Santawani: A Community Ecolodge

The Okavango Delta of Botswana is known worldwide for its beauty, abundant wildlife and exclusive tourist camps. Thanks to an AWF project to promote community involvement in tourism operations, tourists staying at Santawani Lodge can now enjoy wildlife experiences and local hospitality while promoting the prosperity of the local people.

Though not a new destination in itself, Santawani Lodge has a new story to tell its visitors. With AWF’s help, the local community took over management of the lodge in 2004 after an extensive remodeling and upgrade. The lodge consists of six newly built private chalets with double beds, a bar and a reception area.

Although tourism is a key sector of the Botswana economy, a large percentage of the profits have historically gone to large and mostly foreign-owned tourism companies. Santawani is unique because it is fully owned by local community members through the Sankuyo Tshwaragano Management Trust, a group of 400 households that are mainly livestock keepers. The transfer of the lodge’s lease by the Government of Botswana from a private sector company to the Trust marks one of the first times a local community organization has benefited directly from tourism in the region. The lodge is managed entirely by local community members. About 20 community residents work at the lodge, creating much-needed income for the community as a whole.

The success of the lodge provides an opportunity for local people to improve their livelihoods through increased income and services. Proceeds from the lodge are distributed by the Trust to community priorities such as health and education. In addition, the lodge serves as an incentive for the communities to invest in the conservation of local wildlife. The lodge’s existence and management is tied to the conservation of 8,000 hectares (about 20,000 acres) that have been leased to the Trust by the Government of Botswana. The wildlife-rich area is a prime viewing location for elephants, giraffe, buffalo, lions and leopards.

The lodge offers a unique model for other communities in Africa that struggle with poverty, HIV/AIDS and natural resource management. The success of Santawani Lodge will be crucial for other communities and governments looking for models of ways to achieve similar goals.