Namibia is endowed with valuable wildlife resources. It already earns some economic benefit from them, mainly through tourism which is one of the fastest growing industries in Namibia and worldwide. However, at present, these earnings are below potential, particularly in communal areas where economic incentives for sustainable management have been stifled. As a result, the bulk of economic benefits of wildlife accrue to private enterprise and the government, with residents of communal areas largely excluded. Emerging economic data and comparisons with data from Botswana indicate that wildlife utilisation does have potential to address economic priorities in Namibia: it could provide significant economic and financial returns in communal areas such as Caprivi. With improved legal rights and skills for communities to manage and earn income from wildlife, it could be a valuable and significant complement to livestock keeping.