They turn off the shower while lathering themselves up; they turn off the air conditioner when they leave their room; if possible they rather dispose of their waste in a village or town than at the lodge in the midst of nature... In a nutshell: guests of the Gondwana Collection really care about Namibia’s fragile environment! This is shown by the interim result of the Grand Gondwana Eco-Competition.
Up until now some 1.500 guests have completed the entry form which is readily available in the rooms of the lodges. The prize is extremely attractive: a Namibia holiday for 2 people, including air tickets and 12 nights with Gondwana. The aim of the competition is to promote awareness of the environment. Many of the lodges are situated in sensitive desert areas. Gondwana has therefore implemented measures to manage the hospitality business in a manner which is as eco-friendly as possible. For example, all lodges are equipped with water treatment plants and use the recycled waste water for irrigation.
Four lodges already boast the Namibian eco seal of approval awarded by Eco Awards Namibia, an independent institution: Canyon Village and Canyon Roadhouse (five desert flowers each, the highest ranking) as well as Canyon Lodge and Namib Desert Lodge (three desert flowers each).
Visitors to the website can also take part in the competition. They are asked in an online questionnaire about the measures which have already been implemented by Gondwana and which additional steps they would take themselves without feeling that enjoyment of their holiday would be compromised. Thus the environmental awareness of holidaymakers is raised even before they set foot on Namibian soil. Approximately 6.200 completed questionnaires have been received so far.
Some website visitors go to particularly great lengths with their entry. A 15-year-old girl in Austria submitted her answers in a letter the size of a poster to win the two-week holiday in Namibia – for her "dearest, coolest and best Mum in the world". If you haven’t entered yet you have less than five months to do so: the competition closes on December 31st; the prize will be drawn in early January.
