The government has handed over new and upgraded infrastructure in Etosha National Park and other protected areas to improve visitor experience and strengthen conservation.
The environment, forestry and tourism minister, Indileni Daniel officiated the handover at Ombika on Friday.
She said the upgrades are aimed at improving tourism while strengthening wildlife protection and park management.
The projects, worth about N$166 million, cover Etosha, Hardap National Park and Bwabwata National Park.
They were funded by the Namibian government and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through KfW Development Bank.
Upgrades in Etosha include improvements at Ombika, Namutoni and King Nehale gates, along with new signage, comfort stops and visitor facilities.
In Hardap, the main gate and other entry points were upgraded and new facilities were built.
The projects also include investments in wildlife protection infrastructure under the Integrated Wildlife Protection Project, launched in 2021 with a total investment of N$210 million.
Of this, N$95 million was used for infrastructure such as duty stations in Etosha and Bwabwata and facilities in Sesfontein. The remaining funds were used to strengthen wildlife protection operations.
An additional N$118 million was invested to support anti-poaching efforts. This includes new staff housing, offices, operations rooms, storerooms and service blocks.
They also upgraded water and power systems, fencing, sewage infrastructure and facilities for canine units used in anti-poaching operations.
Daniel said the upgrades build on support received during the Covid-19 pandemic, when tourism stopped and conservation revenue dropped.
She said a N$195 million Covid-19 fund helped keep rangers in the field, vehicles running and patrols active.
She said the projects show the role of international cooperation in protecting Namibia’s natural resources and supporting tourism.
She called on stakeholders to maintain the infrastructure to ensure long-term benefits.
The handover was attended by National Planning Commission director general Kaire Mbuende and German Ambassador to Namibia Thorsten Hutter.
Germany has provided more than €1.6 billion in financial and technical support to Namibia since 1990, with projects worth about €600 million still underway.
Caption
New gates and visitor facilities at Etosha National Park are part of upgrades aimed at improving tourism and strengthening conservation.
- Photo: MEFT
