250826006301 - RENEWAL of ECC for NAMBWA TENTED LODGE (African Monarch Lodges) in BWABWATA NATIONAL PARK

To comply to operate Nambwa Tented Lodge at Kwando Core Area within Bwabwata National Park. NAMBWA TENTED LODGE at KWANDO CORE AREA within BWABWATA NATIONAL PARK Nambwa Tented Lodge is one of African Monarch Lodges (AML), which is situated on the western banks of the Kwando River wetland ecosystem, within the Kwando Core Area of Bwabwata national park (BNP). During my visit in August 2025, to Nambwa Tented Lodge, it became apparent that the Lodge offers a genuine hospitality in a relaxed and informal atmosphere where the tourist is well received and is being provided with professional hospitality. Furthermore, the Solid Waste Management protocols in place are recommendable and should be replicated at all lodges and camp sites throughout Namibia. African Monarch Lodges operates in its truest sense, on the 4R eco-principles of: RETHINK to reduce, reuse, recycle, to ensure minimal impact on the environment. Coordinates for Nambwa Tented Lodge is as follows with a footprint 5.5ha: • 17.87592 Latitude South and 23.31761 Longitude East Dr Ekkehard Klingelhoeffer was appointed on 7 August 2025 by Mrs. T. Rodgers as the EAP to update the current EMP of Nambwa Tented Lodge and to request the EC office of MET for renewal of the elapsed ECC. Attached is the appointment letter (Document 1) of the EAP Dr E Klingelhoeffer. This lodge is situated on one of the numerous channels of the Kwando River as it meanders to the Linyanti River (Fig. 1). The lodge lies on an elevated vegetated “Island” (920m above sea-level) populated with knob-thorn, jackal-berry, mangosteen, combretum, terminalia and sausage tress, which is surrounded by grassland, sedges and reeds. Nambwa Tented Lodge: can be reached by vehicle and or boat. The lodge within the Kwando Core Area officially opened its doors for business on 18 September 2016. This lodge is operating as a tourism entity which caters mainly for tourists from abroad. The focus of the Lodge is to provide to the tourists a unique wildlife experience within the heart of the KAZA TFCA, which include:  Boat cruises on the Kwando River and its meandering channels  Wildlife photography  Bird watching (490 species recorded in the Zambezi Region)  Bush walks and game drives  Fishing (catch and release)  Kids safari  Sijwa project tour  Bush ranger courses  Fishing  Bush dining: picnic and sundowner tailor made outings Refer to BID attached for Google map (Fig. 1) Figure 1: Satellite image indicating the location of Nambwa Tented Lodge (Red Block), on a 5.5ha raised landscape adjacent to a channel west of the Kwando River, 3 km from Horseshoe bend (google maps). In 2014, AML was founded and registered as a tourist operating company by the late Mr. Dusty Rodgers and Mrs. Tinolla Rodgers. In 2014 the company secured a 25year lease from MET within the Kwando Core Area of BNP. Mrs. Tinolla Rodgers is the owner and also currently the Managing Director of AML. The Proponent operates and provides a rustic constructed hospitality destination to predominantly the European market tourist which provides a unique experience to the visitors in a National Park environment. The Proponent is hereby applying for the “renewal” of the expired Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for Nambwa Tented Lodge (NTL), within the Kwando Core Area of BNP. NTL employs staff from adjacent villages east of the Kwando River of the Mayuni and Mashi Conservancy, which includes the following departments/positions:  Management  Kitchen  Housekeeping/laundry  Food & Beverage: Waitrons  Maintenance  Guides  Security Nambwa Tented Lodge (NTL) employs 31 staff of which 27 staff (11 female & 16 male) come from the Conservancy of Mayuni and Mashi. Vision of AML: • to develop unique tourist activities such as wildlife photography, sundowner river cruises, ranger courses etc. under the guidance of Mrs. Rodgers and her energetic team • to ensure that every guest receives a wildlife experience in an environment that is being managed and operated on eco-friendly principles • the establishment is committed to comply and adhere to all the Policies, Acts and Regulations that govern lodge operations in sensitive environments, through the implementation of “best practices management” • to retain the respect and trust of the adjacent communities • to strive to reduce, reuse and to recycle waste where and whenever possible Infrastructure at Nambwa Tented Lodge includes:  10 rustic en-suite chalets on stilts (Fig. 5) letting one feel close to nature with lots of fresh air and an open front facing the Kwando River floodplains; these chalets are built on stilts of 4-6m height  Restaurant, deck, reception/office, boutique  Kitchen  Storage facilities  Solar power units and back up engine  Accommodation: management & staff quarters, student units  Septic tanks (2000 liter and 4000 liter capacity) and each tank with an overflow – liquid soak away  Borehole  Harbour  Swimming pool  WIFI access

Commenting of the public on this project will expire at 12h00 on the 2025-10-02

Projects Documents

• CV of Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP)
• Declaration for the Submission of Assessment Reports and other Support Documents (upload Declaration Form from www.eia.meft.gov.na (downloads)
• Updated EMP to effect amendment
• Confirmation of screening notice received (through email) in terms of assessment procedures (Section 35 (1)(a)(b) of the Environmental Management Act, No 7 of 2007)
• Preliminary Site Map (Project boundaries) with coordinates (decimal degrees) and a Legend
• Copy of the previous Environmental Clearance Certificate issued in terms of Section 37(1)(a) of EMA
• CV of Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP)
• Declaration for the Submission of Assessment Reports and other Support Documents (upload Declaration Form from www.eia.meft.gov.na (downloads)

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