Chobe National Park has generated over P21 million during the months of April 2025 to June 2025, compared to around P17 million collected during the same period in 2024, which marks a 21% increase in revenue.
The total number of tourists who visited the Chobe National Park during the months of April 2025 to June 2025 stands at 118,484 compared to 37, 980 registered last year same period.
In an interview, Chobe Regional Wildlife Officer Batshani Nduchwa noted that the revenue was generated through the park entry fees. He said that they realised an increase in the number of tourists visiting the Chobe National Park this year, and that has contributed to the increase in revenue generation.
Nduchwa also stated that the number of international tourists visiting the park was higher as compared to that of local tourists. He pointed that the revenue generated from the park fees will be utilised by the government to support various development projects.
This was revealed by Chobe District Council Chairman Johane Chenjekwa during a full council meeting this week.
Chobe National Park generates revenue primarily through visitor entrance fees, lodges and campsites fees, tourism activities, taxes/levies as well as lease rentals/royalties
While the jump in revenue is a call for jubilation, Chenjekwa has raised a concern that this is overshadowed by reports of non-compliance to park rules and regulations perpetrated by some tour guides from different safari companies.
“It is worrisome that people who should be at the forefront of conservation efforts have now turned to be enemies of conservation and protection of wildlife resources. We have seen videos of tour operators’ vehicles congregating and encircling wildlife sightings especially of lions creating an atmosphere that brings into disrepute the image of Chobe National Park as a priority destination for many visitors,” Chenjekwa lamented.
Chenjekwa has expressed that if this trend could be allowed to persist, it could undermine the countries’ efforts to promote tourism as an engine of economic growth. He has however noted that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) is making strides to address this behavior by taking stringent action against offenders.
“I would like to support those efforts by the department and encourage the relevant officers to intensify their law enforcement patrols and continue to take stern action against anybody who violates park regulations,” he said.
In an effort to reduce vegetation cover in fire prone areas such as, Forest Reserves, the Chobe National Park (Phoha, Nogatshaa, Nantanga- Ngoma, and Savuti), CH1, CH5, CH8 and CH12, Chenjekwa said that the burning exercise was prescribed. According to him, the exercise commenced on the 14th April 2025 and ended on the 30th July 2025 with assistance from the government of Australia.
“The exercise is complemented by property protection activity, which focuses on safeguarding properties located in the wilderness e.g. tourism facilities, network towers, BDF camps, DWNP boreholes etc. The first response fire teams have been strategically located in Pandamatenga and Kachikau villages and 140 community members will be engaged through the Ipelegeng program to support the team,” Chenjekwa said.
Chenjekwa further stated that there is a high anticipation of more robust fire incidences this fire season and as part of the preparedness plan, the department has commenced fuel load/biomass management activities in order to minimise the anticipated impacts of late dry fires.
