🇬🇧 Sustainable Tourism
Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide. Like all economic activities, it has two sides:
On the one hand, tourism creates jobs, brings foreign currency into the country, and finances important nature conservation and wildlife protection projects. On the other hand, it generates waste, consumes resources, and can place pressure on both the environment and local communities.
To minimise the negative impacts of this promising development, Namibia introduced the Eco Award Namibia in 2005. This certification is granted to accommodation establishments that actively promote sustainable tourism – with the aim of raising environmental awareness while supporting employment and training for local staff. It is not only about creating jobs, but also about improving living standards in a sustainable and intergenerational way.
The Eco Award evaluates a wide range of areas, including nature and wildlife conservation, water, waste and energy management, environmentally sensitive construction and landscape integration, guiding, staff development, and social responsibility. To receive the award, establishments must meet comprehensive criteria, which are reassessed every two years. The highest distinction is 5 Flowers.
At Düsternbrook, we recognise, respect, and actively live our responsibility towards nature. Our goal is to preserve resources, strengthen the local community, and keep our ecological footprint as low as possible.
We began following this approach long before the Eco Award was introduced. In the very first year (2005), we were awarded 3 out of 5 Flowers. Since 2015, we have consistently achieved the highest rating of 5 Flowers. At that time, we were among a very small group of establishments in Namibia to reach this level, and in 2015 we were the only guest farm alongside large lodge groups such as Wilderness and Gondwana.
Although we no longer actively participate in the Eco Award program, we continue to operate the farm according to the same environmentally responsible principles. For example, we have implemented a complete solar and battery-based backup power system, including a three-phase setup, ensuring a high level of energy independence and sustainability.
This short introduction is intended to give you an initial insight into our commitment to sustainability.
More detailed information about our initiatives in the individual Eco Award categories can be found below:
🇬🇧 Water, Waste and Energy Management
At Düsternbrook, the responsible use of water, energy, and waste management is a top priority.
Our staff are regularly made aware of these important topics through direct discussions, and our guests are actively involved through information provided in the rooms as well as in our information centre.
Water is the most valuable natural resource in Namibia. As the driest country south of the Sahara, sustainable water management is of critical importance to us.
Our main water source is a borehole approximately 70 metres deep, equipped with an electric pump and automatic shut-off system. In addition, we operate a wind pump at the main house. The outer areas of the farm are supplied via dams (small reservoirs) as well as wind- or solar-powered systems.
Our water consumption is continuously monitored and recorded, with the aim of keeping it as low as possible. Garden irrigation is managed through a time-controlled sprinkler system operating in the early, cooler morning hours, thereby minimising evaporation losses.
In addition to water use, waste management plays a central role in our operations. Our goal is to ensure that neither tourism activities nor farm operations negatively impact the soil or groundwater.
The principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle are firmly embedded in our daily routines.
At Düsternbrook, waste is carefully separated into paper, cardboard, cans, hard and soft plastics, and glass. Collected recyclable materials are transported weekly to a recycling centre in Windhoek, where they are processed and subsequently sent to South Africa for further recycling.
We also emphasise practical reuse in everyday operations:
Empty glass jars are used for homemade jams, envelopes are repurposed as separators, single-sided printed paper is reused internally, and a large portion of organic waste is used as feed for our staff’s chickens.
All wastewater (from toilets, showers, and the kitchen) is collected in a dedicated system and treated biologically in three chambers using anaerobic processes. In 2008, this system was further enhanced by the addition of a trickling filter (aerobic treatment), ensuring that the water is returned to nature as clean as possible.
We believe that careful and controlled water use is the most effective way to conserve this resource. Returning water to the environment in the cleanest possible condition is, in our view, the most responsible approach. We deliberately do not reuse treated wastewater for irrigation, as this would require additional pumping and energy consumption, often offsetting any potential water savings. While such approaches may be suitable in urban environments, they are not always efficient in a rural context like ours.
In Namibia, one of the most effective long-term strategies for water conservation is targeted bush thinning (de-bushing), which improves groundwater recharge on a broader scale – although this is a complex topic in its own right.
