Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

NWR, Shifeta negotiate train concession

Home National NWR, Shifeta negotiate train concession
NWR, Shifeta negotiate train concession

The Namibia Wildlife Resorts and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta are currently engaged in negotiations to try and find a solution to his disputed decision to grant 20-year exclusive rights to a hospitality company to build and operate a passenger train to Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

NWR dragged the minister to court after Shifeta on 19 March 2020 granted concession rights to Sky Eye Tour and Hospitality to operate a tethered helium balloon, as well as to construct and operate a motorised transport system in a form of a train in Sossusvlei.

The motorised transport system will cover approximately four kilometres, starting where the tarred road ends. 

This section of the road to the Sossusvlei and Deadvlei area is only reachable by 4×4 vehicles.

This part of the road will be closed off to all vehicles, and tourists will be transported exclusively by train.

NWR wants Shifeta’s decision reviewed and set aside.  NWR claims that not only were they not consulted, but the passenger train will also affect their main revenue generation source.  The company has been operating a shuttle service on that road since April 2010 and has made more than N$60 million in revenue to date, it claims. 

According to NWR, because of its untouched beauty and desolated nature, Sossusvlei is a prime tourist destination. 

However, all that is in danger if a passenger train railway is constructed. 

This might decrease the number of tourists who want to experience natural beauty.  Yesterday, the parties requested the court for a postponement, as they are trying to resolve the matter amongst themselves.

Windhoek High Court Judge Herman Oosthuizen postponed the matter to 12 December to allow the parties to reach a settlement.

According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, Sky Eye Tour and Hospitality has since written to the ministry, informing them of their plans not to continue with the disputed project due to financial reasons.

– mamakali@nepc.com.na