destinations like Windhoek, Namibia. What they don’t know, however, is how travelers act at home and at their destinations. Our goal, on safari in Namibia, is to have as little impact on the environment as possible, leaving behind a small carbon footprint and doing everything we can to make Namibia not the same, but better than before we arrived.

The resources in Namibia are precious as it is the only desert nation in Sub-Sahara. Energy and water go hand in hand. Both of these resources are scarce and not readily available in the Kalahari or Namib deserts. Travelers to Namibia need to be more aware of how they use these resources; especially water! Use only what you need. Think basic, think simple and think small. You’ll be surprised how little you really need to wash your body, brush your teeth, and even do your laundry. When you shower, turn off the water when soaping yourself, the same when brushing your teeth, and when washing your clothes, dispose of your gray water on a garden or a fruit tree. These simple practices will bring the desert to life.

When it comes to accommodation, do your best to stay in places that openly act on eco-friendly practices. Throughout Namibia, from Windhoek, Swakopmund, to the far north of Kaokoland and Owamboland, eco-friendly accommodations can be easily found. Namibia, like Africa, is leading the world with eco-friendly practices and for many businesses in Namibia it is not only the right thing to do, it is also the most economical option. These methods, when combined with the masses, will undoubtedly make a huge difference in conserving Namibia’s precious resources that are critical to survival in the desert.

In Africa, recycling is practiced, just in a different way than in Western societies. Africans are inventive with innovative ways to turn garbage into a work of art. Namibia is no exception. When you travel, notice how Namibians have used old tires, soda cans, and plastic bottles in innovative ways. This is most evident in the open markets of Okahandja and Swakopmund and even at the Namibia Craft Center in Windhoek. Before you throw away your rubbish, think about whether there is a better way to recycle and not waste something that could easily be reused.

Which accommodations in Namibia are green and eco-friendly? http://wildsafariaafrica.com/contact/