Competition body grants 90-day extension in exclusive safari deal probe

The Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), has granted a 90-day extension to the tourism company Ultimate Safaris and three communal conservancies under investigation for alleged anti-competitive conduct.

In a statement issued by NaCC spokesperson Dina //Gowases on Wednesday, the commission said it had a meeting with the MEFT on 14 March to discuss the matter and agreed to extend the response period for the parties involved.

The conservancies involved are Doro !Nawas, Uibasen Twyfelfontein and Sorris Sorris, all located in the Kunene region.

The probe stems from a complaint received in September last year, alleging that the conservancies entered into exclusive agreements with Ultimate Safaris, potentially breaching competition laws.

“In January 2025, the commission advised the conservancies to consider terminating the exclusive agreements between them and to confirm in writing that they have ceased with the exclusive conduct, within 30 days of that notice,” //Gowases says.

The commission further warned that failure to comply would result in enforcement action under the Competition Act of 2003.

“The commission welcomed the opportunity to engage and collectively find a mutually beneficial way forward in dealing with the matter,” //Gowases adds.

As part of the agreed way forward, the MEFT will communicate the 90-day extension to the affected parties and is expected to submit a report to the commission detailing the legislative and historical context of communal conservancies in Namibia.

“This report will form the basis of further technical consultations between the MEFT and the commission to determine the best possible way forward,” she says.

In the meantime the commission has not ruled out future enforcement actions, pending the outcome of the consultations.