Description of Activities

Description of transaction: The Commission resolved to approve with conditions the acquisition by Ultimate Safaris (Proprietary) Limited (“Ultimate Safaris”) of the entire shareholding in Hotel Eberwein Garni CC (“Hotel Eberwein”). Upon implementation of the merger, Ultimate Safaris will solely control the Hotel Eberwein.

Acquiring group: The primary acquiring undertaking, Ultimate Safaris, is a Namibian-registered private company. The acquiring group is involved in the tour and safari operations, as well as owning and operating tourism activities, campsites, and accommodation establishments, including car rentals, as well as services and facilitation of the film industry and all related business, including the following divisions and locations: Sossus tented camp; the Nest @ Sossus; Onduli ridge; Doros tented camp; Onduli enclave; Galton House.

Target undertaking: The primary target undertaking is Hotel Eberwein, a Namibian-registered close corporation. Hotel Eberwein operates a bed and breakfast enterprise and related matters. In addition, it owns the immovable property from which the bed-and-breakfast business operates.

Relevant market: Defined the relevant upstream product market as the market for the provision of tour-operator services in Namibia, and the relevant downstream product market as the provision of short-term accommodation services in Swakopmund, Namibia.

Merger Determination

The Commission found the proposed transaction unlikely to result in the prevention or substantial lessening of competition or result in any undertaking to acquire or strengthen a dominant position in the market. However, the proposed merger did raise public interest concerns, especially employment concerns. Thus, the Commission approved the merger with employment conditions.

Merger Determination No.6 of 2025_