Latest News from NAPHA Issue 05/26
- Kristin Maritz
- Apr 30
- 10 min read
Issue 05/2026 05 May 2026
In this Edition:
Safari Greetings
As we move into the colder months, there is a noticeable shift across the country. The announcement of the meat hunting season marks the beginning of the cold season a time that is also central to our members. It signals the start of the high season for conservation hunting, where the work done throughout the year comes together in the field.
Camps are opened and prepared, clients are arriving, and the pace is picking up. With that comes both opportunity and responsibility. This is the time where professionalism, preparation, and attention to detail matter most, not only in the hunt itself, but in the overall experience we deliver.
From the office side, we remain aware of the pressure this season brings. The long days, the expectations, and the responsibility of representing Namibia on an international level. It is not always visible, but it is recognised. The strength of this community lies in the consistency of its members and the standards you uphold, even when it is not easy.
This edition brings together updates that are relevant to where we find ourselves now. From training initiatives to practical reminders, the aim is to support you during this busy period and to keep everyone aligned.
Thank you for the role each of you plays. The reputation of Namibia as a conservation hunting destination is built through your work, your decisions, and your conduct every single day. We wish you a safe and successful season ahead.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!
NAPHA ExCo and Office
Namibia Professional Hunting Association
Refresh your Memory on the Foot and Mouth Disease Guidelines:
Beyond Recognition:
The Value of NAPHA Medals
NAPHA medals have never simply been about recognition. They reflect a shared commitment to doing things properly and to upholding the standards that define conservation hunting in Namibia. When members promote and sell medals, they are not only supporting the association financially, they are reinforcing the values that hold this community together.
Medal sales remain one of NAPHA’s key income streams, but their impact goes further. With every medal sold, N$75 is contributed to the Hunters Support Education Committee. Each application therefore directly supports conservation education and helps introduce young Namibians to wildlife and responsible hunting practices. It is a practical way of investing in the future.
For hunting guests, a NAPHA medal adds real meaning to their trophy. It confirms that the animal was selected responsibly, based on maturity and sustainability. In a time where hunting is often questioned, that assurance matters. It allows clients to leave with confidence in the way their hunt was conducted.
It is also important to remember that value is not limited to gold or game fields medals. Bronze and silver trophies represent good, honest hunting and should be recognised as such. The conservation medal carries even deeper significance, reflecting the integrity of choosing sustainability over size. These are the stories worth telling.
For hunting professionals, medals quietly demonstrate consistency and care in animal selection. Over time, this builds credibility and trust, making medal submissions a strong form of marketing without the need for words.
NAPHA continues to reward participation at all levels. While the AGM Medal Sales Awards recognise top sellers, anyone purchasing more than five medals qualifies for incentives, regardless of membership. In addition, an award will be introduced for the taxidermy and dip and ship company submitting the most applications.
Looking ahead, NAPHA is in the process of creating a a free online Age Related Trophy Measuring course, which will allow anyone worldwide to learn about our system, measure trophies and submit applications, including for past hunts.
Promoting NAPHA medals is not a formality. It is a direct contribution to conservation, education, and the reputation of ethical hunting in Namibia.
Have a look at our Leading Medal Sellers
Strengthening Hospitality Standards in the Hunting Community
The recent NAPHA Housekeeping Course has successfully concluded, marking another practical step in strengthening standards within Namibia’s hunting and hospitality space.
This course brought together individuals committed to improving their skills in areas that are often overlooked, yet remain essential to the overall client experience. From professional cleaning routines and presentation, to service etiquette and attention to detail, the training focused on the elements that quietly define quality. The level of engagement throughout the course reflected a clear willingness among participants to invest in themselves and in the roles they fulfil within the broader hunting community.
A sincere thank you is extended to everyone who attended. Your effort, discipline, and openness to learning are what continue to raise the standard across the board. It is this kind of participation that ensures Namibia remains competitive, credible, and respected as a destination where professionalism is not negotiable.
Special appreciation is also due to Anke Halenke for hosting the course and providing an environment that supported both learning and practical application. The setting allowed for focused training, while still reflecting the realities participants will face in their day-to-day work.
Courses such as this form part of NAPHA’s ongoing commitment to training and development. While much attention is often placed on the field side of hunting, the experience delivered off the field is just as important. Housekeeping, presentation, and service standards play a direct role in how guests perceive their time in Namibia, and ultimately how they speak about it afterwards.
By continuing to invest in these areas, NAPHA aims to ensure that the hunting community delivers a complete, consistent, and professional experience at every level.
Growing Together: Join the Hunters Support Education - Nature Awareness Project Committee
In a world where children are increasingly disconnected from nature, the Nature Awareness Project—under the umbrella of Hunters Support Education—is working passionately to bring NATURE EDUCATION back into young lives.
Thanks to the generous support of NAPHA's medal sales and other valued sponsors, we are proud to facilitate meaningful nature experiences for learners across Namibia. Through guided outings, students are given the opportunity to explore and understand the richness of our country’s fauna and flora. Under the guidance of our dedicated nature coach, Ume Goldbeck, these experiences at Moonrakers are not only educational, but deeply inspiring.
To date we organized and sponsored 4 school outings to Moonraker already and video footage will be published on social media.
Our impact stretches far beyond excursions. Across the country, we are actively involved in school-based garden projects that promote sustainability and self-sufficiency. These initiatives empower learners with practical skills while nurturing respect for the environment.
