Today Namibia has become one of the most popular trophy hunting destinations in Southern Africa. This is due in part to its political stability and diversity, a well-developed infrastructure, the ease with which hunting rifles may be temporarily imported into the country, and the friendliness and warm hospitality of the people. The key component, however, is Namibia’s land-use and game-management policies, which have created great and healthy populations of game and which enable three basic types of sustainable trophy hunting. As well, Namibian hunting professionals are recognized as among the best trained and most ethical in the world. This is largely due to the high certification standards set by Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the self-policing work of the Namibian Professional Hunting Association.
This paper concludes that ethical, fair chase and selective trophy hunting has proved to be a successful conservation tool as well as the most lucrative form of commercial and communal land utilization in Namibia, with obvious ecological as well as economic benefits.