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Namibian Wildlife Surveys archive

This archive of reports of wildlife surveys in Namibia aims to:

  • provide easy public access to published information and statistics
  • enable easy stakeholder access to recent and historical data on wildlife populations
  • provide a comprehensive archive of wildlife survey reports in Namibia

Public access to information is a vital component of ensuring community engagement in prevalent issues. Wildlife surveys are critical to determine the health of wildlife populations and determine trends over time to guide conservation and management actions. 

Wildlife surveys are done for different species using methods that are suited to counting them (e.g. by air or road) in their natural habitats. Such surveys need to be repeated over time to detect long-term trends and inform conservation managers. The Namibian government, non-governmental organisations and private reserves all conduct regular surveys covering different parts of Namibia and targeting different species. This archive will thus serve as a repository of our collective knowledge of the trends and status of a variety of species occurring throughout Namibia.

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Displaying results 1 - 50 of 202
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2024. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies north of the veterinary fence - May 2024.
Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies north of the veterrinary fence - May 2024.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2024. Game counts in north-west Namibia, Hobatere Concession - May 2024.
Game counts in north-west Namibia, Hobatere Concession - May 2024.
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North West Game Count_Hobatere 2024.pdf 460.72 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2024. Game counts in north-central Namibia - May 2024.
Game counts in north-central Namibia - May 2024.
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North Central Game Count 2024.pdf 828.83 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2024. Game counts in southern Namibia - May 2024.
Game counts in southern Namibia - May 2024.
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Southern Conservancy Game Count 2024.pdf 692.63 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2024. Game counts in Hardap Game Park - May 2024.
Game counts in Hardap Game Park - May 2024.
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Hardap Game Count 2024.pdf 720.53 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2024. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies south of the veterinary fence - May 2024.
Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies south of the veterinary fence - May 2024.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2024. Game counts in Naute Recreation Resort and Ais-Ais Hot Springs - May 2024.
Game counts in Naute Recreation Resort and Ais-Ais Hot Springs - May 2024.
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Naute Ai_Ais Game Count 2024.pdf 642.32 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2024. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Regional Summary - May 2024.

Wildlife populations in north-west Namibia were severely impacted in the 1980s by a combination of severe drought and poaching. Community conservation, formalised in 1996 through conservancies facilitated an increase in wildlife numbers through controlled utilisation and effective control of poaching. Between 1996 and 2012 most species experienced stable or growing population trends, however, the populations of many species have since shown a steady decline.

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North West Game Count_Regional 2024.pdf 643.26 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2024. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Palmwag and Etendeka Concessions - May 2024.
Game counts in north-west Namibia: Palmwag and Etendeka Concessions - May 2024.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts - Nyae Nyae Conservancy, line transects: July 2023.

Line transects were initiated in 2017 and represent almost half of the total area of the conservancy and include most of the waterholes. The area not covered by transects has low animal densities due to reduced habitat suitability and people pressure. Transect counts have recorded 27 species including 7 predator species. Based on average spoor sightings and Event Book records, hyaena are the most common predator, followed by wild dog, leopard and jackal. The top 3 species in terms of sightings between 2017 and 2023 included wildebeest, elephant and kudu.

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Nyae Nyae transect count 2023 final.pdf 661.02 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in east Zambezi: August 2023.
Game counts in east Zambezi: August 2023.
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Zambezi Game Count_East 2023 final.pdf 539.78 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in Luengue-Luiana N.P., October 2023.

Game counts in Luengue-Luiana N.P. (proclaimed in 2011) were initiated in 2018. Three road section transect routes were initially established. A further two were added in 2021. The transects are limited to the extreme south-eastern portion of the park and represent an area of approximately 2,030 km². The vegetation of the park is dominated by broad-leafed savannah with several riparian networks crossing the park. In total 28 species have been recorded. For large herd species like buffalo, or floodplain species like red lechwe, extrapolation is not appropriate.

