Environmental Change, Wildlife-Based Tourism and Sustainability in Chobe National Park, Botswana

Environmental change is an ecologically complicated and contentious issue that usually has consequences on the structure and dynamics of ecosystems. Consequently, the impacts of environmental change will be more pronounced on both the natural resource base and dependent industries such as wildlife-based tourism. However, the extent of knowledge on environmental change, especially in protected areas in Botswana, is relatively limited. Creating knowledge on the nature and scale of environmental change is a fundamental step to responsive policy formulations and planning of adaptation measures. This chapter examines the perceived impacts and implications environmental change has on the sustainability and management of the Chobe National Park (CNP), Botswana. Sixty-seven safari tour guide respondents were purposively sampled in this study, drawn from the mobile and fixed tourism operators in Chobe District. In addition, nine key informants were also purposively sampled. Descriptive statistics and a thematic analysis approach were used for analysing the data. The results demonstrate that respondents held negative perceptions towards environmental change on wildlife-based tourism. The important assumption is that the consequences of environmental change on wildlife-based tourism management in Chobe National Park should not threaten its sustainability and High Cost; Low Volume (HCLV) Policy position.