In Botswana, ecotourism and conservation draw travelers

Story highlights

Tourism is Botswana's second contributor to its economy, after diamonds

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the largest inland deltas in the world

Since 2002, Botswana has made efforts to conserve natural resources and wildlife

CNN  — 

Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated nations in the world, a country the size of France but with just over 2 million people.

Though its population may be scant, the southern African country has no shortage of wildlife. Home to 40% of Africa’s entire elephant population, the country sees a larger number of tourists coming each year than its entire population.

“The number of visitors we have into Botswana is between 2.6 and 2.7 million, which is more than the population of Botswana,” said Tshedidi Khama, Botswana’s Minister for Environment, Wildlife and Tourism.

In terms of the country’s economy, tourism ranks second in Botswana after the diamond industry. An African success story, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $17,700 in 2015.

Though it’s still early days, ecotourism in Botswana is said to contribute 4-5% towards the country’s GDP.

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Eco focus

“We have made a deliberate decision to grow tourism in this country and become imaginative in the way in which we’re doing that,” said Khama.

In 2002, the country adopted a national ecotourism strategy aimed at conserving Botswana’s natural resources and wildlife, explains Khama.

Conservation started in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, which is often referred to as the “Jewel of the Kalahari” by locals, one of the largest inland deltas in the world.

The Delta springs to life several months each year, when the rains from Angola reach its neck, transforming it into a rich wetland attracting wildlife including zebras, hippos, impalas, lions and leopards.

All the concessioners who operate in the Delta are now encouraged to have solar lighting and to recycle water, said Khama. “I believe we are probably the best destination in the world with ecotourism.”

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