Environmental
Ngepi eco-socio policy
So called progress is not stoppable I guess, but we suggest that a compromise can be reached where an area is set aside as a conservancy where rural local people can be respected for who they really are.
Respect would entail a quantum shift in the understanding of the Westerner to a point where we understood and appreciated that people are different and that their way suits them and has sustained them for many thousand of years.
In this conservancy ‘their way’ would dominate and the westerner would be a guest or visitor, who would leave only his foot prints. No tipping, no feeling sorry for, no trying to change the way he lives, no superiority, no shame they are poor because they live in a mud hut – just common respect for the people who CHOOSE to live like this.....
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Buildings at Ngepi
- only renewable commercially grown SA pine wood and Gum poles, as well as local reeds and thatching grass have been used in the construction of our buildings - we do not cut down indidgenous local trees as this would degrade the forests that are already under threat, and these trees take 100's of years to grow to maturity.
Mosquito's
- we have never sprayed poisons for mosquito's, and this 'clean' environment allows tiny mozie eating spiders, bacteria and other microbes as well as geckos, lizards, birds and other balancing 'natural enemies of the mozie' to proliferate and keep the population down without damaging the environment. A biome in balance!!
As far as our rubbish is concerned
- We collect all our bottles for transporting to Windhoek for recycling
- We crush all our cans and send them to Maun where there is a can crusher
- We compost most of our kitchen waste, but some is fed to the fish …
- We only burn mixed plastic & foil cartons as all plastic wrappings and paper are recycled. ALL of it!!!
- We keep all plastic bottles for our indigenous tree re-planting project with the community, and when this re-used container is returned, we recycle as well.
- We return all old oil to a Maun depot that send it to Johannesburg for recycling so we are ensuring that it does not go into the soil.
- All batteries are returned for recycling.
Sewerage
- We have sealed two compartment septic tanks which discharge gray water into a French drain (a trench filled with rocks) this is then directed to a nearby tree – amazing growth. So in fact, the food you eat is converted into a tree!! Think about that!!
Solar Hot water
- We have vacuum tube solar geysers that are supplemented by electric or wood fires on the very rare occasion when the weather is OVERCAST. They work great and we have over 5000 liters of HOT water at any one time!!
- EHhhmmm .... well we have found that since the flood, trees had grown to the point of shading some of our pannels and some guests did not get propper HOT water - sorry for that! ... and we have FIXED the problem!!
Solar Power
- We have ellected to take responsibilty for our environmental footprint, and therefore all our energy needs are now supplied by renewable energy systems.
- Considering that all Namibia's power comes from South Africa or Windhoek where they burn coal to generate it, and that this process pumps huge amounts of sulfur & Co2 into the atmosphere (power generation is the single biggest contributor of Co2 in Southern Africa), and whose cost of damage to the environment and damage to our children’s heath & future is NOT factored in on your electricity bill; we have chosen NOT to connect to the mains supply and rather have a working water wheel water pump that gives us 24/7 water from the river, supplemented by a solar water pump driven by 1200Watts of solar tracking panels. We also have 20,000Watt's of PV solar panels that charge the 110,000 Amp hour batteries, giving us 18Kw of 220 volt AC power that we need to run the whole camp – fridges, freezers, computers, music etc etc 24/7.
- It was determined in the USA that power plant polution causes more than 38,000 heart attacks and 554,000 asthma attacks per year, and costs the country R1,3 trillion annually. Factor that in!!
- Our freezers are housed in an old style charcoal water evaporator cooler room, and the cool air is ducted via the compressor's fan to make them more efficient.
- Although its now a 24 hour system, YOU can only run a small CAMPING fridge from our limited supply to your tree house or camp site - no microwaves, electric kettles, hot plates, heaters, aircons, old type incandescent globes etc etc SORRY but this is the bush and those items belong at home!!
Trees
- No trees are cut within Ngepi’s perimeter – not even twigs or grass are burnt – they are left for bacteria/nature to decompose right where they fall, so that there are more insects which attracts more birds - a biome in balance!
- We are involved with the community in a tree planting festival, where we plant trees outside in the forests. Agriculture supply the saplings when they have available, but they recently sent us non-indigenous JACARANDAS and so we have started a indigenous nursery to supply the forests that need replanting using the youth group to do it. Last year alone Margie and her team propagated 4000 indigenous trees and gave them away to anyone who promised to look after them, and planted the rest in every location that looked lonely. They are on a role and this area will soon be a lush forest sequestrating a large part of the worlds pollution….>>
Village tour policy
Our Bushman & Hambukushu policy on tipping when visiting villages with guests
We strongly disapprove of tipping for this activity, and suggest that a better way is to clarify to the patrons that we as Ngepi, pay a monthly amount to the Headman, for ‘out of the ordinary’ expenses that any villager may encounter. The village Elders monitor and control this money and it is not refundable to us.
Also, we have suggested to the Villagers that if they wanted to benefit from this activity directly, that they should start making curios that the tourist could buy from them – therefore promoting the ‘what you put in – you get out', concept.
It is also suggested the tourist who wish to contribute something due to their experience in this wonderful environment, can donate - on a stop order basis - a monthly amount that will be deducted from their bank acc’s and will go to Conservation International, or another worthy environmental group, and be spent as they see fit. They will also get an email (probably bi-monthly) that will keep them up to date as to what their money is being spent on GLOBALY.
In this way everyone benefits
NGEPI FIREWOOD POLICY SUPPIERS AGREEMENT 5th July 2005
- It is agreed that all suppliers will collect wood from more than 3 km away from Ngepi camp. No trees that are closer will be cut and supplied to Ngepi.
- No living trees will be killed or cut to supply to Ngepi later when it has dried. Only trees that have died naturally from old age will be cut up and sold to Ngepi.
- A list of suppliers will be drawn up and they will each supply in their turn. John Katanga will be the contact person who the Management of Ngepi notify when we need more wood. The suppliers should wait until called before bringing wood.
- Size of bundle will be the same as the sample tied to the notice board.
- No soft wood will be supplied. Hard wood will be paid for @N$10-00 per bundle. (Ngepi makes no profit from this at all)
- The supply of wood along the road will be stopped and all suppliers will only supply to Ngepi direct.
SO PLEASE DONT BUY ANY FIREWOOD ALONG THE ROAD IN OUR AREA AS IT IS MOST LIKELY CUT FROM THE RIVERINE FORESTS THAT ARE UNDER THREAT ALREADY!!!