Transcript Visiting the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Visiting the Okavango
Delta, Botswana
What is it/Where is it?
The People of the
Okavango Delta
Wildlife
Positive Impacts of
Tourism
Negative Impacts of
Tourism
Managing Tourism
Botswana
Kenya
DRC
Botswana
GDP is the average wealth
of each person in a country.
The GDP on this map
compares different
currencies so higher
numbers = wealthy. Low
numbers = poor
Botswana is already one of
the wealthier countries in
Africa. This is partly
because they have a stable
government so they have
invested in better paid
industries like tourism.
Okavango Delta
What is a delta?
Deltas form at the mouth (end)
of a river where it meets the
sea.
This is usually where the river
is moving slowly and has not got
very much energy.
This means that any mud/
sand/pebbles that’s its carrying
get deposited (put down).
Deltas are usually very marshy
or swampy because of all of the
water. The sand that is put
down is fertile so lots of plants
grow there.
This delta is at the end of
the Nile, it stands out so
well because it is
surrounded by the Sahara
Desert.
Your Task
Today you need to collect
information on the Okavango
Delta and how it has been
affected by tourism so far.
Next lesson you are going to
prepare a report for the
government which describes
the current situation,
suggests whether they should
expand tourism in the region
and explains why.
What is it/Where is it?
Okavango Delta is
unique because it
was formed inland,
most deltas form
Location: NW
at where rivers
Botswana, Southern
meet the sea
Africa. It is also
known as Okavango
Swamp.
Size: 15000km2
(bigger than Wales)
Seasons: Dry
season = May - Sept
Rainy season = Oct Apr. The country is
80% desert.
ATTRACTIONS
• Poling (rowing)
dugout canoes
through lagoons
crammed with water
lilies, hippos etc.
• Fishing for the
prized triggerfish
• Viewing incredible
wildlife and birds
The Okavango Delta
has lots of wildlife,
including 1,300 plants,
Wildlife is the main
444 birds, 71 species
tourist attraction and the
of fish, 64 reptiles and
reason that people visit
122 mammals e.g.
the Okavango Delta!
buffalo, hippopotamus,
zebras and giraffe.
Wildlife is important
to the economy so
Botswana’s government
has set up laws to
ensure that the animals
do not get poached!
The Okavango Delta is
the only place in the
The vehicles that
world where the Slaty
take tourists to view Egret can be found. It
the wildlife leave
is critically endangered,
tyre tracks.
but some of its breeding
grounds have been
The vehicles get too
close to animals and destroyed to make way
for increasing tourism!
scare them.
Wildlife
Eco-tourism is
Botswana’s second
largest income and a
lot of the tourists
come to see the
Okavango Delta.
People of the Okavango Delta!
There are five tribes who live in the Okavango Delta. Each has it’s own
culture, traditions and language.
They are Hambukushu, Dxeriku, Wayeyi, Bugakwe, and Xanekwe.
Group
Hambukushu,
Dxeriku, and
Wayeyi
The Bugakwe and
Xanekwe
Traditional Activities
Traditionally
Traditionally
they farm
practiced
millet and
fishing, hunting,
sorghum as
and collecting
well as fishing, wild plant foods;
hunting,
Bugakwe used
collecting wild both forest and
plant foods
river resources
and herding
while the
animals.
Xanekwe mostly
use river
resources.
What type of changes do you think
tourism in the Okavango Delta would
have made to these groups?
All groups of
people are reliant
on rain, if the
rains don’t come
we can starve!
Working with
nature we have
used the
resources of the
Delta in a
sustainable way!
Positive Impacts of Tourism
The Okavango Delta is a major
tourist destination in Botswana.
Over 50 000 tourists visit the
area each year.
Many tourists use facilities owned
and run by local communities- this
means that the money stays in the
local economy and supports local
people!
We have jobs
showing
foreign
tourists about
our local area!
Tourists spend money
in the local area, which
gives local people jobs
New roads, hospitals and other services are
built for the tourists, which the locals can use!
Tourism encourages cultural exchanges and
diversity in the district.
Key Benefits-Income Generation, Employment
and provision of social services.
This is community based tourism! Are there any other benefits?
Negative Impacts of Tourism
When tourists visit the area, many stay in places
owned by large foreign travel companies, so the
profits that are made do not stay in Botswana.
Tourism in the Okavango Delta is
based on the wildlife and delta
environment. This is a very delicate
environment and any small change can
have huge effects.
Despite the profits
from tourism, there
Services that have
is still a lot of
been built e.g.
poverty.
airport and hotels
Is this because the
are useful for
money is not being
tourists but not for
spread evenly?
local people.
How can these
negative points be
managed?
Some scientists say the
delta has shrunk in recent
years, this is blamed on
more people moving to the
area to take advantage of
the tourism boom.
Managing Tourism
Botswana’s Government need
money to develop the country.
The country is 80% desert
and water is scarce so it is
difficult to develop industry!
Tourism is seen as an area
that the country could develop
to increase revenue.
Local
communities run
tourist activates
such as hunting,
and photographic
tourism.
To manage the delta
tourist numbers are limited this is done
by making it an expensive place to visit.
Botswana’s Government want to avoid the
mass tourism that has spoilt other areas
of Africa as this will protect the fragile
delta ecosystem.
The delta doesn’t have huge hotels that
you may find in other African game
reserves.
All of these mean less people visit so the
area is under less stress
So what do you think?
Should Botswana increase tourism to the Okavango Delta?
Pros
Cons
L4 Describe where the Okavango Delta is and how human
activity is changing it
L5 Explain how people are affecting Okavango Delta
ecosystem and how the Delta affects people (e.g. the
local population and tourists)
L6 Explain why some people want to increase tourism to the
Okavango Delta and why some people want to restrict it?
L7 Evaluate the options for the delta and make a justified
decision about what should happen there In the future
The Plan
1. What is it? Where is it? What is its
USP (unique selling point)?
2. What is Botswana thinking of doing?
Why?
3. Good points
4. Bad points
5. Your Opinion / Conclusion