A New Era for Mokuti Etosha: OL Leisure Unveils Landmark Redevelopment

By Staff Reporter

OL Leisure has unveiled the transformed Mokuti Etosha, celebrating the completion of a comprehensive N$260 million redevelopment that reinforces confidence in Namibia’s tourism industry and raises the benchmark for luxury hospitality in the country.

The official unveiling, held on 3 July at the lodge’s spectacular new SkyBoma, brought together invited guests from government, business and the tourism sector to mark the culmination of a three-year transformation that began in 2022. The Right Honourable Dr Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, officially inaugurated the redeveloped property by unveiling a commemorative plaque during the evening ceremony.

The extensive investment reflects OL Leisure’s long-term commitment to Namibia’s tourism potential, despite the uncertainty that followed the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing guests at the event, OL Group Executive Chairman Sven Thieme described the redevelopment as one of the company’s strongest expressions of confidence in the country’s future.

“The total investment in Mokuti is one of OL Leisure’s most direct statements of our belief in the future of Namibian tourism,” he said. “We made this commitment in the aftermath of a global pandemic that devastated the hospitality industry. We made it because we take a long view and because this is our home. We believe Namibia is a premier global destination, and premier destinations deserve world-class products. Mokuti is that product.”

Beyond creating a renewed hospitality destination, the redevelopment has also delivered meaningful economic benefits. During construction, the project employed 115 people, including 111 Namibians, while approximately 15 local suppliers provided materials and equipment throughout the project.

The investment continues to generate employment beyond construction. Mokuti Etosha is expanding its permanent workforce from 120 to 136 employees, with an additional 13 fixed-term positions being created during the current financial year, strengthening long-term career opportunities within Namibia’s hospitality sector.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Prime Minister Dr Ngurare commended the OL Group for demonstrating confidence in Namibia through sustained investment.

“Thank you for believing in Namibia with your capital, your vision and your time,” he said. “Thank you for choosing to build here, invest here and stay here. We see your work and we are grateful for it.”

Highlighting tourism’s strategic importance to the national economy, Dr Ngurare noted that the sector contributes approximately 6.9% directly to Namibia’s gross domestic product, generating around N$14.3 billion in economic activity and supporting more than 57,000 direct jobs.

“These are livelihoods, businesses and communities that depend on a thriving tourism sector,” he said.

While Namibia experienced a strong recovery in visitor arrivals during 2024, he cautioned that the decline in arrivals recorded in 2025 demonstrates that continued growth cannot be taken for granted.

“It requires continuous investment, effective marketing, quality service and supportive policy to remain competitive,” he said.

For Dr Ngurare, the transformation of Mokuti Etosha represents precisely the type of investment needed to strengthen Namibia’s position as a leading international tourism destination.

“Tonight’s inauguration is, in many ways, the culmination of all of that,” he said. “Mokuti Etosha has been reimagined from the ground up, with new common spaces including the entrance and restaurants, renovated rooms and enhanced junior suites, the newly unveiled Ombala Presidential Suite and this extraordinary SkyBoma. What I see here tonight is what Namibian investment in Namibian tourism can look like at its very best.”

Located on the doorstep of Etosha National Park, the newly reimagined Mokuti Etosha combines contemporary luxury with a deep connection to its natural surroundings. The redevelopment introduces redesigned guest experiences, elevated accommodation offerings and new signature spaces that position the property among Namibia’s premier safari destinations.

More than a refurbishment, the N$260 million investment represents a statement of confidence in the country’s tourism future, one built on long-term vision, local partnerships and a belief that Namibia’s world-class attractions deserve equally world-class hospitality.