Latest News from NAPHA
- Front Office
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Issue 11/2025 19 December 2025
Christmas Message
Dear NAPHA Members and Friends,
Looking back at the 2025 season, which soon will be something of the past, to name only one highlight would not do the year justice. From my understanding, most outfitters had an exceptionally good season, and I believe the entire Namibian tourism industry is booming for everyone.
However, as this message is about Christmas, I would like to wish every member a blessed festive season in 2025. Christmas is a time to slow down and spend some time with family and loved ones. May we all have the opportunity to find our calm and relax and make the most of this special time with our loved ones. For those who still have to do emergency work or are not blessed with a chance to slow down, we wish you all the best. We appreciate your services and sincerely hope you will soon get a chance to relax. For those who still have to travel to their holiday destinations, may you travel safely.
Let us celebrate in such a way that we remember and honour the real reason for Christmas.
Let us be thankful for having the privilege of living in one of the best countries in the world, where peace and stability are the norm. Recent happenings in Australia and other places around the world just confirm that we should give credit to our government for ensuring our peace and stability.
I really hope all of you had some rain by this time and wish you all a wonderful 2026 season with lots of more rain. Let us use 2026 to do what we do best and live and operate in such a way that we conserve the land and animals for future generations. We have a responsibility to ensure that we uphold the ethical hunting values in our country by setting the example.
I would like to thank the NAPHA members for your continued support.
A big thanks also to our office staff for their hard work and commitment to ensure the smooth operation of our office.
Lastly, congratulations to Mariaan, who will surely be missed in the office, but that is the reality of life. We wish her all the best for her future. Luckily, she is not completely lost to NAPHA as she will continue to work remotely.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Best regards,
Hannes du Plessis
President, NAPHA ExCo and Office
Namibia Professional Hunting Association
Advertising, Approval, and Accountability
Staying compliant with Namibia’s conservation legislation is not simply a legal requirement, it is one of the ways we protect ourselves, our colleagues, and the reputation of ethical hunting in this country. As an association, NAPHA continues to encourage members to approach compliance as part of everyday good practice, rather than as an administrative burden.
Members are reminded of the requirements set out in the Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975, specifically Regulation 106, which governs the advertising of hunting for the purpose of trophies. In simple terms, only the owner or lessee of a registered hunting farm, or the owner or manager of a guest farm or safari undertaking, may advertise trophy hunting in Namibia. In addition, no advertisement, brochure, or pamphlet may be printed or distributed without prior written approval from the Director of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, and all such material must clearly state the services being offered.
Consistent compliance protects members from unnecessary risk and reduces the likelihood of fingers being pointed at individual operators or at the Namibian hunting fraternity as a whole. It also strengthens our position when engaging with the authorities and other stakeholders.
Advertising and public communication today extend well beyond printed brochures. Social media posts, websites, and online marketing are increasingly viewed in the same light as formal advertising. For this reason, members are encouraged to apply the same care and judgement to their online presence.
Namibia is widely recognised for its balanced land use, where conservation, agriculture, tourism, and rural livelihoods work alongside one another. Ethical hunting plays a direct role in maintaining this balance. How we present hunting publicly should reflect that reality.
Hunters are not only operators, but custodians of wildlife and its habitats. The images we share, the language we use, and the way we engage online all contribute to how hunting is perceived, both locally and internationally.
As a general guide, members are encouraged to present animals in a respectful and dignified manner, share factual and educational content about conservation and wildlife management, and highlight responsible practices and community involvement where appropriate. Transparency, accuracy, and professionalism should remain central to all public communication.
Equally important is knowing where to draw the line. Sensational or provocative content, undignified images of animals, aggressive or boastful language, unverified claims, and emotional online arguments do nothing to support ethical hunting and often cause avoidable harm.
By remaining compliant with legislation and mindful in how we communicate, members help safeguard their own operations while strengthening the credibility of the hunting community as a whole. In the long term, these small, consistent decisions are what protect our profession and ensure its future in Namibia.
In Remembrance of Dr. Michael G. Sabbeth
(16.03.1947 - 24.11.2025)
It is with sincere sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Michael Sabbeth.
Michael was a valued supporter of NAPHA and honoured the Association with insightful and thought-provoking presentations at past AGMs. His contribution to the broader hunting and conservation discourse, particularly in defence of ethical and sustainable hunting, left a lasting impression on many within our community.
By profession, Michael was an accomplished attorney with decades of experience in personal injury and workers’ compensation law in the United States. Beyond his legal career, he was a respected author, lecturer and advocate for ethical reasoning, rhetoric and professionalism. His work extended into hunting education, where he lectured nationally on defending and advancing hunting and the shooting sports, including at Safari Club International, Dallas Safari Club and international hunter education conventions.
Michael was deeply committed to education, having taught ethics to children for over twenty years, and authored The Good, The Bad and The Difference, a guide on moral decision-making for young people. He was also an NRA-certified instructor, a contributor to numerous international hunting publications, and a strong voice for reasoned, principled advocacy in an increasingly hostile global environment for hunting.
His 2016 address in Namibia, titled Honouring and Defending the Real World of Conservation and Compassion, remains particularly memorable. In it, he spoke with clarity and conviction about the moral, practical and human realities of conservation hunting, and about Namibia’s leadership role in ethical wildlife management. His respect for Namibia, its people and its conservation model was evident, genuine and deeply appreciated.
Michael returned once again to address NAPHA in 2022, presenting on the highly relevant topic of How to Deal with Hostile Media. His session was timely and practical, drawing directly on his legal background and long-standing interest in the ethical use of language and rhetoric.
Michael Sabbeth will be remembered as a thoughtful ally, an articulate defender of conservation through use, and a man who believed firmly in standing up, with confidence and integrity, for what is right.
We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be dearly missed.
Namibian Trophy Hunting Prices 2026 - Survey Results
NAPHA received 35 submissions to the Average Trophy Price 2026 survey. While the number of responses is limited and therefore cannot be regarded as a fully representative reflection of prices for 2026, the results do provide a useful general indication of current trends and expectations within our community.
We would like to sincerely thank all members who took the time to participate and share their input. Your contributions remain valuable in helping us build a broader picture for planning and reference purposes. Please note that the survey was conducted anonymously, which means NAPHA is unable to follow up directly with individual respondents.
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