Firefighters and vehicles are seen near a veldfire in Etosha National Park, Namibia, as flames burn through vegetation and smoke rises over the area. Photo Credit: Namibian Sun

NNA News - Namibia has reinforced firefighting operations in Etosha National Park after lightning-triggered fires broke out in several parts of the park, with authorities saying the blazes remain under control.

The fires started on September 9 in the Halali, Kamaseb and Tsam areas, according to Vilho Hangula, spokesperson for Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. Hangula said additional personnel and equipment had been deployed while teams continued to monitor and extinguish remaining fires. “Maintained firebreaks, including recently graded sections, had helped firefighters limit the spread of the flames and protect nearby areas,” Hangula said, according to the Namibia Press Agency.

The ministry said no wildlife injuries or deaths had been reported at the time of its latest update. The response comes less than a year after a major wildfire affected a substantial area of Etosha National Park. Namibia's Environment Minister Indileni Daniel said in 2026 that the 2025 fire resulted in the loss of 37 percent of vegetation and 12 animal deaths. Daniel said the scale of the previous incident required support beyond the environment ministry. “Fires necessitate a national response. Therefore, it cannot be left solely to the ministry staff,” she said, according to NBC News.

The latest fires have also prompted criticism from Namibia's opposition. Independent Patriots for Change shadow minister for environment, forestry and tourism Rodrick Likando said the recurrence of fires should prompt the government to strengthen its preparedness and response capacity. “The latest wildfires in Etosha National Park show that Namibia must strengthen its wildfire preparedness and response capacity,” Likando said.

Likando called for a permanent and properly resourced wildfire-response system, arguing that Namibia should strengthen its capacity before major fires occur rather than relying primarily on emergency mobilisation. The competing positions highlight the broader challenge facing Namibia's conservation authorities: maintaining rapid firefighting capacity while protecting one of the country's most important wildlife and tourism assets.

Etosha National Park covers about 22,935 square kilometres and is Namibia's flagship national park. According to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, it is home to 114 mammal species and 407 recorded bird species. The park is also one of Namibia's principal tourism destinations, with game viewing, birdwatching and photography among its main attractions.

For now, firefighting teams remain deployed as authorities work to extinguish the remaining fires and monitor affected areas. The ministry has not, in the sources reviewed for this report, released figures on the total area burned by the latest fires or confirmed any wildlife casualties beyond stating that none had been reported at the time of its update.