Responsible tourism in Botswana
As always, the preservation of this wilderness is highly dependent on local people being able to generate sustainable incomes; well-managed tourism is one of the key solutions here. Tourism in Botswana also plays a huge part in the preservation of local culture, so follow our tips below for a happier, more responsible holiday.
Our Botswana Holidays
Botswana camping safaris
Botswana's premier game parks, Okavango Moremi Savuti Chobe
Botswana safari and Victoria Falls
An unforgettable wildlife and scenery experience
Namibia and Botswana safari holiday
Namibia & Botswana lodge safari Caprivi Etosha Okavango
Botswana Fly-In Luxury Safari
Discover Botswana in style with this fly-in luxury safari
Botswana small group lodge safari
Botswana affordable lodge safari including Okavango
Botswana safari holiday on a shoestring
Affordable safari and camping experience through Botswana
Botswana safari holiday
A semi participation and mobile safari in Botswana
Botswana safari and wild camping
Botswana's premier game parks, Okavango Moremi Savuti Chobe.
Namibia and Botswana camping safari
Camping safari to Namib desert, Caprivi, Etosha & Okavango
Botswana lodge safari
Botswana affordable lodge safari Okavango, Moremi, Chobe
Southern Africa budget holiday
Discover the iconic wildlife and nature of South East Africa
Family safari in Botswana and South Africa
A family friendly safari in iconic wildlife locations
Botswana safari, lodges and mobile camps
Wildlife lodges, mobile tented safaris & Victoria Falls!
Cape Town to Vic Falls holiday in Southern Africa
A spectacular and diverse African journey
Zimbabwe & Botswana self drive holiday
Victoria Falls and incredible wildlife on self drive tour
Botswana fly-in safari holiday
Experience Botswana on a 6 night fly-in Safari adventure
The Grand Southern Africa safari
21-day tour from Cape Town to Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls to Cape Town small group holiday
Explore the best of Southern Africa's wildlife and nature.
Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls luxury holiday
A unique trip, combining rich wildlife with the Victoria Falls
Windhoek to Victoria Falls self drive tour
A self-drive adventure through Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls & Botswana safari holiday
This 7 day safari captures 3 major highlights of the region.
Camping safari in Southern Africa
Camping safari highlights of Zimbabwe, Botswana & Kruger
Namibia and Botswana safari
Two week adventure tour of Namibia and Botswana
Luxury Botswana safari & Victoria Falls
Luxurious lodges & spectacular wildlife viewing
Best of Botswana and Zimbabwe
Visit two of southern Africa’s most amazing countries
Botswana National Parks safari holiday
Botswana's premier game parks, Moremi, Savuti & Chobe.
Kalahari desert expedition safari, Botswana
Central Kalahari Game Reserve & Kgalagadi National Park
Botswana luxury safari with Victoria Falls
An amazing off-road and river safari in beautiful Botswana
Botswana highlights and Victoria falls
Great value safari adventure covering Botswana & Zimbabwe
People & Culture in Botswana
The San
The San – also known as the Bushmen or Basarwa in Botswana – are the original inhabitants of southern Africa, and their detailed knowledge of the desert and its flora and flora remains unrivalled. In 1961, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) was created as a protected area for around 5,000 San, where they could continue to hunt, forage and live in the traditional way, without intrusion.However, since the 1990s, a series of government clearances have removed virtually all the San from the CKGR, and placed them in government camps. In 2006 the San won a court case for their right to return to the reserve, but the government sealed a water borehole and arrested and beat those found hunting to feed their families, effectively making it impossible for them to survive on their ancestral lands.


As a result of the sealed borehole and the lack of access to food or income, the San within the reserve are dying, and those living in government camps are rapidly losing the skills and knowledge that have been accumulated over hundreds of generations in the desert. The San of the Kalahari are the world’s last remaining hunting Bushmen, and the loss of their culture would be absolutely tragic.
Make sure your tour operator has experiences the San tour they are selling – it’s the only way they will know how ethical the tour is. Ask them if the tour is genuine, is it sensitive to the San culture, and how do the San benefit from the tourists? There has to be a benefit for the tourists and the people involved, otherwise it’s exploitation.
Many San complain about the way they are treated by tourists and guides – they walk into San villages and homes uninvited, don’t greet them, and take photographs without permission. Be sure to treat them as respectfully as you would any other host, and refuse to participate in any tour where the San are visibly uncomfortable with your presence.
Read more:
Tourism & communities
Despite the serious issues with the San, the Botswana Tourism Organisation generally has a good relationship with community-based organisations and tribal authorities. Most land used for tourism in Botswana is leased – either in a national park or reserve, or from local communities. Safari companies bid for the lease – known as a concession – and must demonstrate the financial and environmental benefits they will provide during their lease.This results in annual royalties for the communities, which are generally reinvested into community and conservation initiatives, as well as empowering local people by giving them a say in the management and use of their land. Laws also ensure that only Batswana staff can be hired by these companies, keeping as much tourism revenue as possible within the country.
What you can do:
While these laws mean that you holiday is already supporting the local economy, there are extra little ways you can contribute, such as tipping staff.
Wildlife & environment in Botswana
A new hunting ban
Historically, trophy hunting was permitted in Botswana’s private and state reserves, with hunters shooting the most impressive big game including elephants, buffalo and lions. In 2014, trophy hunting was banned, which has had impacts on local communities, conservation and tourism. In May 2019, the ban on hunting elephants was lifted, with the Botswana government citing growing conflicts between humans and animals, which at times destroy crops.As the owners of the land and lodges which were leased out as hunting concessions, local communities have, in the past, benefitted greatly from hunting. A single elephant could generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue, which encouraged them to keep the land as pristine as possible, without introducing cattle, building fences or exploiting natural resources. The original hunting ban caused concern, therefore, that communities would be disincentivised from protecting these habitats and conserving wildlife.
Happily, this has not happened. Since the ban’s implementation, wildlife numbers have increased and tourism is thriving. As most of the tourist lodges work in partnership with local communities, this feeds money back into local hands. Tourism brought in around £160 million in 2017 which is more than trophy hunters spend across the whole of southern Africa. [1]
The 2014 ban has affected some local people negatively. Off the beaten track villages that were once popular with hunters are suffering as the major reserves and parks scoop up most of the tourism revenue. The original ban also provoked criticism from some African governments, including Zambia, which criticised Botswana for pandering to Western animal rights activists. Government officials and even conservationists in other African countries continue to encourage trophy hunting as a source of income for locals and simply as a traditional right. [2]
Sources
1. BBC News
2. NY Times
"At this time, we need tourism more than ever before. There's a real danger that if sustainable tourism doesn't support Botswana, then the hunting ban will be lifted. So it's up to everyone who is interested to vote with their feet. If the ban doesn't work, if the concessions don't bring in enough money to support themselves, then people will want to reinstate hunting.
Part of responsible tourism is going to places where your tourism dollars are most needed – and in Botswana's case, it's for conservation. For every person a lodge hires, 4.5 people get fed. Tourism hires staff year-round, whereas hunting lodges only operated for five months of the year, and employed a fraction of the number of staff that sustainable tourism does. Additionally, instead of 12 hunters per year in a reserve, you've got hundreds of tourists. That's a substantial return to the community through employment and gratuities – it all feeds back into the village. People also buy curios and eat much more food, supporting local producers.

