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This was posted to the Namibian newspapers today. I'm posting the entire article and will emphasize the most important sections regarding foreign travelers.

President Hage Geingob is updating the country about the Covid-19 situation in Namibia. He said Namibia has seen a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases, with infections now numbering 63.

He said most of the cases originate from the Erongo region. The health ministry has mobilized resources to investigate possible community transmissions in that region, the president says. He also says the lockdown of Erongo is lapsing tonight, while the rest of the country is moving to stage 4 of the corona virus pandemic restrictions next week Monday. Geingob says despite an increase in Covid-19 cases in Erongo, the region will move to stage 3 until 6 July. Travel between towns in Erongo will be permitted with the exception of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Arandis. Travelling from Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Arandis would only be allowed on an emergency basis. Geingob added that essential workers and lorry drivers would be allowed to travel out of these three towns if they have a travel permit.

Geingob adds that public gatherings are limited to 50 people, except at Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Arandis, where gatherings are limited to only 10 people. Vulnerable people would be permitted to work from home in Erongo, subject to approval by employers.

The president says it has been a complex decision to safeguard lives and boost the economy of Erongo. He says Namibia has added stage 5, to address points of entry and allow for air travel.

Namibia will migrate from stage 3 to 4 on 30 June, with relaxed regulations for 10 days, but borders remain closed. However, the government is setting up a tourism strategy to allow a minimum number of tourists in the country to boost that industry, which employs about 300 000 people.


Returning Namibians and permanent residents will now be expected to quarantine at own costs.

The resumption of pre-primary schooling will only kick off on 6 July, with the relevant ministry expected to set up new guidelines.

Geingob says in stage 4, measures have been relaxed to allow for social and economic activity to resume. He stresses that wearing a mask and practising social distancing will assist in fighting Covid-19.

By the end of Monday (22 June), 13 regions will transition to stage 4 until 17 September with the exception of Erongo region, which will transition to stage 3 today, for a period of 14 days, health minister Kalumbi Shangula said at State House this afternoon.

He said health protocols need to be adhered to once the regulations are relaxed in stage 4, which means social distancing needs to be practiced consistently and the wearing of masks remains mandatory. The minister further said those with Covid-19 symptoms should refrain from public areas and report symptoms to health authorities.
He further stressed the need for public service providers to keep a register at all times.

He said the points of entry remain closed unless it’s for essential service providers.

“Members of the public should strictly adhere to the health regulations,” he stressed. As of 30 June, all Namibians should quarantine at own cost but under government supervision. Those who are unable to quarantine at own cost, according to Shangula, can apply for government assistance.

From 15 July, Namibia will accommodate a number of tourists, from carefully selected countries.


The sale of alcohol has now been allowed to start from 09h00 to 18h00 but on a takeaway basis. Casinos and gambling houses will open to clients who have made reservations, the health minister said. Sporting events and activities are permitted to resume, including contact sports subject to 250 persons and adherence to health protocols. Night clubs are also allowed to open but restricted to not more than 250 persons and following health protocols.

In the Erongo region, Grade 12 and 11 can resume, with the exception of Walvis Bay, Arandis and Swakopmund. The resumption would be considered after two weeks. “The government will daily monitor the situation at Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Arandis to address the situation accordingly,” Shangula added.

Justice minister Yvonne Dausab has urged the public to adhere to the health regulations as the 13 regions move to stage four of relaxed regulations. “Stick to the 1 metre regulation and wear your masks,” she stressed. Speaking at the State House this afternoon, she called for public service providers to keep registers but owners should ensure the safety of the people’s information. Dausab added that the spreading of fake news, especially on extended lockdown, is a criminally, punishable offense. “Members of the public should not stigmatise people from Walvis Bay and truck drivers, especially because of the situation we find ourselves in,” she noted.

