Ecologically-Conscious Chobe Holdings is Wild About the Environment

The Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE)-listed eco-tourism operator, Chobe Holdings Limited, has been a trailblazer in many areas of its business over the past years. However, two very key important concepts, Innovation and Sustainability, stand out and deserve explaining. Through its subsidiaries, Chobe Game Lodge, Desert & Delta Safaris and Ker & Downey Botswana, Chobe Holdings Limited has remarkable operations within the Botswana tourism sector where it runs some of the country’s prime tourism properties in an ethical and sustainable manner. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type="show" ihc_mb_who="1,2,3,4" ihc_mb_template="1" ] Group Managing Director of Chobe Holdings, Lempheditse Odumetse, says Chobe Game Lodge is a world leader in ensuring that their sustainability initiatives have been implemented and are functional in a manner that embraces their commitment to protecting the environment. In doing so, he says, Chobe Game Lodge was the first property in the world to introduce electric game drive vehicles and fully solar powered boats as part of their daily operations to ensure that the carbon footprint on Botswana’s fragile natural environment is reduced immensely with regards to guest activities. This innovation was immediately acknowledged and recognised by Botswana Tourism Board, which led to the property being one of the first to be endorsed and fully awarded Eco Grading by the organisation. Electric boats The first electric boats were introduced in 2014. By 2019, Chobe Game Lodge became the first tourism service provider and lodge in the world to have a fully comprehensive fleet of self-powered electric and solar activity boats. The company’s investment in these conversions realised an investment of well over P650 000. To add to this and ensure that the energy used for the guest activities is entirely renewable, Odumetse says Chobe Game Lodge constructed an independent solar field specifically to charge and provide power to the lodge’s on-site fleet of electric vehicles and boats. “As a group, we are acutely aware of the privilege granted to us to manage and run our operations within some of the key national parks and wilderness areas of Botswana,” he notes. “In doing so, we respect Botswana’s natural heritage and are committed to ensuring that our sustainability initiatives and implementation of these projects are done in a manner which embraces our county’s natural spaces.” With the majority of the Chobe Holdings’ safari camps and lodges being located in remote and ecologically sensitive areas across Botswana, the sustainability efforts are not focused only in the northern Chobe region. Infact, Odumetse reveals that major solar power plants have been successfully installed at Ker & Downey Botswana’s safari camp locations of Shinde and Kanana in the Okavango Delta, as well as at Dinaka, the company’s Kalahari-based property on the northern boundary of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. More recently, a full solar power system has also been installed at the company’s Footsteps property in the Okavango Delta as well. Solar power plants Likewise, fully functional and sustainable solar power plants have been installed in Desert & Delta Safaris Camp Okavango and Savute Safari Lodge locations. These systems ensure that 24-hour power is provided to each camp’s 24 guests and over 40 staff daily. In addition, these provide the power to run pumps, provide water and operate both camps closed circuit sanitation plants, ensuring even further that the impact of the company’s operations on the environment is immensely reduced. However, the latest innovation and addition to the Group’s larger operations is the construction and implementation of the second largest private solar plant in the country’s Xakanaxa region of Moremi Game Reserve. Odumetse says this impressive solar plant is going to ensure the entire power supply of three of their safari camps and related operations in that region. He adds that it is done in a manner that will provide 100 percent renewable energy to Desert & Delta Safaris’ Camp Moremi and Camp Xakanaxa properties and Ker & Downey Botswana’s Okuti. The solar installation will supply the power needs for 66 guests and well over 100 staff and ensure that the daily needs of operations for these camps are catered for. Odumetse notes that his incredible investment of P12 million assures again that the environment is a core concern within the company’s operating philosophy. This solar system will run 608 solar panels which will be able to deliver over 330KW of power in the most eco-sensitive and sustainable manner. Accountable Travel “Our travel trade partners and the future travellers to our part of the world will realise that our continued innovations and commitment to ensuring that their impact on our fragile environment is a direct contribution from their travel spend,” Odumetse points out. “This is a substantial added value to the environment that they are coming to experience. ‘Responsible Travel’ was a catchphrase from the early 2000’s and I like to think that our investment in these sustainable efforts should truly be considered in the context of ‘Accountable Travel’ for our future guests.” This new solar plant has received electricity generation approval from the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority, together with consent from additional authorities