40% of Namibian hunters represented by NAPHA

With 330 hunters registered with the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) at the moment, it only represents 40% of hunters in Namibia. According to the president of NAPHA Axel Cramer, the status quo will change with the proposed new Wildlife Bill, which will make provisions that all professional hunters are accredited with NAPHA in the future. “By law, they currently do not have to join,” he said. Cramer shared this information during a briefing about the NAPHA School of Conservation. Antonie Esterhuizen, an outfitter and lecturer at the school, said that it is currently being run voluntarily. NAPHA was founded in 1974 with the aim of promoting Namibia as a hunting destination both locally and internationally. “Today, NAPHA enjoys the support and cooperation of approximately 330 members – from local farmers to international sponsors – and has a good relationship with the environment and tourism ministry.”Esterhuizen said that the fundamental purpose of NAPHA is to enhance and maintain, by the effective management an organised infrastructure that can serve hunting members, clients and international groups. “We intend to ensure and promote ethical conduct, sustainable utilisation of natural resources and to secure the industry for current future generations.”Guide qualificationsHe said that the guide qualifications Namibia offers include Hunting Guide, Master Hunting Guide, Professional Hunter, Professional Hunter for Big Game and Bow Hunting Guide. According to Esterhuizen, the NAPHA school is currently located at Farm Okatjeru, however, they are looking for a new facility as the school is being sold. He said the school only has two lecturers at the moment, and three to four courses are being run throughout the year. The school accepts a maximum of 12 students per course, which is 10 days long. According to him, their major challenges at the moment are marketing and information dissemination since lecturers who are also outfitters cannot run the school permanently. Another challenge is to find permanent facilities for the school and therefore they are looking to buy or lease somewhere with a shooting range, while they also want to see what opportunities there are to use it during the off-season. Esterhuizen said funding for the school is also a challenge, along with the production of literature and the proper equipment, while they also want to run their own examinations and not have it done by the ministry. Their vision for the future is to be an accredited school for all related tourism aspects such as cooking, photography and even first aid, with dedicated permanent lectures, facilities to accommodate students and a lecture hall as well as permanent lecturers.

40% of Namibian hunters represented by NAPHA

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

Please login to leave a comment

40% of Namibian hunters represented by NAPHA

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

Please login to leave a comment

Login