Attorney general Festus Mbandeka says as regions move to the different stages, members of the public are expected to comply with the set regulations and need to properly assist the government to avoid moving to stage 1 or 2. He further appealed to the private sector to support the government in combating Covid-19. “There is also an issue of permits with regards to Erongo. Moving out required people to register themselves. But now, only people with valid permits are allowed to move,” he said.[i][/i]

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M3taco Offline OP
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Received a message from my friend Jan this morning. He forwarded a message from NAPHA (Namibian Professional Hunters Association).

It said in part, that based on the President's announcement, they (NAPHA) are trying to work out an arrangement with the govt to allow "hunting farms" to be considered as "authorized quarantine stations", "one group at a time" for "14-days" minimum and would have "adherence to certain criteria".

Key points would be the "14-days", "one group at a time", "game farms" and "adherence to certain criteria". Based only on those comments from the NAPHA text message, my personal interpretation would be that IF something can be worked out with the govt, then perhaps those PH's/Outfitters who operate from private game farms/ranches might be allowed limited opening. I have read elsewhere that this is similar to what is being considered/being done in RSA.

Upside could be a least some limited relief for those operating from the "family farms", but perhaps not those having to operate out of or over multiple or overlapping concessions. Again, pure speculation on my part.

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Latest info on Namibia:

As of midnight tonight, 30 Jun 2020, Namibia will move to Stage 4 except for the coastal area of Swakopmund/Walvis Bay which will remain at Stage 3.

What this means is the country is basically "open" internally with some mask and social distancing limits but the BOARDERS ARE STILL CLOSED TO TOURISTS/HUNTERS.

No info/decision on when the boarders will open.

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Thanks for the update!

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Already moved my buff hunt to next year, as well as a plains game hunt in RSA. It ain’t happening this years.....

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Thanks for the thread and all the info. My wife and I are scheduled for our first trip to Namibia in 2021. We were originally trying to go this year frown

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Late update but good news:

"From the desk of Dr. André Schulz
Dear Esteemed Business Partner,
I trust that you and your loved ones are keeping safe and are in good health through these very challenging times our industry has been faced with. As international travel slowly starts to revive, today I would like to give you, our most valued business partners, some long awaited news.
In line with the recent announcement made by the Namibian authorities - which saw the Namibian borders being re-opened to international travelers with effect from 01st September 2020 - we, the Lufthansa Group would like to share our plans which form part of reviving the local tourism and commercial sector in Namibia.
With effect from 19th September 2020 and subject to all necessary government approvals being granted, Eurowings will once again serve Windhoek with three weekly flights from Frankfurt. The flight will depart Frankfurt at 20:00 and arrive in Windhoek on 20th September 2020 at 06:20 local time. Thereafter, Eurowings will operate flights every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday departing Windhoek at 08:20 and arriving in Frankfurt at 18:50. Passengers can book a round trip fare on these flights from as little as NAD 9,473 inclusive of all taxes.
Namibia remains an important part of the Lufthansa Group’s Africa network and even throughout this unprecedented crisis, we were able to successfully operate several repatriation flights to and from Windhoek. Our commitment remains to offer regular commercial services which link Namibians to Germany, Europe and the rest of the world.
For the entire Lufthansa Group, safety and travel has always gone hand-in-hand, with the utmost importance placed on the safety and security of our passengers and crew. We continue to follow stringent hygiene guidelines and practices in order to ensure that the onboard experience protects the health of our passengers.
I would like to personally thank you for your loyal support to our company and industry throughout these very challenging last months. Together we can once again look forward to taking to the skies and welcoming our passengers on board our aircraft to and from Namibia.
Yours in Travel,
Dr. André Schulz

General Manager Southern Africa & East Africa"

At today's exchange rate, that ticket price is a little less than $600 US and Euro and their website seems to indicate they will carry firearms.

Still time to get a late season hunt in.


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I cannot for the privilege to hunt in Africa someday soon. I keep on hearing great tales about hunting in Africa and the adventure.

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Rory and et al:

I'm sure others who've made several trips over the years will tell you this same thing - go and go now or as soon as you can. The reason is Africa is changing SOOO fast - some for the better and some.....not so much.

