Tourism is gradually recovering at the Naukluftpark, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two years after the outbreak of COVID-19, lodge owners and tour operators are starting to receive more tourists at their establishments in the Sesriem area of the Namib Desert in the Hardap Region.

The Namibia Wildlife Resort, which is also responsible for supervising shuttle tours for five kilometers into Sossusvlei has seen a significant rise in the number of self-drives, adventure tourists and large group travellers. 

Shuttle Supervisor at NWR, Paulus Hamukoto said 2021 started picking up much better, but he thinks 2022 was even much better. He said before COVID-19, January is their low season.

"It's January, February and March those are our low season months. We still have tourists that are coming through." 

Taleni Africa Tourism Holdings operates Sossusvlei Lodge, including excursions and helicopter flights, all of which were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chief Executive Officer of Taleni Africa Tourism Holdings, Namibia, Karla-HeinzOosthuizen said since March 2022 there was a slight increase in tourism.

"We had a good past six months from July until December. Good occupancy, not the same occupancy we were used to during 2019. Unfortunately January, February and March this year still do not look very good, but we are positive that in 2023 the numbers will hopefully pick up and that we can go back to the numbers we used to have in the past."

Some employees in the tourism sector are steadily returning to work after months at home, having survived pay cuts while working rotational shifts.