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Luengue_Luiana poster 2023 final.pdf 620.89 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in north-west Namibia, conservancies south of veterinary fence: May 2023.
Game counts in north-west Namibia, conservancies south of veterinary fence: May 2023.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in Babwata N.P.: August 2023.
Game counts in Babwata N.P.: August 2023.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts - transboundary: 2017 - 2023.

Estimates were calculated using DISTANCE which takes account in drop-off in detectability of animals with distance from the transect line. Where there are no values too few observations were recorded to allow for meaningful estimates to be derived. Attempts should be made to fill these gaps. Kwandu conservancy differs from the other 3 more strictly protected areas in that it contains a significant human presence. It is not expected to have the same species densities, but it is an important wildlife corridor between the national parks.

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Kaza_2023 final.pdf 383.91 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in north-west Namibia, regional summary: May 2023.

Wildlife populations in north-west Namibia were severely impacted in the 1980s by a combination of severe drought and poaching. Community conservation, formalised in 1996 through conservancies facilitated an increase in wildlife numbers through controlled utilisation and effective control of poaching. Between 1996 and 2012 most species experienced stable or growing population trends, however, a prolonged dry phase after 2013 resulted in a steady decline in populations of many game species. It is unclear how much illegal harvesting contributed to the drop in animal numbers.

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North West Game Count_Regional 2023.pdf 625.48 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Full moon waterhole counts in northern Kunene: 2023.

Waterhole counts were undertaken at selected sites in the escarpment zone of north-west Namibia. In 2018,18 waterholes in 7 conservancies were counted but from 2019 onwards, the number of waterholes was increased to more than 25 covering 11 conservancies. Counts were undertaken over a period of 2, 3 or 4 days during which time all animals seen were counted. Game species differ in the frequency with which they need to visit water resources with some able to acquire much of their hydration needs through foraging.

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Waterholes_NW_poster_2023.pdf 539.37 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game Counts: Kavango East, July 2023.

The fundamental purpose of game counts in communal areas is to inform conservancies and MEFT of wildlife trends for the purposes of adaptive management of resources. While estimates of species numbers are provided, these should only be considered as an approximate guide to species abundance. The 2023 data suggest: populations for 4 of the main game species (Roan, Eland, Steenbok and Duiker) showed positive or stable trends. There were however sharp drops in the numbers of gemsbok and kudu seen. Estimates suggest that these populations are still well balanced in number.

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Kavango poster 2023 final.pdf 659.62 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in north-west Namibia, Palmwag and Etendeka Concessions: May 2023.
Game counts in north-west Namibia, Palmwag and Etendeka Concessions: May 2023.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in southern Namibia: June 2023.
Game counts in southern Namibia: June 2023.
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Southern Conservancy Game Count 2023.pdf 711.39 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in Hardap Game Park: June 2023.
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Hardap Game Count 2023.pdf 689 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in north-west Namibia, conservancies north of veterinary fence: May 2023.
Game counts in north-west Namibia, conservancies north of veterinary fence: May 2023.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in Sioma-Ngwezi N.P.: October 2023.

Annual game counts have been undertaken in Sioma-Ngwezi National Park since 2017 using road-route sections covering the western boundary, the southern area, and central area of the park. The vegetation of the park is dominated by miombo broad-leafed savanna but with some marshland associated with the Kwando river in the west (Sinjembela road and Mufulani road A). In 2021 several new routes were driven, however data from all except Namulilo road were discarded as they overlapped existing routes. Only a portion of Mulamba road route was counted.

