With people becoming increasingly dependent on gadgets and electricity for most aspects of their daily life, more and more travellers are opting to completely disconnect when on holiday. Tourism Update rounds up some of the best options.
The term ‘digital detox’ has gained traction in recent years, with the WTM 2012 Global Trends Report identifying it as a key trend to watch. Indeed, a number of properties have started to incorporate guests’ increasing desire to switch off while on holiday into their offering, actively promoting opportunities to unplug and disconnect.
Wilderness Safaris Chief Marketing Officer, Chris Roche, says that even though WiFi is expected in the modern travel world – the level of connectivity is too great to allow a really genuine escape from the day to day. “We are seeing that more and more guests are enjoying the ability to disconnect from their constantly connected lives and relishing the opportunity to re-establish real relationships with their spouse or children, and even themselves.” Boldly, Wilderness Safaris has taken the decision not to provide WiFi at several of its camps in order to encourage people to remove themselves from the grid.
In Southern Africa, the opportunity to go ‘off the grid’ can be taken to a new level, especially with many safari camps and lodges located in extremely remote parts of the continent. Many safari camps are pioneering the way in terms of embracing renewable energy, relying less on state-supplied power and fossil fuel-dependent resources, focusing instead on solar power.
We round up some of the best off-the-grid options in the region:
1. Wilderness Safaris’ Xigera Camp, Botswana
Located in the Okavango Delta, Xigera Camp is one of Wilderness Safaris’ ‘black hole’ camps, which means no WiFi and therefore, no digital interruptions. The camp also operates on 100% solar power, relying on a photovoltaic solar plant to run the entire property, including all fridges and freezers. Water is heated by tube solar water geysers, also known as thermodynamic geysers. Situated in a permanently flooded part of the Delta, Xigera accommodates guests in 10 tents, and offers water-based activities year-round, including mokoro excursions on the surrounding channels.
For more information, click here.
2.Great Plains Zarafa Camp
Known for its unusual, but innovative approach to powering its game-drive vehicles with a mix of 85% vegetable oil and 15% diesel, Zarafa Camp in the Selinda Reserve is accessible only by light aircraft. It is 100% solar-powered, with more than 150 120-watt solar panels producing enough electricity to handle all the camp’s needs. Phillip Lategan, MD of Journey Beyond, says Great Plains Conservation’s camps in general tend to cater well for those seeking to get off the grid. “From the get-go, Zarafa was totally solar dependent for all its energy needs, as well as its leading-edge waste management. This was followed by Selinda Explorer Camp and now the Dhow Suite at Zarafa. The new Duba Plains Camp will follow soon – a remarkable achievement.”
For more information, click here.
3.Singita Mara Tented camp, Tanzania
Situated on the northern banks of Tanzania’s Mara River in the Lamai triangle, Singita Mara River Tented Camp was built ‘off the grid’ to cut down on the unnecessary use of non-renewable fossil fuels for energy and non-biodegradable materials. Instead, it relies on a specially designed solar system for its power and uses only recycled and natural materials wherever possible. The camp is not completely offline, though, as it offers complimentary WiFi, however due to its remote location, it can be slow and intermittent. The camp, which comprises six tents, is located in an area known for its annual wildebeest migration crossings. According to Louise Dreyer, owner of Dare to Explore, the camp is an excellent example of a remote eco-camp based on the fact that it operates on 100% solar power.
For more information, click here.
4.&Beyond Sandibe, Botswana
Situated in remote area without easily available electricity, &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge was rebuilt in 2014, removing all trace of the concrete used in its original construction. The lodge features a solar-power system capable of producing over 200 000 kwh of energy per year, saving the lodge about 67 000 litres of diesel per year, translating into a carbon footprint saving of 180 tons of CO2, an amount the lodge would have to plant 4 615 tree saplings to offset. The camp is not completely offline though, as it offers guests Internet access.
For more information, click here.
