WINDHOEK, Namibia (AP) -- Police were searching Tuesday for two men suspected of killing a German tourist in Namibia and driving off with his wife - a rare incident in this normally peaceful desert country.

Johannes and Elke Fellinger had arrived only hours before they were attacked Sunday about 60 kilometers (35 miles) west of the capital, Windhoek, police spokesman Stephan Nuuyi said.

Johannes Fellinger, 56, was shot in the head, and died instantly, Nuuyi said.

"The deceased was apparently taking pictures of baboons when two men emerged from the bush and confronted his wife, who had remained in their rented vehicle," Nuuyi said.

After shooting the man, the attackers threw his body into the vehicle and drove off with his wife still inside, police said. They later dumped Johannes Fellinger's body in a dry riverbed, and became involved in a high-speed chase with a local farmer.

During the chase, the car overturned and the attackers escaped on foot, leaving Elke Fellinger behind.

She was being treated for shock and minor injuries at Windhoeks Catholic Hospital. "The next of kin have been informed," Nuuyi said.

Deputy German Ambassador Ute Koenig said the attack was "bad news for the tourism industry."

"We are looking after the widow and have been visiting her," Koenig said, adding that the embassy would help in repatriating Johannes Fellinger's body. The Fellingers were from Westerwald, Germany.

A former German protectorate that later seceded to South Africa, Namibia is visited by about 50,000 German tourists a year and is ranked the 13th fastest growing tourist destination in the world.

The Namibia Tourism Board called the attack a "deeply regrettable incident."

"Such incidents can tarnish the country as a safe tourism destination," said Digu Naobeb, the board's acting chief executive officer.

"This will require us to double our efforts in damage control, but we want to reassure the international community that its not the order of the day," he said.