I've keep in constant contact with my friends there in Namibia, Botswana and RSA. Between the prolonged drought in much of Namibia, the WuFlu lockdowns and travel bans, the hunting industry as well as most other tourism sectors have been seriously devastated. Tourism and hunting are usually in the top 2-4 business sectors driving many African economies.

While there is at least a little hope in some loosening of travel, the email I just received this morning regarding the entry and travel requirements/limits for Namibia still make international air travel in/out too onerous for most, even me and I've been there a LOT.

On the other hand, the exchange rates for US dollar, Namibian dollar, Botswana Pula and South African Rand are the best I've seen in 15-years. My contacts there have said that their prices (daily and TF's) are staying pretty much unchanged for 2021.

My personal belief is that most of these travel restrictions will be pretty much lifted/gone by the end of this calender year. The reason is the mortality rates have not been anywhere near where they were predicted and the national economies that rely so heavily on the tourist industry can't maintain the financial (tax) losses.

Here is one example that comes to mind - Kruger National Park. KNP normally records nearly 1M visitors per year. This year it's had virtually no one. On the downside, no review to run/maintain the park and poaching has skyrocketed. On the other hand, the millions of tons of garbage and millions of gallons of sewage and the "carbon foot print" created by tourists is nearly zero as well.

Of all the external influences, from what I've read, heard and seen first hand, the Chinese have had the greatest negative impact on all of Africa as any other factor. No time this morning to go into a lot of details but I clearly remember the first year we went to Namibia 15-years ago. Not a single Asian (Chinese) person, shop, store or restaurant anywhere. Then the Namibian govt agreed to let them build a cement factory north of Windhoek in 2009-2010. Now, there are nearly 300K Chinese in the country that has a total population of only 2M. There are Chinese stores, shops, restaurants everywhere and they are buying up everything they can get their hands on. Including the controlling interest in the country's uranium mine. For those who don't know, Namibia is the fourth largest uranium producer in the world and that is just for starters.

Anyway, as they say in Africa, "make a plan" and get there as soon as you can.

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A few days behind the news, but Namibia is open for hunting as of a couple of days ago. They do have a few requirements to enter

1. Have to have Covid-19 free test taken within 72-hrs before entering
2. You have to travel directly to and back from your hunting camp
3. Your hunting camp must be approved/certified to be a self-quarantine area
4. Five days after entry, you have to go to a recognized medical facility and have a Covid-19 test
5. 72 hrs before you leave, you have to have another Covid-19 test.

As of today - the only airlines flying into Windhoek are Emirates, Qatar and Eurowings.

Two guys I'm aware of are headed in within the next couple of days. One is doing a buffalo hunt in the Waterberg Plateau NP and one is going to my friend's place, Sebra Hunts for one of those leopards I posted from his place a few months ago.

Wish them both safe travels, successful hunts and great memories.

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What a PITA.


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Originally Posted by JGRaider
What a PITA.


A joke really. I wouldn't go if the hunt was free.


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"Wish them both safe travels ..."
I wish them both no false positives on the 2 Covid-19 tests they are required to take from third world so called medical practioners in Africa. M3taco where does Namibia require those who have tested positive be quarantined? I have visions of Captain Phillips quarantined with a couple of his closest buddies in that lifeboat awaiting the Seal Team final solution. I hope your 2 travelers got all their shots.

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Bobmn:

IF I understand the process, the first Covid 19 test is done before you get on your flight. In this case for these two it will be done in the US. If they test negative, they can get on the plane - If not they don't fly.

The tests while there are required to be done at an "approved" medical clinic. The quality/accuracy of those tests.....who knows. Then too, there have been a good number of reports of botched test results here in the US as well so........

As I understand it, IF they test positive on the 5-day in country test, they simply "quarantine" where they are hunting. That is the reason for the hunting locations have to be inspected/approved. Doesn't mean they stay in their room. Just means they have to stay on the property and can still hunt if they are asymptomatic and feel up to it.

For the 3-day prior to departure for home test, it's the same as leaving/flying from the US over.

