Written by “The Mengelas”
“Does anybody actually live here?” asked our most recent friends from Germany who were absolutely stunned by the very majestic and memorizing landscapes our Country gets to subtly boast about. A desert stretched out by 2000km, along a coastline which is home to plus 500 fish species and more than 300 other marine species is definitely not child’s play. Sometimes it appears to be evident that as Namibians, we probably do not even understand the beauty that surrounds us. Is it perhaps because the best tourist destinations come with an apparent financial trade-off which the every- day Namibian, like you and I could not bear to live with or is our own ignorance the trait to be blamed on the underutilized traveling opportunities by locals. Either way excuses won’t cut it much anymore. The world is watching us. In fact, I was so perplexed by a conversation I recently had where iSpeed’s possible activities in Namibia were questioned. Concerns like, “What are we even going to show him?” and “This is probably going to be the most boring tour stop” were the talk of the day.
Being recognized as Africa’s most authentic and in-demand tourism destination by the African Tourism Board in 2025, is a status we should not take to lightly as locals, as it can easily shift the Namibian Tourism Marketing strategy to an outward- inward approach. This would basically translate in campaigns that are aimed to draw large crowds of international tourist, which is great for the economy definitely but would dent our patriotism activities as the bulk of us will only remain digital tourism spectators, “wowing” and “oohing” the many reels that are posted by travel enthusiast on social media.
However, within the status awarded by the African Tourism Board, locals who have an eye for opportunity should be jumping around with excitement in anticipation of new travel innovations that can be brought to the table which stand a great chance of being very successful owing to the financial commitments pledged by our Central government through initiatives like the youth fund and other international donors and private sector institutions who have seen the potential the tourism sector embodies after a bold declaration of it being a priority sector in this action-orientated administration.
Of late, because of this stark declaration, we often engage entrepreneurs who have interest in the tourism Industry like ourselves and we were stunned at the many dimensions encompassing the term Tourism- Funding. In unpacking this term, we realized how under-exposed we are to the international happenings in the Industry and how we are relaying on the international community to show us and teach us on how best we can use our resources. Tourism funding does not just end with funding your traveling agency company or funding a tour and travel company. Funding focus is expanded to the themes of conservation and biodervisity, community empowerment & livelihoods, sustainable tourism development and Infrastractracture Support. These sub areas are known as niche sub-sectors to many of us because of our lack of understanding of the tourism eco-system.
Namibia is filled with activities which showcase and remind us as locals of the genuineness we carry to the international community, but for as long as we deem do not explore our country ourselves and show patriotic ownership in bettering the tourism Industry, we are good as a spare-wheel on a boat. I mean, yes the Kapana Experience is great to show the delegation from South Africa that came for a quick business meeting or even for the famous international live-streamer who just landed for an unforgettable exploration tour, but surely we have more to offer as the land of the brave. The outside community is leveraging on opportunities in our country with an explorative eye while we use lack of capital as an excuse to live in a rock in our own country. Last year a fellow content creator recounted eagerly about a visit to a certain San Village, in Western Namibia where guests are given insight on the way of life of the oldest inhabitants of Namibia. Surely that must have been an experience and a half, to learn from an ancient and intelligent community who chose to preserve their tradition and still embraces their old tradition. In fact, tourism funding in its efforts to develop communities would even encourage creating sustainable solutions for such communities which can benefit them first before anything else.
Traveling in Namibia is not expensive, we are just not intentional enough in being part of the tourism eco-system, either as the service provider or the end-user. Either way it’s time we pick a side and explore it.
Bio:
The Mengelas are travel enthusiasts, YouTubers and content creators, who have observed a niche in the tourism Industry and are actively filling the gap by curating and facilitating trips for locals and international tourists, who need familiarity and an active travel buddy to shake of the fear of the unknown. While prompting affordable travel packages with a strong passion in innovative- tourism as a tool to empower communities through Travel with the Mengelas a subsidiary of PunyePena Travels and Shuttles. @themengelas ( Instagram, youtube,tiktok)
