wisdom
Singita Kruger National Park was the testing ground, but Singita’s solar programme has since expanded across regions. Certain properties rely entirely on the sun, while others employ a hybrid model — blending solar with batteries, grids, and generators depending on factors such as load demands, weather, and grid reliability. “Every site is different; there’s no template. We just took learnings from one project to the next,” says Andrea. 75% of the power provided to Singita’s lodges and staff village in the Kruger National Park currently comes from a 1 MWp solar PV plant, and a recently commissioned 1,166 kWp system provides 50% of Ebony and Boulders ’ power, two properties in the Sabi Sand. For reference, 1 MWp can power between 400 and 600 households continually for an entire day. There’s a separate 142.08 kWp plant for Castleton , also in the Sabi Sand, and the region’s canine anti-poaching unit will receive a 38 kWp solar plant by the end of 2026. A 2 MWp solar plant is currently being installed at Pamushana , set to provide power to the whole Malilangwe property, including
The sun has a particularly notable presence in Africa. Strong, sometimes harsh, it’s revered in myths and proverbs for its power. Travellers often stop mid-sentence to watch it set, struck by the beauty of something that happens every day but never gets old. But it’s also increasingly being harnessed as a sustainable, low-impact means of supplying energy to Singita’s properties. “Our 100-year purpose is to preserve and protect Africa’s wildernesses for future generations,” says Dr Andrea Ferry, Singita’s Sustainability Coordinator. “If we’re serious about doing that, we need to reduce our operations’ negative environmental impact. Shifting to clean energy systems was the biggest lever in reducing our carbon footprint.” Sub-Saharan Africa receives consistent annual sunlight, making solar a viable solution. “The decision to start our solar transition was born out of a philosophical shift,” says Andrea. “Singita is more than a hospitality company; it’s a conservation company. If we were to advocate meaningfully for conservation, solar was an obvious choice.”
Previous spread Committed to lowering our environmental impact, Singita is increasing its reliance on solar power. Left Life on Earth exists only because the sun’s conditions are exactly right.
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