Namibia..Fires engulf more than 2,000 square kilometers of Etosha National Park

 Fires have consumed more than 2,000 square kilometers of Etosha National Park, one of Namibia's premier tourist destinations, as teams continue their efforts to control the remaining hotspots.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson, Filho Hangula, said that initial assessments, as of Wednesday, indicated a total area of ​​2,587 square kilometers had burned within the park.

The ministry explained that firefighting teams had brought the blaze under control on Monday morning, before strong winds caused it to reignite.

Since then, the fires have spread to the vicinity of Halalei, towards the park's southeastern border.

The park's deputy director, Nambu Ibingi, said that the remaining hotspots are still relatively small and manageable, but noted that unpredictable wind changes continue to pose a threat to the park and surrounding areas.

Ministry staff, Namibian Defence Force personnel, and local residents remain on the ground fighting the fires, monitoring affected areas, and extinguishing the last remaining hotspots.

Hangula explained that controlled burns conducted over the past few months have helped limit the spread of the fires.

Teams are also continuing to assess the affected areas to determine if wildlife has been impacted by the fires.

The Ministry reported last Monday that firefighting efforts, which were sparked by lightning strikes, had made significant progress, with three of the four fires that broke out in the region during the previous week having been extinguished.

During the last major fire in the region in late September 2025, between 34 and 38 percent of Etosha National Park's total area of ​​over 775,000 hectares burned, causing widespread damage to wildlife habitats for numerous species, including elephants, rhinos, lions, and antelopes.

Etosha National Park, covering an area of ​​22,935 square kilometers, is located approximately 400 kilometers north of the capital, Windhoek, and 125 kilometers south of the border with Angola. It is home to 114 mammal species and 340 bird species.

This park, one of the largest nature reserves in Africa, receives around 200,000 visitors annually.