We follow a similarly conscious approach when it comes to energy. Every form of energy production has an environmental impact – some more, some less. Our aim is therefore to minimise the use of environmentally harmful energy sources and increasingly rely on renewable and more sustainable alternatives, such as:
🇬🇧 Energy
In the field of energy, we consciously focus on sustainable and resource-efficient solutions:
Hot water is generated primarily through solar energy.
Wherever possible, we use LED lighting to reduce electricity consumption.
Water extraction from deep groundwater sources is mainly powered by solar-driven pumps and wind energy.
Cooking is largely done with gas, helping to minimise the use of electrical energy.
We also place strong emphasis on natural climate control in our building design:
Thick natural stone walls, wide verandas, and opposing windows allow for efficient temperature regulation – keeping interiors cool in summer and warm in winter, without the need for additional energy.
As early as 2010, we installed a photovoltaic system, which was expanded in 2016 by approximately 10 kW, bringing the total capacity to around 19 kW. This allowed us to cover part of our electricity demand and reduce overall consumption by approximately 20–25%.
However, without battery storage, we remained dependent on the national grid. The grid frequency determines the operation of the inverters, meaning that in the event of a power outage, the entire system shuts down – and solar energy alone cannot provide power without storage. It therefore became clear that an upgrade was necessary.
In 2024, we converted the system into a modern three-phase solar and battery setup with a capacity of 24 kW. This allows us to remain fully operational during power outages for approximately six hours at night. In most cases, guests will hardly notice any interruption: in the event of a power failure, the system automatically switches over within about 20 seconds, and normal operation continues seamlessly until grid power is restored.
This represents a significant advantage in Namibia. When the batteries are fully charged, we are now also able to feed excess electricity back into the grid – making a small but meaningful contribution to the national power supply. In other words, we not only consume less energy but also help support the grid.
🇬🇧 Nature and Wildlife Conservation
Nature and wildlife conservation are enshrined in Namibia’s constitution. The country is home to a remarkable diversity of plants, animals, and insects – many of which are native or even endemic. The balance of nature is delicate: the loss of even a single species can have far-reaching consequences for the entire ecosystem.
At Düsternbrook, our goal is to preserve this natural diversity and to protect the habitat of wildlife in a sustainable way.
We are members of the Khomas Hochland Conservancy as well as the Windhoek Greenbelt Landscape (WGBL).
The effects of climate change are already noticeable in Namibia, particularly through increasingly irregular and reduced rainfall.
Together with other farms within the WGBL, we have developed a 90 km six-day hiking trail and a 54 km four-day trail. Accommodation is provided in simple, open huts with basic facilities (toilet, shower, and fireplace). Since the official opening in March 2016, feedback has been consistently very positive (www.hikenamibia.com).
The aim of this project is to create additional income sources for participating farms that are independent of rainfall. This helps reduce the reliance on livestock farming, making it easier to cope with periods of drought. For example, if a farm reduces its livestock by 10%, it can remain economically viable with significantly less rainfall.
In this way, low-impact tourism becomes an active tool for conserving natural resources.
Another important conservation initiative at Düsternbrook was the expansion of our population of Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra in 2002 with the introduction of 15 animals. This rare and endemic species is listed under the Washington Convention (CITES) due to its limited natural habitat.
Since transitioning from a cattle farm to a wildlife-based operation, we have deliberately refrained from capturing or killing wild predators. We believe that predators play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, and natural losses caused by them are part of a functioning ecosystem.
These losses are economically offset through tourism activities – meaning that our guests make a direct contribution to conservation simply by staying with us.
All guests are warmly invited to learn more about the local wildlife and our conservation efforts in our information centre.
🇬🇧 Social Responsibility
For us, social responsibility means a long-term commitment to acting ethically, contributing to sustainable economic development, and improving the quality of life of our employees, their families, and the local community.
As the owner of a guest farm, I cannot change society as a whole – but I can take responsibility within my own sphere.
Our goal is to provide our employees with a stable and dignified livelihood through fair wages, good working conditions, and targeted personal development.