One project sponsored by our committee is a vegetable garden at Otjozondu School. School children under the guidance of teachers cleaned a piece of land to create vegetable beds. Seasonal vegetables will be grown for own use at the school, but it is envisaged to also sell excess produce to create finances for sustainability of this project. Another project is at the Athena Academy in Aris, a small tutoring center that focuses on children with barriers to education. These real-life skills of teaching the children the importance of sustainability while supporting the community will be a huge asset to their education.
In addition, we are excited about an upcoming collaboration: Isabelle Fourie will be engaging with the Young Hunters Committee & Education Committee to develop an informative booklet on Namibia’s herbs and plants—an invaluable resource that will further strengthen environmental knowledge and appreciation among the youth as well as adults.
As we continue to grow, so does our vision—and we cannot do it alone.
We are calling on young hunters, nature enthusiasts, conservationists, and anyone passionate about education and the environment to join our committee. You do not need to be a hunter—only someone who shares our commitment to conservation, learning, and making a difference.
If you are motivated, goal-driven, and eager to contribute to meaningful projects that shape the next generation, we would love to hear from you.
Please reach out directly or contact our chairlady, Gudrun Heger, gudrun@otjiruse.com or 081 280 5901 to become part of our expanding team. Together, we can create even more impactful initiatives and celebrate inspiring success stories at the end of the year.
Let’s grow, protect, and inspire—together. 🌱
Yours in Nature
HSE / NAP Team
MEFT Announces 2026 Meat Hunting Season
The official announcement for the 2026 meat hunting season has now been released by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), and members can proceed with final preparations.
The season for huntable game on farms of at least 1,000 hectares is confirmed as follows: 01 May to 31 August 2026 on properties enclosed with registered game-proof fencing, and 01 June to 31 July 2026 on farms with adequate (livestock) fencing . Conservancies follow the full 01 May to 31 August period.
Members are reminded to adhere strictly to the prescribed hunting limits. A hunter may take either three large game animals, or a combination of two large and four small game, or one large and eight small game, or up to twelve small game animals. Only one kudu may be hunted per person during the season. Large game includes kudu and oryx, while small game includes springbok and warthog.
As always, hunting may only take place on invitation from the landowner, lessee, or conservancy. Permits must be applied for by the landowner or relevant authority and not by the hunter directly. It remains essential that invitation letters are complete and accurate, especially for international guests, as these are required for legal compliance and firearm importation.
Members hosting international clients are again urged to remain mindful of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) precautions. Basic biosecurity measures such as disinfecting footwear, equipment, and vehicles, and limiting unnecessary movement between areas, are critical in protecting both livestock and wildlife.
With the season now officially open, members are encouraged to ensure that all documentation, permits, and operational preparations are in place. A compliant and well-managed season reflects on the professionalism of the entire hunting community.
Namibia launches platform to strengthen wildlife legislation
Translated from NAU Newsletter, 01 May 2026
Namibia has taken a significant step towards modernising its framework for wildlife management with the official launch of a dedicated Legal Hub – an online platform that provides centralised access to legislation relating to wildlife, wildlife management and conservation. The Namibian platform was launched on 25 April 2026 by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Indileni Daniel.
The Legal Hub is a web-based platform established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), where anyone seeking information on wildlife-related legislation can access relevant laws and regulations in one place. It is designed to make Namibia’s wildlife legislation accessible and user-friendly for all stakeholders, including government officials, legal practitioners, farmers and the broader community.
The platform was developed through broad international cooperation. Partners involved in the project include the FAO, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the European Union (EU), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the French Development Agency (AFD). The initiative represents more than a year of coordinated effort by these organisations.
A key component of the project was a comprehensive legal analysis conducted by Stefanie Busch of ENS Africa, a law firm appointed by the Ministry. Her work included a systematic review of all sectors affected by wildlife legislation in Namibia, including land use, agriculture, the environment and related policy frameworks.
A country profile for Namibia has been compiled and consolidated on the Legal Hub – one of ten countries participating in this regional initiative. Angola is expected to join next. Neighbouring countries, including Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, are already part of the group.
The Legal Hub offers five key functions:
Historical and political background on each participating country
Access to national legislation organised by sector, including environment, wildlife and related areas
Identification of strengths and weaknesses within existing legislation
An overview of international conventions to which each country is a signatory, such as CITES
Descriptions of national institutions and their roles within the legislative framework
One of the key findings highlighted during the launch was the extent to which existing Namibian laws contain overlaps, gaps and even contradictions. The Legal Hub aims to identify these inconsistencies and provide a foundation for legislative reform across all relevant sectors. The goal is to streamline legislation so that different laws work together rather than contradict one another.
An example raised during the event was certain penalties in outdated wildlife legislation, such as fines described as “pennies”, which are clearly obsolete. It is expected that the platform’s comparative framework will support the process of updating such provisions. Important documentation that is currently not part of formal legislation will also be incorporated and streamlined in future efforts.
Human–wildlife conflict was identified as one of the key issues that must be addressed through improved wildlife management. The NLU, together with other agricultural unions, previously met with Minister Daniel to discuss conflict specifically between elephants and farmers, particularly in the Kamanjab area. These concerns appear to have been acknowledged, as the Minister repeatedly referred to human–wildlife conflict during the launch event.
The Minister also referred to wildlife numbers and the sustainable carrying capacity in national parks, highlighting Etosha National Park as a notable example. The Ministry confirmed that farmers are important stakeholders in wildlife management discussions.
Namibia’s platform within the Legal Hub is now accessible and represents a tangible step towards a more coherent and enforceable legislative environment for wildlife in Namibia and across the region. (https://www.fao.org/sustainable-wildlife-legal-hub/en)
NAPHA School of Conservation Courses
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