Africa-Press – Namibia. Former Cabinet minister Calle Schlettwein has come out swinging, saying the government’s decision to restrict access to the Deadvlei in the Namib-Naukluft Park is wrong.
It is Schletwein’s fervent position that it is a mistake that needs revision.
Last week, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) announced that only two categories of operators will be authorised to provide shuttle services to Deadvlei in the Namib-Naukluft Park, effective 1 May 2026.
“The closure of Sossusvlei for self-drive visitors, making them pay a single concessionaire, is robbing Namibians of what is ours. Namibian citizens should have free access. Sossusvlei belongs to Namibian citizens after all,” the former agriculture and finance minister said on his official social media platforms. The ministry, in a public notice last week, said the measures form part of its concession agreement and are aimed at regulating and controlling access into the Deadvlei area, one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. It said Grow Namibia, trading as About Adelt Sossusvlei Management, and registered tour guides employed by lodges within and around the park will be the only operators permitted to ferry visitors between the Sossusvlei 2×4 parking area and the Deadvlei 4×4 parking area. It said that lodge-employed tour guides must be registered with the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) and may only transport their own clients, further cautioning that no other operators will be allowed to offer shuttle services to the Deadvlei access point. “All visitors wishing to access Deadvlei will be required to make use of the authorised shuttle services, as self-driving beyond the 2×4 parking area will no longer be permitted for tourists,” it read.
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