Local authorities in Namibia have confirmed that tourists previously reported missing in the Fish River Canyon have been located. A search operation was launched over the weekend following multiple distress signals from a South African couple, prompting concerns for their safety.
On Monday, a government tourism official informed The Namibian that the whereabouts of the couple and others who were thought to be missing had been clarified, stating that no one was actually lost. An official from Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) explained that six of the tourists had exited the park without formally checking out.
Teofilus Nghitila, the executive director of the Environment and Tourism department, echoed this sentiment in an interview with Eagle FM, saying, “They did not arrive on time. No one went missing there. Yes, they are found.” He emphasized that the situation was not an emergency, describing it as a simple delay rather than a cause for concern.
Nghitila reassured the public by stating, “I spoke to the regional head, who informed me that there is no reason to panic at this stage. Everything is okay, and no cause for alarm.”
Officials are reminding all tourists and hikers visiting the canyon to register upon entry to avoid future misunderstandings. The Fish River Canyon is a significant natural wonder, known as Africa’s longest canyon and the second largest in the world, following the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The challenging 85km (52 miles) hiking trail at the canyon is only open from May to mid-September due to extreme desert temperatures.
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