A key focus lies on the education of the next generation. We actively support the schooling of our employees’ children, helping to create better long-term opportunities for their future.
We have built solid housing for our staff, equipped with running water, electricity, and proper sanitary facilities. Since 2025, Wi-Fi access has also been available in the staff area.
A kindergarten previously operated on the farm has been adapted to ensure consistent care. Today, the children attend schools in Windhoek, with part of the costs supported through guest gratuities.
Guest tips are specifically allocated to educational expenses, including school fees, books, uniforms, and transport. This enables us to provide all children of our employees with access to a complete education.
In recognition of these efforts, we have received awards such as “Agricultural Employer of the Year.”
Namibia has set itself ambitious national development goals under Vision 2030. At Düsternbrook, we strive to contribute to these goals and to achieve them within our own environment as early as possible. As early as 2008, we were able to reach one of these targets – the projected average per capita income – within our operation.
Staff Development
Training at Düsternbrook is primarily based on “training on the job”, ensuring that our team meets the high expectations of our guests. In addition, we actively support external training opportunities such as cooking courses, driving lessons, and professional guide training. Our goal is to strengthen both skills and self-confidence in a sustainable way.
A powerful example illustrates the impact of this approach: One of our former employees had the opportunity to work as an au pair in Germany at her own request. The experience significantly improved her career prospects upon returning to Namibia. Today, she is well established professionally and serves as a role model for others. Currently, another former employee is following the same path – for many, this is truly a “life-changing opportunity.”
These developments have also gained institutional attention. The Berlin Chamber of Commerce (IHK) has initiated a program that provides vocational training in Namibia, with top performers being given the opportunity to continue their careers in Germany.
At first glance, this might seem like a loss of skilled workers. In reality, it creates a win-win situation:
If 1,000 people are trained and 100 leave, 900 qualified professionals remain in the country – a clear benefit for Namibia’s development, while international partners also gain access to well-trained talent.
Education requires time, patience, and consistency – but it is a key driver for long-term socio-economic development.
Guiding
Most of our guides come directly from the farm and often had limited access to advanced formal education. This makes training both a challenge and an opportunity.
We therefore rely on a combination of continuous on-the-job training and selected external courses. The foundation of our program is our in-house training system:
“Düsternbrook Unabridged Safari Training” (DUST)
This program includes:
- Introduction to professional guiding
- Practical field training
- Wildlife knowledge specific to Düsternbrook
- Nature conservation and environmental awareness
- Guest communication and safety
Since 2009, this system has been continuously implemented and refined. Our experience shows that long-term practical learning is more effective than short intensive courses, where knowledge is often quickly forgotten.
In addition, some guides attend external training programs to deepen their knowledge of flora and fauna while also improving their English skills. As a result, the quality of our guiding has improved significantly over the years.
As part of our internal quality control, we ask guests to complete feedback questionnaires, including evaluations of the guides. This helps us identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Architecture & Landscape (“Sense of Place”)
A key principle at Düsternbrook is the concept of “sense of place” – ensuring that all buildings blend harmoniously into the natural environment.
Our philosophy:
👉 Buildings should be part of the landscape – not stand out from it.
This approach applies to both historic and newer developments, such as:
- Kitchen extension (2008)
- Katrin Luxury Suite (2015)
- “Point of View” lodge (2018)
All structures are designed to integrate naturally and unobtrusively into the surroundings.
We also prioritize the use of local natural materials, especially stone from the farm itself. Although more expensive than conventional construction, this approach offers major advantages:
- perfect landscape integration
- long lifespan and low maintenance
- no need for regular repainting
The architecture follows a colonial style with:
- wide verandas (protecting walls from direct sunlight)
- thick stone walls (thermal stability)
- opposing windows (natural airflow)
This results in natural temperature regulation, reduced energy consumption, and an authentic historical atmosphere.
Inside, we use simple décor with natural materials such as wood and earthy tones. Historical elements – including an old ox wagon, a steam boiler, and farming equipment – add character and tell the story of the farm.
For guests interested in learning more, we provide a brochure:
“What is What on Düsternbrook”, offering insights into the farm, its history, and the geology of the surrounding mountains.