Category: News

Windhoek, 13 December 2020 – When Namibia Wildlife Resorts Limited (NWR) conceptualised its first-ever Black Friday Special that started from 27 November 2020 up until 2 December 2020, little, did they anticipate the overwhelming response they would receive from the Namibian nation. Over six days NWR sold well over 10 000 vouchers to over 3 000 customers.   “At the time of coming up with the Black Friday Special, we intended to provide every Namibian with an opportunity to visit our resorts at an affordable price. This is why clients could either buy a voucher for the Eco resorts or Classic resorts or both. In our assessment, our agreement with web tickets enabled us to reach many of our clients who could not make it to our Windhoek or Swakopmund reservation offices. From the data that we analysed, our customers bought an average of three vouchers each. In our view, this is a testament of the loyal support from the Namibian market as well as the interest our nation has in visiting our resorts” says Dr Matthias Ngwangwama, NWR Managing Director.     One lesson that NWR learned from Covid-19 was never to place its focus solely on the international market. During the Black Friday Special, NWR saw that there is a great opportunity in developing and focusing on the domestic market. However, NWR believes that first, one must understand the needs and wants of the local market and, subsequently, respond accordingly since their needs are much different from the international market. “Besides the Black Friday Special and other specials, we have been running, we started offering tour packages. The current package that has gained substantial interest is called #Myfriendsarecoolerthanyours, which has been primarily targeting Namibians who would like to visit Sossusvlei or the Etosha National park” says Dr Matthias Ngwangwama, NWR Managing Director.     Lastly, NWR has equally made great strides in improving operational efficiencies at its resorts to be in a position to welcome its guests this festive season. “This is why we have allocated the necessary resources to ensure that when our guests arrive at any of our facilities, they will be welcomed by our friendly staff and much-improved resorts/camps. Equally, we would like to advise our guests that should they not receive the service they so desire, they should approach our resort management team on the ground to remedy the situation” says Mr Mufaro Nesongano, NWR Corporate Communications, Online Media & Sponsorships Manager.

Windhoek, 3 December 2020 – If anything that 2020 demonstrated is the importance of an online presence. This presence allows for seamlsess and faster communication between organisations and clients. Thus Namibia Wildlife Resorts Limited (NWR) once again took it upon itself to overhaul its web presence with the sole intent of creating a better user experience for its guests. During the past few months, NWR, with the assistance of a professional web developer, Mr Samuel Kapembe of StalinKay, worked tirelessly to ensure that going forth guests would be in a position to interact, share and book their accommodation with ease and convenience.

“Hence when users log onto www.nwr.com.na they will see how simple yet informative our website has become. Resorts have now been listed under the various National parks they fall under. Guests will now be able to easily share their greatest moments with us via #NWRMoments, which will then appear on our website. At the same time, our specials of which we have become known for are easily accessible. Equally, guests will be able to chat directly with us from the site without the need to call or send an email. These changes are aimed at ensuring that anyone from across the world can find all things NWR at a centralised place” says Mr Mufaro Nesongano, NWR Corporate Communications, Online Media and Sponsorships Manager.

Since the last revamp of the NWR website, several changes have occurred in the industry. One of the major shifts has been for clients to plan and book their accommodation online. Therefore on the overhauled website like on the previous one, clients are going to be able to do this. Also, some of the establishments have 360-degree videos that will allow guests the opportunity to immerse themselves at some of the facilities. Similarly, visitors will have the opportunity to subscribe to our Newsletter in order to be the first to know when the company launches something.

Dr Matthias Ngwangwama, NWR Managing Director, who is a firm advocate for institutions and countries to embrace the 4th Industrial Revolution so that they remain relevant, is pleased with the work that was done on the website. “Although a lot of time and effort was spent on overhauling the website, I am glad that we took this long time to provide a world-class website to our customers. The disruption caused by Covid-19 once again presented us with the opportunity to ensure we remain digitally relevant through our new website in addition to our other digital platforms such as our mobile application which is also undergoing subtle touch-ups”.

 

Windhoek, 18 November 2020 – With a few weeks left before the festive season begins, several travellers are looking forward to taking a long-deserved break after the challenging year that 2020 has been. Namibia Wildlife Resorts Limited (NWR) is pleased to notify the travelling public that Jakkalsputz, Mile 72, Torra Bay will start welcoming guests as from 1 December 2020 while Mile 108 is currently open to the public with new developments currently underway.

