Harry charms his way out of rhino disaster: Prince drives for hours to win over Namibian minister who warned him against turning royal visit into publicity stunt

  • Prince Harry drove for several hours for face-to-face with Pohamba Shifeta 
  • Announced royal wanted to help Nambia with its rhino problem
  • Government minister warned Prince not to turn visit into publicity stunt
  • After meeting Mr Shifeta said Harry was 'down to earth' and 'respectful' 

By Barbara Jones In Namibia For The Mail On Sunday

Published: 18:24 EST, 18 July 2015 | Updated: 19:22 EST, 18 July 2015

PRINCE HARRY had to use all his diplomacy skills to avoid an ugly incident which threatened his three-month sojourn in Africa.

Learning that his presence in Namibia without official permission had infuriated a government minister, he abandoned a foot patrol with rhino trackers in the country’s remote north-west, and drove several hours for a face-to-face meeting.

Turning up at Etosha National Park in grubby jeans, Harry managed a charm offensive which soon had Pohamba Shifeta happy and smiling.

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Making friends: Prince Harry soon had  Pohamba Shifeta smiling after driving for several hours to meet the government official

Making friends: Prince Harry soon had  Pohamba Shifeta smiling after driving for several hours to meet the government official

The trouble started while Harry was deep in the bush in the Palmwag tribal lands, learning about de-horning rhinos and talking to community leaders who help to inform on poaching gangs.

Mr Shifeta, known as a stickler for ceremony, issued a statement warning him not to turn his trip into a PR exercise. 

He was angry that Clarence House and Harry’s hosts in Africa, the Save The Rhino Trust, had been boasting of his intention to work on Namibia’s rhino problems, but had omitted to inform the government.

A government official, Colgar Sikopo, was instructed to find out where Harry was and what he was doing. Mr Sikopo said: ‘We have a model system here with which we are gradually defeating poachers. We cannot have foreigners – even if they are members of the Royal Family – turning up here and announcing they are going to get involved.’

A member of his staff commented privately that it would be like ‘a foreigner turning up in Windsor Great Park to announce he was working on the Queen’s herd of deer, without asking her permission’. 

But Mr Shifeta later told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I found Prince Harry to be very down-to-earth and respectful.’

Kensington Palace said the Prince was pleased to accept the minister’s invitation to visit the park and added: ‘Harry has only worked with established experts and did not require additional permission for his visit.’

Prince Harry is currently on a three month visit to Africa. Pictured: playing with children during a visit to a children's home in Lesotho during a visit in 2014.

Prince Harry is currently on a three month visit to Africa. Pictured: playing with children during a visit to a children's home in Lesotho during a visit in 2014.

 

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