The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) says they have put aside a budget of about N$3 million towards the development of the Ruacana Waterfalls in the Omusati Region to maximise its full tourism potential.
The nbc News team visited the Ruacana waterfalls and filed this special report.
The Ruacana Waterfalls are situated some 22 kilometres from the town of Ruacana on a breathtaking road with an amazing landscape and a stunning mountainous and greenery view that can’t be missed.
To get to the waterfall, one has to go through the Ruacana Border post between Namibia and Angola.
The history of the waterfalls is connected to the development of the Ruacana Hydroelectric Power Station.
According to history, in the 1800s the Portuguese traders established a trading post on the banks of the Kunene River and named it after a Himba chief, Ruhacana.
The name Ruacana came from the traders’ mispronunciation of chief Ruhacana’s name.
The waterfall, which is 120 meters high and 700 meters wide in full flood, has now become a recreational facility for the public to relax and explore.
"Ruacana waterfall is active; people like the locals and tourists come and enjoy it and even braai, especially during the festive season," explained Senior Immigration Officer David Hangura.
During our visit, the place was quiet with no activities.
We found some infrastructure dilapidated with little or no maintenance, and some stairs going to the waterfall are damaged, putting users at risk.
When approached for comment on any development plans for the Ruacana Waterfalls, the Ministry of Environment’s spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, said the ministry is fully aware of the potential that the Ruacana Waterfalls has to offer.
"This waterfall is managed by the Onkolokadhi Conservancy, and therefore there is an intention from the ministry to upgrade the site and make it more appealing for our visitors. As an immediate step, we have engaged in a project called NILALEG (Namibia Integrated Landscape Approach for Enhancing Livelihoods and Environmental Governance to Eradicate Poverty) to construct a camping site at the falls. The ministry, through that project, has put aside a budget of at least three to four million dollars for the construction of these campsites, and to this stage, we have completed the process of developing a business plan and also undertaking the EIA. To that effect, a clearance certificate has been issued through the environmental commissioner."
Muyunda said they are currently busy with the project design and hope to start with the construction of the campsite early next year.
"The campsite in itself will benefit the communities who are part of the Onkolokadhi Conservancy in terms of income generation and employment creation. This campsite also marks the initial stage of developing this area into a fully fledged tourism site that is developed and enhanced so that we can maximise the benefits from this site."