A dispute over new access regulations to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei has intensified, with the tourism ministry pushing back against claims that it has altered the terms of its 2024 concession agreement.
Responding to questions raised by the Tour and Safari Association of Namibia (Tasa), the ministry confirmed that the contract awarded in February 2024 remains unchanged and non-exclusive.
Ministry spokesperson Vilho Hangula stressed that no amendments or conversions were made after the initial award, directly countering concerns raised by industry stakeholders.
At the centre of the controversy are new rules set to take effect on 1 May.
These regulations prohibit self-drive access beyond the 2x4 parking area at Sossusvlei, requiring visitors to rely on authorised shuttle services to reach Deadvlei.
Only two categories of operators will be permitted to provide these services: Grow Namibia, trading as About Deadvlei Sossusvlei Management, and registered tour guides employed by lodges within and around the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
Despite the restriction on self-drives, the ministry maintains that the concession remains non-exclusive.
Lodges operating in and around the park will still be allowed to transport their own clients using 4x4 vehicles to the Deadvlei parking area, in line with the original agreement, the ministry said.
Hangula further emphasised that the new measures are consistent with the signed contract and will now be fully implemented.
The ministry also cited Section 17 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975, which empowers the minister to determine who may provide services within protected areas.
Industry views
However, Tasa has strongly challenged the ministry’s position, warning that the new regulations announced this week introduce what amounts to an exclusive shuttle arrangement.
In a formal letter sent to the ministry, the association argued that the original request for proposals clearly distinguished between exclusive and non-exclusive rights.
Its exclusivity was only on the development and operation of a campsite and kiosk while explicitly stating that shuttle services between the 2x4 parking area and Deadvlei would remain non-exclusive.
The association further pointed to previous ministry statements from September 2024 and December 2025, which assured operators that self-drive visitors and registered tour companies would continue to access the 4x4 parking area with suitable vehicles.
These assurances, Tasa said, were consistent with long-standing practices within the park.
“The new public notice represents a significant departure from the tender framework and the ministry’s own public assurances,” the association stated, adding that operators have based international bookings and logistical planning on those commitments.
Tasa also raised concerns over a lack of engagement, revealing that a formal request for a meeting with tourism minister Indileni Daniel, submitted in February, has gone unanswered. The request covered a range of issues, including concession governance and access to key tourism sites.
The association warned that the absence of consultation and communication has created widespread uncertainty across the tourism sector, both locally and internationally.
