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Home / Erindi could cost government N$1.43 billion
Erindi could cost government N$1.43 billion
2015-03-19Staff Report 2 WINDHOEK - The largest privately-owned game reserve in Southern Africa, the massive 72 000-hectare Erindi game farm, which has been hailed as a unique and successful nature conservation venture, is soon expected to be offered to government for N$1.43 billion after initially being offered for N$1.3 billion a year ago. However, the Minister of Lands and Resettlement Alpheus !Naruseb yesterday confirmed that while the state is interested in buying the world-renowned game enterprise, government has not yet been made any new offer after the initial offer of N$1.3 billion was withdrawn. “They have not yet made any new offer to government,” said !Naruseb. However, speaking to New Era from Cape Town, South Africa, one of Erindi’s co-owners, Gert Joubert, said: “We have added an inflationary increase of 10 percent but we still have to make a presentation to government.” He added he has invested hundreds of millions of dollars, which he made through property developments in South Africa, into Erindi. “We will talk to government to see if they are interested,” said Joubert, adding he has invested in Namibia most of the money he made through South African business ventures. The game farm, which was once over-stocked and over-grazed with cattle, is now teeming with rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, hippo, eland, hyena and giraffe. Erindi is also home to crocodiles, anteaters and hundreds of bird species and attracts thousands of high-end tourists every year. While Joubert admits government must be given the first option to purchase the farm, he has reportedly not ruled out offers from private buyers should the government deal not materialise. Erindi was converted from a cattle farm into a nature conservation venture. During the last few years Erindi has successfully transformed itself into a unique ecotourism and conservation enterprise and now constantly implements and monitors programmes across all aspects of land rehabilitation. 2015-03-19Staff Report 2
