Wolwedans
NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE, NAMIBIA
WOLWEDANS
Eco Lodges
Since december 2011
Since November 2011
Situated in the NamibRand Reserve, Wolwedans is more than a hospitality destination; it champions inclusive conservation and works hard to empower local people through education. Founded in 1995 with four tents by Albi and Stephan Brückner, it's grown into a sustainable tourism icon with five properties operating alongside initiatives like the Desert Academy. A conscious ethos guides Wolwedans towards continual transformation and progressive sustainability. Wolwedans is a certified Global Ecosphere Retreat®.
Wolwedans has reimagined the tourism model with the launch of The AridEden Project and the Wolwedans Vision 2030 to foster sustainable tourism, economies, and conservation. The Wolwedans Matrix 25 integrates a 5Cs sustainability commitment (Commerce, Conservation, Community, Culture, and Consciousness), focusing on people, planet, and profit. Central to this are programmes that provide vocational training, desert-based economies, and values-driven leadership. Through this, Wolwedans hopes to inspire global change, nurture happiness, and uphold sustainability as its essence.
CONSERVATION
Wolwedans has planted over 200 trees as part of its ‘Adopt a Tree’ programme.
Over 2500 km of farming fences have been taken down and truckloads of old scrap have been removed as part of a huge landscape restoration effort.
COMMUNITY
Employs an all-Namibian team and trains the next generation through the Hospitality Training School, the Desert Academy.
All visitors are invited to the Wolwedans' "back-of-house" operations tour in the spirit of transparency and raising awareness.
CULTURE
A strong internal culture is prioritised by generating a sense of community among employees, and continually improving living conditions. For example, employee accommodation has been rebuilt.
Sharing and celebrating local lore and traditional practices of the Namib desert with guests during immersive walks with local guides.
COMMERCE
Ambitious targets set out in the AridEden Project to direct and progressively drive a sustainability mission.
80% of the water used at the Wolwedans Village is recovered and treated for reuse through a central wastewater treatment plant.
Wolwedans Highlights
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Wolwedans offers immersive walks sharing the fascinating lore and practices of the traditional cultures of the region.
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Wolwedans has a beautiful vegetable garden space that supplies the lodges with the freshest produce.
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Wolwedans has built beautiful new employee accommodations with well-being at it’s heart.
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Wolwedans continually rehabilitates the landscape, for example by removing all farming fences and infrastructure.
