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final report
Safari in South Africa
Safari in South Africa
The African Safari has a long and interesting history.
It began with trading expeditions into the interior. Safari which means to make
journey has evolved into a marketable tourism experience which is enjoyed by
travelers who want to experience the essence of Africa. South Africa has had a
rich history of safari tourism because of its large game reserves, white
explorers and beautiful scenery. Cape Town has for centuries acted as a gateway
to Africa since the 17th century when European explorers like Jan
van Riebeeck commissioned expeditions into the interior. Simon van der Stel one
of the cape commanders pioneered the first grand safari expedition in 1685.
The first safari expeditions were exploratory in
nature because Europeans visited places that had not been visited by foreigners
before. They were also dangerous because of attacks by lions and other wild animals.
Safaris of the early times included donkeys, horses, soldiers, African guides
and carriages. In the deep interior, white explorers used potters because the
terrain was not suitable for horse travel. Therefore, the traditional safari
involved great risk and a greater degree of adventure and discovery. Adventurers
like Van Reenen who was the first to explore Namibia gave the safari its
allure.
The greatest African safari is the Great Trek which
was led by Voortrekker Louis Trichardt in the 19th century
(Coy, 2007). In this safari, Dutch settlers moved into the interior in
order to distant themselves from the control of the British settlers. Safari
expeditions involved the shooting of big game animals such as lions, elephants,
rhinos, giraffes and buffalos. In many cases the safaris were a necessity while
in the modern era they are a luxury. African safaris have transformed from
explorative expeditions to luxury tourist holiday options (Staples, 2006).
Safari in South Africa
Introduction
The modern day safari
experience is a world away from the experiences of Simon van der Stel and Jan
van Riebeeck in the 17th century. In the past safaris, shooting and
killing wildlife was a common practice but in today’s safaris, the shooting is
done with cameras (Lewis & Jackson, 2005). Times have changed and game
reserves and tourism authorities are more concerned about conservation. Game
hunting has become a relic of the past and is now reserved for main characters
in Wilbur Smith novels about adventure in Africa.
History of Safaris
By all accounts, modern safaris lack the authenticity
and sense of raw adventure evident in African safaris of the 17th
century. Expedition, exploration and discovery have been replaced by leisure,
recreation and vacation (Tourism, 2004). Travelers
can no longer experience the migration of the springbok herds of the Northern
Cape or the wildlife experiences of Kwa Zulu Natal. The land was free and
uninhibited by mines, fences, private game reserves and modern settlements. Venturing
into unknown lands and discovering new things is out of the question.
Modern safaris are a preserve for tourists and are
managed to make a destination more competitive (Lindsey et
al., 2007). Safaris are now marketed for economic reasons and much of
planning goes into them. The expedition groups are much smaller and the distances
covered are significantly shorter. South Africa has many private reserves where
the population of wildlife has been increased through conservation and
effective management. Transfrontier Reserves, national game parks and peace
parks indicate that the diversity of animals per establishment has also
increased in recent times.
Kinds of Safari
The Big Five safaris have become one of the most
popular safaris in South Africa. Big five refers to the most revered wildlife
animals: the lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino and leopard. Tourists go on tours
in open vehicles and photograph them in their natural habit. Game reserves have
designed courses which allow visitors intimate access to the animals. Kruger
National Park is one of the great places to take a safari expedition. It has
the Big five and in addition it has one of the largest diversity of animals in
the world.
Walking safaris are a modern version of what used to
take place in the past. Tourists walk
through the wilderness in groups that include a guide and armed security. In
many of the parks, there are places set aside for bush camps. There are trails
where tourists can view the wildlife animals at a close proximity.
Mobile safaris involve the use of cars to cover large
tracks of wilderness. In the Kruger national park, there are deluxe mobile
tented camps for those who like to go on safari and stay in the wilderness. The Namaqua
National Park provides luxury in the wild for those tourists who want to
experience the wild without the usual discomfort and inconvenience. There are
also privately guided safaris where tourists seek exclusivity and privacy. This
involves a guide and a party of two or three.
Rules and Regulations
Insurance is
one of the prerequisite for any safari. An incursion into the wild is naturally
risky even with the presence of a guide. Tourism authorities require that
guests have international cover or local cover. Furthermore, there are safety rules
and regulations which are critical in safari management in South Africa. The
rules are meant to provide safety to those who come in close proximity to
dangerous apex predators. People should
never get out of their vehicles in order to get a better camera shot or view. Walkers
are advised never to turn their back or run because predators like to stalk
their prey. In addition, people on safari are required to always heed the
advice of their guide. Also, walkers are
required to be quiet because animals are sensitive to noise and hide if disturbed.
Tent safety is another important aspect of safety regulations. Taking food to
the tent attracts wild animals and is therefore not allowed. Forgetting to zip
the tent is also dangerous during the night.
Illegal Issues
Game hunting is
prohibited unless it is practiced by licensed hunters. In addition there are
protected animals such as the rhino and the elephant. There are birds which cannot be hunted and
some of the provinces prohibit the hunting of the Big Five. Hence, illegal
hunting is one of the problems facing South African tourism
(Damm, 2005). This practice affects the ability of private game reserves
to manage the wildlife on their land. The close relationship between hunting
and poaching creates confusion. Poaching is a major problem which affects game
reserves in South Africa. The dehorning of rhinos and killing of elephants for
their tusks is still a problem. Poachers sometimes seek hunting licenses to
hunt in order to camouflage their illegal activities.
Conclusion
Africa safaris have transformed from explorative
expeditions to luxury tourist holiday options. The coming of Europeans to
Africa commenced an era of safaris to the interior. In South Africa, safaris or
journeys started at the cape and expeditions extended into the interior for
exploratory and trade purposes. Today, South Africa offers safari tours as a
luxury tourist product. There are luxury mobile camps in game parks across
South Africa. Safety is the major concern and there are elaborate regulations
meant to protect the tourists.
References
Coy,
O. C. (2007). The great trek. London, UK: Wildside Press LLC.
Damm,
G. (2005). Hunting in South Africa: Facts, risks and opportunities. African
Indaba, 3(4), 1-23.
Lewis,
D., & Jackson, J. (2005). Safari hunting and conservation on communal land
in southern Africa. Conservation Biology Series-Cambridge-, 9,
239.
Lindsey,
P. A., Frank, L. G., Alexander, R., Mathieson, A., & Romanach, S. S.
(2007). Trophy hunting and conservation in Africa: Problems and one potential
solution. Conservation biology, 21(3), 880-883.
Tourism,
S. A. (2004). Annual tourism report. Johannesburg: South African Tourism
Strategic Research Unit. South
African Tourism.
Staples,
A. J. (2006). Safari Adventure: forgotten cinematic journeys in Africa. Film
History: An International Journal, 18(4), 392-411.
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