Threats to Southern Africa’s Wildlife and the Benefits of Sustainable Travel

By Jamie du Plessis

Southern Africa is a region rich in natural resources and diverse topographies, from its dramatic coastlines, mountain-top grasslands, to the lush forests of its interior. But it’s also home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, many of which are at risk from human development and interaction.

There is a 68% decline in the abundance of wildlife and some of the threats to Southern Africa’s wildlife can see a spark of change as a result of eco-friendly, nature-based travel, which can contribute to the preservation of local flora and fauna.

What are some of the biggest threats to South Africa’s wildlife?

Southern Africa’s wildlife is in danger from a variety of threats. The biggest threats to Southern Africa’s wildlife include:

• Poaching
• Habitat destruction and fragmentation
• Pollution
• Invasion of alien species
• Climate change

All of these threats result in the decline or even extinction of the populations of fauna and flora. Tourism as an industry has the potential to play a significant role in mitigating this issue by promoting responsible travel practices.

How Sustainable Tourism Can Help

Sustainable tourism can help protect endangered animals by promoting responsible tourism practices but it’s also important to discern the eco warriors from the eco imposters. It also means making sure that local communities benefit from tourists who visit their area.

Tourism creates jobs which in turn helps reduce poverty levels and contributes towards the country’s GDP growth. By helping support local communities and businesses, sustainable tourism can play an important role in preserving this crucial eco system for future generations as they are able to sustain themselves economically while still enjoying the benefits of tourism.

Fair trade tourism ensures that workers involved in producing products used for tourist attractions are paid fairly for their labour. This helps protect both the environment and these communities’ sustainable economic development.

Sustainable tourism can help protect wildlife by creating revenue streams that support conservation efforts and illegal wildlife trade. By learning about the various threats and how sustainable tourism can help, you can help ensure the safety of Southern African wildlife.

How should I behave when visiting protected areas in order to minimise damage?

Educating oneself about the destination is also key to responsible travel practices. Knowing why you’re visiting, what you can do while there, and what your impact will be helps make sure that you aren’t causing any harm while you’re there. As a responsible traveller, it’s important to think about how your every interaction matters.

This means thinking ahead about how you’ll behave while out exploring different areas and taking care not to damage local ecosystems or disturb wildlife in any way. When visiting protected areas, make sure to follow guidelines like these to minimise damage and help protect the environment.

1. If you are travelling in groups, make sure everyone knows the rules and regulations of the area before entering. This will help avoid any potential conflicts or accidents.

2. Do not litter, hunt, bring firearms or any other weapons into the park.

3. Take photographs and videos of your visit but always leave enough space for wildlife to enjoy its natural habitat.

4. Always respect the boundaries of a protected area and the local communities while staying away from endangered species.

5. When hiking, always make sure to use safe trails that have been marked with signs.

6. Avoid feeding wild animals, as this can lead them into dangerously life-threatening conflicts in communities, and possible exploitation, or animal trafficking.  

How do I become a responsible tourist when visiting wild areas in Southern Africa?

Southern Africa is home to some of the world’s most magnificent wildlife, and it’s important to be mindful when travelling. By doing your research, you can also learn about sustainable tourism practices that help preserve wildlife and protect local communities from human impact.

One of the best ways sustainable tourism can help protect Southern Africa’s wildlife is by promoting responsible travel practices. This means that tourists are made aware of the threats wildlife faces and the ways their visits can help conserve it. In addition, sustainable tourism projects often involve training local people in different eco-tourism sectors.

This helps you as a tourist and the surrounding community to learn about traditional skills and cultures that have been used for sustainable living for generations. As a result of these initiatives, locals become empowered and more aware of the importance of conserving natural resources.

They start caring about the environment in which they live by actively protecting threatened species. Groups like the Black Mambas Anti-Rhino Poaching group or the anti-poaching k9 unit have been formed from educated awareness circulating in various communities and conservation efforts established by reserves allow anti-poaching units to continue lowering the risk of illegal wildlife trade.

Many operators now offer eco-tours which highlight responsible tourism practices in the area. Contact your tour operator ahead of time if you plan on doing any wildlife viewing or photography. These tours may highlight sustainable tourism methods such as using public transportation, buying local, respecting customs and culture, conserving energy, and minimising waste.