The objective of this study was to quantify the factors affecting human-elephant conflicts in an area of relatively low human population density, in the absence of abundant, large scale crops, with a growing elephant population. Most of the human elephant conflict incidents that occurred in the last five years in Nyae Nyae Conservancy and Khaudum National Park, Namibia took the form of damage to water installations (52.5%). Almost half of the conflicts occurred in the hot dry season. The number of conflicts increased steadily between 2000 and 2003 and then began to decline in 2004 when concrete enclosures were built around water installations at particular villages. During this time, the number of elephants counted in annual waterhole counts increased every year. A total of N$551, 500 worth of financial damage was caused to infrastructure between 2000 and 2005. Herd size influenced the intensity of conflict more than any other factor, with herds of less than five elephants causing more conflicts than any other herd size. However, distance to nearest drinking point for elephants and distance to Khaudum National Park also significantly influenced the intensity of conflict. The limited data suggested that the presence of a cement crib may reduce the level of conflict. Not surprisingly, more conflicts occurred in areas of high elephant densities than those in areas of low elephant densities. Recommendations for future management of human-elephant conflicts in the area include developing further tourism and trophy hunting opportunities, selective culling of ‘repeat offender’ bulls, locating water holes for elephants to drink at far from villages and providing cement cribs for clean, more accessible water than is available in pumped, dam-style water holes. Despite the small sample size (n=41), this study goes some way towards providing site-specific solutions to ameliorate conflicts with elephants in Nyae Nyae Conservancy and Khaudum National Park. The overall positive attitude of people surveyed in Nyae Nyae Conservancy suggests that a harmonious outcome is possible, because although most respondents viewed elephants as a threat to their livelihoods (86%) they also recognised the value of the species for sustainable development in their conservancy (>93%).