The changing nature of domestic nature-based tourists in South Africa

South Africa has a divided history of leisure tourism due to apartheid legislation. The nature-based tourism sector has remained racially divided despite the end of apartheid in 1994. In the post-pandemic period, however, there has been evidence of substantial growth of nature-based tourism among Black South Africans. Nature-based tourism also has the potential to contribute to rural economies due to the numerous assets found within these spaces. Therefore, this article demonstrates the changing dynamics of nature-based tourism in South Africa, by focusing on the evolution of Black South African nature-based tourism in the post-pandemic period. This was evident on the Panorama Route in the Mpumalanga Province, which serves as the research focus. Interviews with Black South African nature tourists highlighted travel characteristics and demands of this growing tourism market. Also identified were challenges to growth including shortfalls of private operators, public institutions, policy makers and challenges with local municipalities and infrastructure.