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Sioma_Ngwezi_poster 2023 final.pdf 593.81 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in north-west Namibia, Hobatere Concession: May 2023.
Game counts in north-west Namibia, Hobatere Concession: May 2023.
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North West Game Count_Hobatere 2023.pdf 378.34 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Nyae Nyar and N#A-Jaqna Conservancies full moon waterhole counts: 2023.
Nyae Nyar and N#A-Jaqna Conservancies full moon waterhole counts: 2023.
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Nyae Nyae waterhole 2023 final.pdf 517.38 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts - Zambezi Rivers: August/September 2023.
Boat counts were undertaken along the Kwando river from the Angolan border to the southern boundary of Mudumu National Park (2021, 2022, 2023) and along the Okavango river from the northern part of the Buffalo core area to the Botswana border (2023). Total river length counted is approximately 190 km. Within Namibia animals on each side of the river were counted while, in the case of hippo, animals in the river were also counted.
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Zambezi Game Count_River 2023 final.pdf 374.13 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2023. Game counts in north-central Namibia: June 2023.
Numbers for Uukwaluudhi and Okongo are from foot transects in the core area. Although an additional 3 vehicle transects were undertaken in the Uukwaluudhi core area these are used for comparing counting methods and are not indicated here.
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North Central Game Count 2023 final.pdf 774.01 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts in east Zambezi - August 2022.

Estimates were calculated for the current year using DISTANCE. In most cases at least the last 5 years of data were used in analysis to generate a detection profile for each species. Several conservancies have been grouped due to the low numbers of animals recorded. The bottom row of the table (hyphenated) numbers = 95% Confidence Intervals. In Sikunga, very few sightings have ever been recorded (60 for all species since 2011) and no sensible estimates for any species can be derived for this area.

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Zambezi Game Count_ East 2022.pdf 522.67 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Palmwag and Etendeka Concessions - May 2022.

The Palmwag and Etendeka concession areas are important refuges for at least five of the main game species. The contrast in trends between kudu and gemsbok is noteworthy. While gemsbok numbers have declined dramatically throughout the entire north-west region, the contribution of the concessions has spiked in recent years. With kudu the contribution of concessions to numbers has dropped dramatically in the same period suggesting a different causal mechanism for the decline in numbers of the two species.

Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Full moon waterhole counts in northern Kunene 2022.

Counts were undertaken at waterholes in the escarpment zone of north west Namibia. In 2018,18 waterholes in 7 conservancies were counted while in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the number of waterholes was increased to around 26 covering 10 conservancies. Counts were undertaken over a period of 2, 3 or 4 days during which time all animals seen were counted. Game species differ in the frequency with which they need to visit water resources with some able to acquire much of their hydration needs through foraging.

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Waterholes_NW_poster_2022_Final.pdf 468.62 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies north of the veterinary fence - May 2022.

Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies north of the veterinary fence - May 2022.

Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts in southern Namibia: June 2022.

Game counts in southern Namibia: June 2022.

Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Hobatere consession - May 2022.

The dramatic spike in the proportion of gemsbok seen in Hobatere relative to the rest of the north-west reflects the decline in animal numbers in communal conservancies. In 2021, Palmwag, Etendeka and Hobatere concessions (only 9% of the total area) accounted for 60% of all gemsbok seen in the north-west. Due to the higher number of animals seen in Orupembe conservancy in 2022 this ratio dropped to 31%.

Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Nyae Nyae and N#a-Jaqna Conservancies - Full moon water counts 2022.

Nyae Nyae and N#a-Jaqna Conservancies - Full moon water counts 2022.

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Nyae Nyae waterhole 2022 Final.pdf 597.64 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts in north-central Namibia - June 2022.

The fundamental purpose of game counts in communal areas is to inform conservancies and MEFT of wildlife trends for the purposes of adaptive management of resources. While estimates for some species are provided, these should only be considered an approximate guide to species abundance.

Attachment Size
North Central Game Count 2022_final.pdf 767.98 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts: Nyae Nyae Conservancy - Line Transects July 2022.

Line transects were initiated in 2017 and represent almost half of the total area of the conservancy and include most of the waterholes. The area not covered by transects has low animal densities due to reduced habitat suitability and people pressure. Transect counts have recorded 25 species including 6 predator species. Based on average spoor sightings and Event Book records, hyaena are the most common predator, followed by wild dog, leopard and jackal. The top 3 species in terms of sightings between 2017 and 2022 included wildebeest, elephant and kudu.

