Also known as: NWR
State-owned entity managing Namibian national parks and tourism resorts including Etosha and Fish River Canyon, currently undergoing turnaround strategy.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Namibia Wildlife Resorts must relinquish Shark Island to the National Heritage Council of Namibia
“Namibia Wildlife Resorts must relinquish the site to the National Heritage Council of Namibia.”
Finally, a Public Day to Memorialise Our Genocide VictimsThe Namibian
Namibia Wildlife Resorts perennially depends on bailouts while competitors are highly profitable
“Few Namibians seem willing to critique why the government's 100% ownership in the likes of Namibia Wildlife Resorts, which has exclusive control of most tourism resorts, is a dismal failure such that NWR perennially depends on bailouts while its competitors are highly profitable.”
Of State Shareholding in OilThe Namibian
Namibia Wildlife Resorts criticised Shifeta's decision to award Kandume the Namib Desert deal
“Shifeta's decision to award Kandume the deal was criticised by the state-owned Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) and other tourism operators who said such a move would damage the desert, create a monopoly for Kandume's company, and result in job losses.”
The darling of agriculture tendersThe Namibian
Namibia Wildlife Resorts partnered with ten Namibian content creators and personalities on an influencer deal
“Koneka's milestone came when she was selected as one of the ten Namibian content creators and personalities who partnered with Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) on an influencer deal that saw average travel loversvvisiting resorts around the country and documenting their experiences for social media.”
Living The Dream With NdapewaNamibia Wildlife Resorts says Duwisib Castle will remain closed until operations, maintenance and infrastructure requirements are completed. The resort has been closed to visitors since 2022 following Covid-19 impact and ongoing maintenance challenges, amid claims the state-owned company plans to privatise some resorts.
15 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia Wildlife Resorts says Duwisib Castle will remain closed until operations, maintenance and infrastructure requirements are completed. The resort has been closed to visitors since 2022 following Covid-19 impact and ongoing maintenance challenges, amid claims the state-owned company plans to privatise some resorts.
15 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) scored 20 out of 20 in IJG Securities' 2026 Public Enterprise Governance Ranking, which assessed public enterprises over five years on annual report publication, profitability, fiscal transfer reliance, and CEO stability. NamPort, Agribank, and NamibRe placed second with 19 points each, while NamPower and NamWater tied for fifth with 18 points.
14 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Rising water levels in the Fish River Canyon left 96 tourists stranded, with many exit points blocked. The Namibian Police Force used a helicopter to airlift 68 hikers from various points in the canyon on 22 June 2026, with all rescued without injuries.
23 June 2026 · Informanté →
All 96 hikers stranded in the Fish River Canyon since Sunday have been rescued after overflowing dams caused dangerous water levels downstream. The hikers, part of Namibia Wildlife Resorts' annual winter hike, became trapped after heavy rains filled the Naute Dam beyond capacity, forcing NamWater to open its sluice gates.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Heavy rainfall and dam releases caused water levels in Fish River Canyon to rise sharply, trapping nine hiking groups. The Namibian Police successfully evacuated all 96 hikers, including children, with no injuries reported.
23 June 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia Wildlife Resorts is rescuing 96 hikers from nine groups stranded in Fish River Canyon since Sunday after heavy rains caused the Naute Dam to exceed capacity, forcing NamWater to open sluice gates that sent dangerous, rapidly rising water downstream. The Fish River hiking trail has been temporarily closed until conditions are declared safe.
22 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Ninety-six hikers, including school children, are trapped in Fish River Canyon after heavy rainfall and dam releases caused water levels to rise. Police and Namibia Wildlife Resorts have launched a rescue operation involving ground teams and a helicopter.
22 June 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia Wildlife Resorts has temporarily closed the Fish River Canyon Hike following heavy rainfall in the Naute Dam catchment area and the opening of sluice gates, which pose a safety risk. The Naute Dam reached 117.3% capacity and released water at about 780 m³/s into the Fish River, while the Neckartal Dam also overflowed at 105.7% capacity with a spilling rate of 870 m³/s.
21 June 2026 · Informanté →
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.
14 May 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
14 May 2026 · Informanté →
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.
7 May 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
2 May 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
26 April 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
31 March 2026 · Informanté →
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.
12 March 2026 · New Era →
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.
10 March 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
6 March 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
3 March 2026 · Informanté →
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.
11 February 2026 · New Era →
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.
6 February 2026 · New Era →
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.
1 February 2026 · The Namibian →
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."
26 January 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
10 January 2026 · Informanté →