 

Mr Sebulon Chicalu, NWR Chief Operations Officer, says that “I am quite delighted that the Miles will once again open to the public. It is also pleasing to note that we are currently adding self-contained campsites at Mile 108 that will cost N$ 400 per site/per day for 1 – 4 people staying less than ten days and only N$ 300 for 11 days and more. Additionally, for those guests of ours that would like chalet rooms, they are welcome to book at Terrace Bay resort”.

 

Over the past few months, NWR has been offering its /Ai-/Ais Hotsprings and Spa, Hardap and Waterberg facilities for isolation services to the Ministry of Health and Social Services. “With the easing of travel restrictions from our Government and the decline in individuals requiring isolation facilities, we have decided to allow the travelling public to make bookings at /Ai-/Ais Hotsprings and Spa, Hardap and Waterberg as from 1 December 2020. The past few weeks saw an increase in guests wanting to stay at these resorts, especially with the steady opening of borders throughout the SADC region” says Dr Matthias Ngwangwama, NWR Managing Director.

 

 

Windhoek, 25 October 2020 – Since mid-March 2020, when Covid-19 broke out in Namibia, the Namibia Wildlife Resorts Limited (NWR) board and management worked closely with their shareholder (Government of the Republic of Namibia through the Ministry of Public Enterprises) to find ways of mitigating the effects of the pandemic and ensuring the sustainability of the company.

 

Therefore, as the company has consistently communicated before, the past six months have been the most challenging for most Namibian companies in Namibia. The Covid-19 pandemic has and is still having, an enormous impact on the tourism and aviation-dependent organisations worldwide. Most, if not all, shareholders, company boards, executive management, in private and public sectors alike, have done the same in being first concerned with the wellbeing of their organisations.

It is therefore humbling that through the numerous interactive efforts between NWR and the shareholder since March 2020, a net outcome from these efforts is the N$40 million support availed on 20 October 2020 to the company in the FY2020/21 Mid-Year Budget Review and Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. The last time the company received such financial support from the shareholder was in the year 2017 for an amount of about N$6 million.

With the outline of activities and the current conditions, the company is grateful for the support it has received. “We are therefore grateful to the shareholder, the Government of the Republic of Namibia, for their assistance in the current times. The large amount of the funds received are to be re-injected in the Namibian Economy through immediately settling overdue suppliers’ invoices. Equally, part of the funds received will be used for our employee costs (our wage bill and the current voluntary separation exercise)” says Dr Matthias Ngwangwama, NWR Managing Director.

Windhoek, 18 October 2020 – One of Namibia’s foremost tourism organisation Namibia Wildlife Resorts Limited (NWR) began a voluntary separation exercise to align its staff numbers in light of the impact that Covid-19 has had on the tourism sector. From 22 September 2020 up until 22 October 2020 NWR has provided its staff with an opportunity to separate from the organisation voluntarily.

 

The voluntary separation exercise comes on the backdrop of its Board of Directors and Senior management team, taking a 25% reduction in earnings. However, these efforts alone have not been sufficient to place the organisation in a better financial position. Therefore the NWR EXCO submitted a cost-cutting plan to its Board of which they approved. One of the measures in the plan was voluntary separation with the view of ensuring the sustainability of the organisation.

 

NWR is offering its employees who would like to separate voluntarily the following: 

• Two week’s salary for every year of uninterrupted service as a severance pay-out.
• Any leave balances as at 30 September 2020, subject to a maximum of 60 days will be paid-out.
• Any accrued leave days above 60 days will be paid at 50% or half of the excess days.
• Any employee entitled to an annual birthday bonus, a proportion equal to the months since the last bonus will be paid out.
• One month’s salary in lieu of notice.
• Total Pension Fund credit in line with the Pension / Provident Fund Rules / Laws
• Transport to the place of normal residence (within the borders of Namibia) for them and their belongings.

 

“Based on worldwide experiences, we are aware that it would be difficult for us to have the same staff profile pre-Covid. Most companies around the world have begun following the same trend to find ways of reducing their wage bill and other operational costs,” says Dr Matthias Ngwangwama, NWR Managing Director.