such as the Department of Environmental Affairs, Botswana Tourism Organisation, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, and the land board. “These three camps have been consuming over 151,000 litres of generator diesel per year and will now rely entirely on solar for their power generation,” Odumetse explains. “Other elements that will be eliminated include lubricants and consumables required to operate the diesel generators.” It is estimated that within four years, the company will save over P2,5million per year. Factoring in the elimination of fuel delivery as well as generator maintenance, this estimate could reach P2.8 million a year. From an environmental sustainability standpoint, this new solar installation equates to elimination of nearly 7,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent gases. Serenity of the environment According to Odumetse, this includes reduction in emissions from delivery tankers which supply the generator fuel from Maun. Lowered frequency of delivery tankers will contribute to the further reduction of carbon emissions from the camps operations. He says generator diesel currently accounts for three fifths of total diesel consumption, hence the elimination of generator diesel will keep tanker movement at a minimum. “The reduction in dust pollution, soil erosion and noise nuisance from both the generators and delivery trucks will restore the serenity of the environment, creating a conducive space for both human wellbeing as well as animal life,” he points out. Odumetse emphasizes that the point is that Chobe Holdings Limited strives to remain a leader in sustainable tourism in the region. All its camps and lodges have valid Environmental Authorisations and the company has a demonstrable record of adhering to conditions spelt out in them. Compliance with water rights is monitored through daily water readings and implementation of water saving measures. Most of its camps have Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) which ensure where water that is released into the environment meets the required standards. In addition, all treated effluent is tested every six months to verify effectiveness of the treatment process. Routine post-authorisation environmental audits are also being undertaken to ensure independent evaluation of the sustainability of camp operations. Further initiatives include subscribing to ecotourism standards as prescribed by the Botswana Tourism Orgnisation. Also monitored monthly is energy consumption, with constant initiatives to realise continued efficiency. In terms of waste generation, Odumetse states that in addition to daily weighing, composting of all organic waste is undertaken and all inorganic waste is recycled through licensed waste carriers, thus eliminating the dumping of waste at landfill. He adds that the more established camps and lodges are continually removing permanent concrete structures where necessary, with most renovations introducing timber and canvas to minimise carbon footprint. Community perspective Through industry collaborations, Chobe Holdings Limited participates in applied biodiversity conservation to ensure protection of rare and endangered species. Dryland surveys and freshwater monitoring exercises, which are done in partnership with institutions of higher learning, are an attestation to Chobe’s commitment to this end. Invasive species control measures are evident in some of their camps, this includes Salvinia Molesta (commonly known as Kariba Weed) and management structures for safeguarding of their receiving environments. “Chobe Holdings Limited has a dedicated environmental team of well-qualified individuals,” says Odumetse. “Training in various courses of environmental relevance is carried out on a yearly basis, the most recent being Health and Safety training for camp management and maintenance personnel. Environmental Awareness talks across all camps are held regularly to ensure that everybody is on board towards sustainability targets.” From a community perspective, he points out, Chobe Holdings Limited’s involvement in Bana ba Letsatsi and the adoption of key schools in its areas of operation ensures grassroots participation in environmental conservation as well as community beneficiation towards social uplifting. Other initiatives across Chobe Holdings Limited combined operations, notably at Chobe Game Lodge, include solar fleets (boats and game viewers), all-female professional guiding team (women empowerment), ecotours, on-site recycling, plastic decking, grey-water recycling, and control of Dutchman's pipe ( Aristolochia elegans ). [/ihc-hide-content]

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Ecologically-Conscious Chobe Holdings is Wild About the Environment

The Sewage Treatment Plants at most camps operated by Chobe Holdings to ensure that water released into the environment meets required standards and regular treatment of effluent are an example of how the company cares about people of the planet and all other species on it

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Ecologically-Conscious Chobe Holdings is Wild About the Environment

The Sewage Treatment Plants at most camps operated by Chobe Holdings to ensure that water released into the environment meets required standards and regular treatment of effluent are an example of how the company cares about people of the planet and all other species on it

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