State-owned tourism entity managing national parks and wildlife facilities; managing director Margaret Gustavo appointed in May 2026 for two-year turnaround period.
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May 2026
Informanté
Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR)announcedFish River Hiking Season will open on Friday, 15 May 2026
Source
“THE Fish River Hiking Season will officially open on Friday, 15 May 2026, following a temporary postponement due to high water levels in the Fish River Canyon, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has announced.”
NWRsaidwater levels in the canyon have subsided to safe and manageable conditions
Source
“In a statement, NWR said recent assessments and monitoring of the hiking trail confirmed that water levels in the canyon have subsided to safe and manageable conditions, allowing for the resumption of one of Namibia's most iconic hiking experiences.”
Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR)has postponedall Fish River Canyon hiking activities scheduled to commence on 1 May to the second week of May
Source
“Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has postponed all Fish River Canyon hiking activities in the ǁKharas region that were scheduled to commence on 1 May to the second week of May.”
Namibia Wildlife Resortsoperates camps atOkaukeujo, Namutoni and Halali (to be excluded from claim)
Source
“The association and 10 of its members, including chairperson Hai||om elder Jan Tsumib, are also asking the court to declare that the Hai||om people are entitled to "the exclusive beneficial occupation and use of the land" on which Etosha National Park was created in 1958, but excluding the Namibia Wildlife Resorts camps at Okaukeujo, Namutoni and Halali, and of 11 farms in the Mangetti West area.”
Namibia Wildlife Resortsacknowledgedpublic concerns regarding service delivery and facility conditions
Source
“NAMIBIA Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has acknowledged the concerns raised by the public and its long-time visitors regarding service delivery and the state of their facilities within the Etosha National Park.”
Namibia Wildlife Resortsinitiatedphased maintenance and upgrade strategy for ageing facilities
Source
“To address ageing facilities, NWR has initiated a phased maintenance and upgrade strategy within the realm and full compliance of the Procurement Act (Act No. 15 of 2015).”
Namibia Wildlife Resortsis working towarda more sustainable maintenance cycle moving from reactive to proactive upkeep
Source
“"We are working toward a more sustainable maintenance cycle that moves away from 'reactive' repairs to 'proactive' upkeep, ensuring that the heritage of our parks is preserved for future generations," Kasuto concluded.”
Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR)has launchedcomprehensive series of initiatives for budget-friendly travel through mid-2026
Source
“NWR has launched a comprehensive series of initiatives designed to make budget-friendly travel a reality for domestic and Southern African Development Community (SADC) travellers through mid-2026.”
Cabinet has approved the appointment of Margaret Gustavo as acting managing director of Namibia Wildlife Resorts for a two-year period ending April 2028, as government moves to stabilise the state-owned tourism entity. Cabinet has also directed the Ministry to develop a comprehensive turnaround strategy for the parastatal over the next 24 months.
Why it matters
Margaret Gustavo's appointment as NWR acting managing director signals government effort to stabilise struggling state-owned tourism entity with two-year turnaround strategy.
Cabinet has approved the appointment of Margaret Gustavo as acting managing director of Namibia Wildlife Resorts for a two-year period ending April 2028, as government moves to stabilise the state-owned tourism entity. Cabinet has also directed the Ministry to develop a comprehensive turnaround strategy for the parastatal over the next 24 months.
Namibia Wildlife Resorts announced that the Fish River Hiking Season will officially open on 15 May 2026, following a temporary postponement due to high water levels in the canyon. Recent assessments confirmed water levels have subsided to safe and manageable conditions.
The Namibian Competition Commission faces criticism for investigating conservancy tourism partnerships, with the Chamber of Environment calling instead for a probe into Namibia Wildlife Resorts' alleged anti-competitive dominance in national parks. The dispute raises questions about whether competition law is being applied in a way that could undermine the communal conservancy tourism model that supports rural livelihoods and conservation.
Namibia Wildlife Resorts has postponed all Fish River Canyon hiking activities scheduled to commence on 1 May to the second week of May due to significantly increased water levels and strong river flows caused by recent rainfall. The Naute Dam sluices were opened by NamWater after the dam level exceeded 111% capacity.
Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi ordered an investigation into alleged tribal bias in recruitment at the Roads Authority, finding it employs about 74 people from the Zambezi region compared to more than 300 from northern Namibia. The probe has revived broader allegations of tribalism in hiring practices across Namibian state-owned enterprises and government offices.
The Minister of Environment has inaugurated a Solid Waste Management Facility at Etosha National Park, emphasizing the need for environmental education alongside infrastructure to improve waste management practices. The facility, funded by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia, addresses poor waste management at wildlife resorts and will be operated by Rent-A-Drum.
Swapo MP Tobie Aupindi has proposed a "Commodity Dividend Model" under which Namibia would receive mining and resource dividends in physical commodities like gold, uranium, and lithium rather than fiat currency, arguing this would protect the country against inflation and currency volatility while building a strategic reserve. Aupindi also called for greater industrialisation, more effective taxation of mineral rents, reform of state-owned enterprises, and a shift from passive SACU reliance toward regional value chains and manufacturing.
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture has invited industry stakeholders to help shape the return of the Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs), which have been dormant since MTC withdrew funding in 2020. A stakeholder engagement session is scheduled for 14 March to strengthen the awards' credibility and gather input on award categories, industry development needs, and future direction.
The Hai||om Association, formed in 2024, has filed a lawsuit claiming N$2.8 trillion in compensation for the expulsion of Hai||om San members from Etosha National Park and the Mangetti West farms, alleging German colonial genocide, subsequent human rights violations, and a forced eviction in 1954. The association seeks either ownership of the land, equivalent replacement land, or compensation equal to the estimated market value of the disputed territories.
The Namibian Tourism Board used banners depicting a Thompson's Gazelle (which does not occur in Namibia) and an AI-generated elephant at international tourism fairs. The opinion piece awards the NTB, NIPDB, and South African Airways "Mamparra of the Year" for the embarrassing error.
Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo has moved the Tourism Protection Unit from regional to national oversight, expanding it from four to 15 officers and equipping it with resources including vehicles and communication tools to combat crimes against tourists, including theft, fraud and online scams that damage Namibia's reputation as a safe destination.
Namibia's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has recommended stronger policies, funding, and inter-ministerial collaboration to unlock the country's resource potential and align sector strategies with national development priorities including Vision 2030. The mining sector contributed 13.3% to GDP in 2024, while the government received N$7.32 billion in mining revenue, but challenges persist in land reform, energy, and conservation funding.
Botswana Oil flagged that fuel trucks loaded from Namcor's Walvis Bay terminal in early January failed quality tests for octane rating, raising concerns that substandard fuel may have entered Namibia's retail network and could damage engines. Namcor disputes the allegations, saying the product met specifications at discharge and underwent standard testing procedures.
The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation has denied allegations that it intends to conduct re-interviews for the director general position, a role vacant since outgoing chief Stanley Similo's contract expired last year. NBC board chairperson Lazarus Jacobs said the recruitment process remains incomplete and that any claims about re-interviews are "speculation, innuendo and rumour mongering."
Namibia Wildlife Resorts has acknowledged public complaints about service delivery and facility conditions at Etosha National Park, citing festive season visitor concerns raised on social media and reports of waste management failures. The company says it is implementing unannounced quality audits, phased maintenance upgrades prioritizing high-impact areas, and enhanced staff training through a partnership with NUST to improve guest experience.