 

Windhoek, 11 October 2020 – Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) is making solid progress in giving effect to an apprenticeship funding agreement it entered into with the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), earlier this year. The agreement makes provision for the NTA to fund the apprenticeship training of 80 young Namibians, recruited from all fourteen regions, towards acquiring the National Vocational Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism qualification in the areas of ‘Core Commercial Cookery Skills’, ‘Food and Beverage Operations’, ‘Front Office Operations ’and ‘Housekeeping Operations’. Underlining the need for continuous investment in training to enhance the competitiveness of the Hospitality and Tourism sector, NWR Managing Director, Dr Matthias Ngwangwama described the apprenticeship partnership as an important step. “A competitive tourism sector requires continuous training, with a special focus on customer service. Over the years, we fulfilled this responsibility on an ad-hoc basis. However, with the financial support emanating from the NTA-funded apprenticeship programme, we are now able to gain better traction in doing our part to train Namibians in this important economic growth sector”. On his part, Namibia Training Authority Caretaker Chief Executive Officer, Mr Cornelis Beuke commended NWR for giving effect to the agreement. “Apprenticeship is a time-tested channel through which to provide young people with opportunities to enter high-value work-based learning. The NTA has of recent entered into many such agreements with other public and private sector partners. NWR did well amid COVID-19 to firm up arrangements, and we look forward to the first graduates from this initiative to enter the world of work with confidence and competence. Furthermore, Mr Beuke explained that “as an employer, NWR, by investing in talent development through apprenticeship, stands to gain a pipeline of loyal skilled workers to increase its productivity and improve the bottom line”. The NTA will fund each apprentice at the cost of N$ 160,800.00 over three years. As far as theoretical work and assessment preparation are concerned, the apprentices will receive support from two NTA-registered training institutions, namely the Okakarara Vocational Training Centre, in Otjozondjupa and the Homestead Skills and Technical Skills Academy, in the Ohangwena region.

 

Meanwhile, NWR is making strong inroads towards establishing its training arm. Namibia Wildlife Resorts Hospitality Institute (NWR Hi) is to have its main campus at the Khorixas Rest Camp in the Kunene region and a satellite campus at the Gross Barmen Resort in Otjozondjupa. “We recently applied to the NTA to be registered as a training institution, and we are hard at work to ensure that we meet the requirements”, Ngwangwama concluded.

Windhoek, 20 September 2020 – For the past six months, all tourism companies have been severely affected by Covid-19. Namibia Wildlife Resorts Limited (NWR) being one of the dominate players was not spared from the impacts of the pandemic. With the negative effect on the operations of the business, NWR has had to pursue extensive cost-cutting and revenue-enhancing measures that enabled it to continue as a going concern.

 

 

“Whilst we aggressively cut-costs and continue to do so, we are not making any significant revenue at the moment. With Covid-19 being a part of us for the foreseeable future, our Board, Managing Director and Senior Management, with an E-Patterson grading, took a decision earlier this month to cut their salaries by 25%, effective from September 2020” says Mr Mufaro Nesongano, NWR Corporate Communications, Online Media and Sponsorships Manager.

It must be noted that this is not a populist decision but a deep-seated desire from the NWR Board and Senior Management team to ensure the company’s longevity and survival. “It is no secret that we play a vital role within the tourism sector as well as the Namibian economy. Thus, this decision is aimed at providing the company with further savings as we continue in uncharted waters” says Dr Matthias Ngwangwama, NWR Managing Director.

 

Windhoek, 23 August 2020 – Since Mid-May 2020 up until 31 August 2020, Namibia Wildlife Resorts Limited (NWR) slashed all its rates to a low N$ 600 per room to respond to the changing market conditions as well as stimulate domestic travel. NWR was pleased to see the local market react positively to the special rate, that saw some of its resorts in the Etosha National Park and its Sossus Dune Lodge in the Namib Naukluft Park have busy weekends and some occupancies during the week.

 

For the past four months, NWR has been significantly subsidising its guests to provide them with relief in these challenging times. However, for any organisation to remain sustainable in the current market conditions, it needs to periodically align its rates to its operational costs. Thus, as from 1 September 2020, NWR will be introducing new domestic rates that will be valid up until 30 November 2021. These rates will see resorts such as Sossus Dune Lodge, that usually cost N$ 2800 per person excluding meals, starting from N$ 1200 per person, inclusive of Breakfast and Dinner. For Namleisure cardholders, the rate will start from N$ 1000 per person. Equally, Okaukuejo that charges N$ 1425 per person, excluding meals, will start from N$ 550 per person inclusive of Breakfast and N$ 400 per person for Namleisure cardholders. For those that enjoy camping, for a group of four, they will only pay N$ 400 per campsite.