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Nyae Nyae transect count 2022 Final.pdf 670.9 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game Counts Kwando River - August 2022.

Since 2021 a boat transect has been undertaken along the Kwando river from the Angola border to the southern boundary of Mudumu National Park. The total transect length is 152 km. For each species, animals on each side of the river (and in the case of hippo, in the river,) are counted.

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Zambezi Game Count_River 2022.pdf 377.41 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts: Kavango East - Aug 2022.

The fundamental purpose of game counts in communal areas is to inform conservancies and MEFT of wildlife trends for the purposes of adaptive management of resources. While estimates of species numbers are provided, these should only be considered as an approximate guide to species abundance.

Attachment Size
Kavango poster 2022 final.pdf 651.24 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies south of the veterinary fence - May 2022.

Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies south of the veterinary fence - May 2022.

Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022.   Game counts in Bwabwata N.P. - August 2022.

Game counts in Bwabwata N.P. - August 2022.

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Zambezi Game Count_Bwabwata 2022.pdf 632.72 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts in Hardap Game Park, Naute Recreation Resort and and Ai-Ais Hot Springs - June 2022.

Annual counts were extended to include Ai-Ais Hot Springs in 2022. Three transects were counted representing an area of around 407 km² . More years of data are required before any trends or estimates can be generated.

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Hardap Naute Ai_Ais Game Count 2022.pdf 1009.96 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2022. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Regional Summary - May 2022.

Wildlife populations in north-west Namibia were severely impacted in the 1980s by a combination of severe drought and poaching. Community conservation, formalised in 1996 through conservancies facilitated an increase in wildlife numbers through controlled utilisation and effective control of poaching. Between 1996 and 2012 most species experienced stable or growing population trends. However, a subsequent prolonged dry phase has resulted in a steady decline in populations of many game species. It is unclear how much illegal harvesting has contributed to this decline.

Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2021. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Hobatere Concession, May 2021.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2021. Game counts - line transects Nyae Nyae Conservancy, August 2021.

Line transects were started in 2017 and represent almost half of the total area of the conservancy and include most of the waterholes. The area not covered by transects has low animal densities due to reduced habitat suitability and people pressure. Transect counts have recorded 23 species including 6 predator species. Based on average spoor sightings hyaena are the most common predator, followed by leopard and wild dog.

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Nyae Nyae Game Count transect 2021.pdf 765.3 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2021. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Palmwag and Etendeka Conscessions, May 2021.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2021. Full moon waterhole counts in northern Kunene, 2021.

Counts were undertaken at waterholes in the escarpment zone of north west Namibia. In 2018,18 waterholes in 7 conservancies were counted while in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the number of waterholes was increased to around 26 covering 10 conservancies. Counts were undertaken over a period of 2, 3 or 4 days during which time all animals seen were counted. Game species differ in the frequency with which they need to visit water resources with some able to acquire much of their hydration needs through foraging.

Attachment Size
Waterholes_NW_poster_2021_final.pdf 513.97 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2021. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies south of the veterinary fence, May 2021.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2021. Game counts in Bwabwata NP, dry seaon - live sightings, October 2021.

The fundamental purpose of these annual game counts is to inform MEFT of general wildlife trends in the parks. While estimates for some species are provided, these should only be considered as an approximate guide to species abundance.

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Zambezi Game Count_Bwabwata 2021 final.pdf 656.34 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2021. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies north of the veterinary fence, May 2021.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2021. Game counts in East Zambezi, dry season - live sightings, October 2021.

The fundamental purpose of game counts in communal areas is to inform conservancies and MEFT of wildlife trends for the purposes of adaptive management of resources. While estimates for some species are provided, these should only be considered as an approximate guide to species abundance.

Attachment Size
Zambezi Game Count_East 2021 final.pdf 657.33 KB

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