Operators, visitors can still access Sossusvlei – ministry

Concerns about corruption and monopolisation persist after the Ministry of Environment and Tourism awarded a private concession for tourist transport at Sossusvlei.

Tour operators and members of the public say the initial non-exclusive concession terms agreed upon with the government have become exclusive during implementation, creating a monopoly for the concessionaire.

Dawid Erb, a tour operator, says since the awarding of the shuttle concession, self-drive visitors and other registered tour operators and lodges have been prohibited from accessing Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park

“The awarding of this concession started problematically. First it was awarded without a tender and then that was cancelled. A tender process followed and a new company was awarded the concession.

“But now we can’t access Sossusvlei as we used to. Only the concession holder can shuttle tourists, use certain pick-up points for their clients, and so on,” he says.

He says the ministry must clarify the rules regarding access to the park.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry, however, says the shuttle concession awarded to a private operator in the park does not restrict self-drive visitors and Namibia Tourism Board-registered tour operators and lodges from accessing Sossusvlei.

“The ministry reassures all stakeholders, including the media and the public, that the concession does not stop other operators from conducting business at Sossusvlei, except for unregistered operators, vehicles that are damaging to the environment, such as busses and trucks, as well as unsuitable 2×4’s,” the statement says.

The ministry reiterates its commitment to promoting tourism development and sustainable natural resources management.

The ministry initially granted the 20-year concession to Sky Eye Hospitality and Tours, without a public tender process, in 2020/21.

This decision faced strong opposition from the state-owned Namibia Wildlife Resorts, which previously operated the shuttle service and lost significant annual revenue as a result.

The company planned to introduce a train and pay-to-use road system in the sensitive desert environment and was heavily criticised. The concession was ultimately cancelled.

In a more recent development from 2024, the concession was re-tendered, and the new contract was awarded to a different entity, About Africa Co., through Adelt Sossusvlei Concession Management.

The new agreement involves a guided 4×4 excursion service and aims to channel over N$100 million into local community development funds.

Earlier this month, Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda alleged corruption in the awarding of the tender as the party highlighted procedural irregularities.

Amupanda raised concerns over the transparency and fairness of the concession application process, including holding public consultations far from the affected area and inconsistencies in public notices.

He claimed the tourism ministry as well as the Office of the Environmental Commissioners was captured by business officials.

“How else does one explain this; (1) a public consultation taking place in the Khomas region, more than 100km from the affected area in the Hardap region; (2) placing a public notice in the Hardap region in June while the meeting already took place in May? It is absolutely clear that in our country, environmental clearance certificates may be issued corruptly,” he said.

The tourism ministry has denied any wrongdoing.

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