Your last question about shots - the nicest part about Namibia is a very large part, mostly S of the Kunene River along the Angola/Namibia boarder and SW of the Okavango Rive Delta and Caprivi Strip area of the country, is outside of the general malaria risk area, especially so when outside the rainy season. Therefore, no "shots" are required and no anti-malaria meds either. Only thing I would recommend is having an upto date Tetanus shot. I also always take a 90-day supply of doxycycline "just in case". It can be used as a malaria preventative and treatment and also for treating tick bite fever and a few other illnesses.

I've read one medical article that made the claim that one possible reason the WuFlu hasn't devastated Africa as expected is the wide spread use of Hydroxychloroquine as an anti-malarial.

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Thanks for the update M3Taco

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Quick update - Jan's leopard client arrived this morning safe and sound in Windhoek. He flew on Ethiopian Airlines from Dulles to Addis and into Windhoek. Only a minor hiccup in Addis that he easily sorted out - don't know what it was but everything, including rifles and ammo arrived just fine.

Jan started putting out fresh baits a few days ago and has a little better than average male and a female hitting already. The male is not one of the two Jan sent me pics of and I posted on another thread but, he's respectable. They have 14-days to see if one of the big two big boys come to a bait.

I'll post up how it goes here as things progress. Since we can't be there ourselves at least we can live a little victoriously thru them.

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Had a PM from NDHuntr this morning. He just returned from Namibia last (Sat) night. He's given me permission to post a short synopsis of his buffalo trip to the Waterberg Plateau and some PG hunting afterwords. He's going to post up a trip report when he gets caught up.

He flew Ethiopian Air, business class, from Dulles too. Did the Covid test 72hrs before getting on the plane and they did check his cert. Similar minor confusion in Addis but was easily sorted out and he and everything else arrived on time.

Arrival in Windhoek wasn't too out of the ordinary. They did a facial temp scan when he entered the arrival door area just before the Immigration/Passport control area and also had to fill out a medical questionnaire. I'm guessing something similar they require when there is a regional yellow fever outbreak, but no big deal. He did the email advanced temp firearm import request but was told by the NAMPOL Officer the email had been down due to construction around the terminal. Only two hunters collecting firearms so the regular manual process was easy enough, collected the rest of his stuff and was on his way.

I'll leave the details of his very successful hunt for him to post - Weidmannsheil ND!!!

He did NOT have to get the second or departure Covid test. Just another facial temp scan and contact info while he was in country and show the negative Covid test he took in the US before going over. Only other thing was having to wear the 'face diaper" (my term) on the flights unless eating or drinking.

Officially, the hunting season ends 1 Nov. While there might still be time for a rapid hunt there, it is already getting HOT. At least things are looking up for 2021. I've seen sat imagery that has shown very strong winds blowing west off the Namib desert that were strong enough to be carrying sand a few hundred kilometers off shore. Historically, those kinds of winds are the harbinger of good rains to come. Lord knows they desperately need them.

Congrats again NDHuntr.

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A minor correction to M3Taco’s post: Jan’s Hunter from Maine is there on a 21 day hunt, not 14. The bait site where all the Leopard activity is taking place is called “Alex” and I shot a ration Gemsbok and a 55 1/2” Kudu bull there last May. It’s an awesome elevated steel blind overlooking a waterhole and has always been a Leopard hot spot. Lots of other critters hang around that area, including baboons, guinea fowls and other plains game.


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The "Alex" area has been a good spot for a number of years, even before Jan built the permanent elevated blind. My wife took a 59 1/2" kudu from that valley in 2012 and I lucked across that 59 7/8" one in 2013 that's hanging in the breezeway between the two rooms at the guest bungalow. There have also been a number of 40"+ gemsbok bulls taken out of that same valley.

If the current leopard client is on a 21-day hunt then I'm willing to bet he will be introduced to one of those two really good Tom's that were in the trail cam photos a couple of months back. As warm as it's getting, if he connects, he will have earned it. Good luck to both!!!

Edited to add: The two really good toms in the pics I posted back in April were at a different bait site - Rondowel.

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Thanks so much for the updates they are greatly appreciated !

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