 

 

 

“We are pleased that the N$ 600 per room special was well received by the local market and we are grateful for each guest that visited us during the past four months. With the recent trip that I embarked on with my team to some of our resorts, I was pleased to see several guests staying with us even during the week. Though, with every product or service, there is always room for improvement. That’s why after the comments that we received from the time we started the special and the customer feedback survey that we ran that had 622 respondents, we were able to identify the matters that our guests wanted us to improve on. Therefore, for all our new domestic rates; meals have been included. Guests choosing to visit Popa Falls or Onkoshi will have the opportunity to opt for the full-board price, resulting in them only having to worry about getting themselves to the resort and the rest leave to us to take care of” says Dr Matthias Ngwangwama, NWR Managing Director.

 

 

During the same period, NWR was the first hospitality establishment in the country to offer some of its facilities to the Ministry of Health and Social Services to be used as isolation facilities. With the experience that NWR gained and the need for isolation facilities for the near future, NWR decided to offer /Ai-/Ais Hotsprings and Spa, Hardap and Waterberg as their official isolation facilities.

 

“Gross Barmen that had been previously used as an isolation facility was removed from the list after many requests from our guests. I am therefore pleased to say that the resort was disinfected for the past two weeks and will start welcoming guests from 24 August 2020” says Mr Epson Kasuto, NWR Chief Marketing Officer.

 

Windhoek, 16 August 2020 – Between 10 – 12 August 2020, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) Managing Director Dr Matthias Ngwangwama along with members of his Executive Committee (EXCO) visited its Etosha National Park resorts to evaluate the renovation work that has been undertaken. During the visit, the Managing Director and the Executive team were joined by Mr Nelson Nghitaunapo, a representative of the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (NAPWU) who are a key stakeholder. At each resort, engagements were held with staff members to get feedback on some of the challenges they have faced during these challenging few months.

 

 

 

 

Dr Ngwangwama and his Executive team started their trip at Dolomite which amongst others, had its ageing wooden deck and chalet canvas replaced. The revitalised resort, which is the only one on the Western side of the Etosha National Park has seen thrones of locals frequenting it since mid-May due to its seclusion. “I must say that over the past few months, I have had many clients personally email me appreciating the changes that have taken place at Dolomite resort” said Dr Ngwangwama.

 

 

 

The NWR Executive team also checked on the measures that the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) had requested each tourism establishment to have in place. “I am pleased that when we visited Okaukuejo and our other resorts within the Etosha National park, I noticed that all our staff are adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines stipulated by MOHSS. This should assure our guests that their safety is our number one priority. Equally, I am happy with the progress that has been made with the renovations at the double rooms and waterhole chalets in Okaukuejo. These renovations show our resolve to provide our guests with the best experience in the park” said Mr Sebulon Chicalu, NWR Chief Operations Officer.

 

 

Likewise, Halali is going to surprise old and new guests alike. With the internal team, the resort has been rejuvenated. The rooms have been refreshed, the camping facilities have been increased, and additional cooking facilities for overlanders have been added. “I was surprised by the changes that I saw at the resort. After having last visited it some time ago, it was great to see how the internal team has worked tirelessly to renew the resort. Even though the project is not yet complete, the changes done are out of this world” says Mr Mufaro Nesongano, NWR Corporate Communications, Online Media and Sponsorships Manager.

 

 

Over the years, NWR has been at the forefront of encouraging local travel by offering various specials. Between mid-May up until 31 August 2020, NWR reduced all its rates to N$ 600 per room. “This special price was introduced to further make travel as affordable as possible during these challenging times. It was therefore very encouraging to see many families visiting us for the first time and others after many years. We, therefore, are very grateful with the feedback that we have received regarding the special and encourage those that have not utilised it to do so before it ends. For our clients that have made bookings and have not been able to visit us due to the travel restriction in some areas, we encourage them to move their booking to a later date at no cost” concludes Dr Ngwangwama.