the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

district, date back to 1991. Hence, even though the DWNP is responsible for
monitoring changes in wildlife numbers in protected areas, no comprehensive
information exists after 1991 for much of the Okavango Delta area.
Future wildlife control in Botswana is likely to remain with the Department of Wildlife
and National Parks. Ironically, there is little doubt that the current state control of
wildlife resources is inadequate, especially as most of the control is carried out from
urban centres, which are dialectically and geographically detached from the rural
areas. This, therefore, suggests that effective management and monitoring of wildlife
resources requires the involvement of those living within the resource areas as they
are best placed and could be economically motivated to monitor it effectively on a
daily basis (Mbaiwa, 2002).
With regards to the direct impact of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks on
the tourism industry in the Okavango Delta, several limitations were noted. These
include the following:
• Problems with liquid waste disposal: As will be discussed in greater detail
further on in this chapter, there is a general problem with waste
management in many of the safari camps and lodges throughout the
Okavango Delta. The DWNP is responsible for all public campsites that are
located on land under the jurisdiction of this Department. As such, all public
campsites in game reserves and national parks in Botswana are under the
authority and management of the DWNP. In the Okavango Delta this
includes all public campsites in the Moremi Game Reserve, such as those
located at North Gate, Xakanaxa and South Gate. Liquid waste disposal at
these campsites is poor, as the DWNP is unable, due to staff shortages,
and a lack of transportation, etc. to ensure that all camps adhere to the
prescribed regulations of waste disposal in protected and conserved areas.
As such, septic tanks are often not emptied regularly and overflow into the
surrounding areas, often into the waters of the Okavango Delta, causing
pollution and unpleasant camping conditions for tourists (Mbaiwa, 1999;
Mbaiwa, 2002).
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