The Botswana government is making headway in its policy to ban wildlife hunting and promote photographic safaris. Wildlife in Botswana has seen a dramatic decline over the last decade and some species have seen a decrease by over 90 percent.

Recent findings by Dr Mike Chase, suggests that this decline in the wildlife population, is largely due to poaching, hunting and veldt fires. His most recent research has found a catastrophic loss in species over the last 15 years. His studies have also found that at least 11 species have seen a 61 percent decrease since 1996 in the Ngamiland district.

What is the way forward? Photographic safari  is being promoted throughout the country with a strong emphasis on major game reserves. Set not only to attract professional photographers, but amateurs and enthusiasts as well.

Archibald Ngakayaga, a Ministry of Wildlife, Environment and Tourism spokesperson has said that the policy to promote “photographic safari” is in an advanced state and in the future they won’t be issuing any new hunting quotas. The policy should at least stop the rapidly decreasing wildlife population, especially in areas like Khutse Game Reserve, Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve and Kgalagadi Trans-Frontier Park , where the lion population is on the verge of extinction. While the policy is set to help the endangered wildlife, it has also somewhat divided the Botswana community and wildlife conservationists. Some argue that the issuing of hunting quotas helps the community by empowering them and providing an income. Operators who run photographic safaris in the Okavango Delta and Kasane areas have promoted the campaign and encouraged its growth.

In a statement released as a response to the article originally released on the Mmegi website, Mable Bolele,
Coordinator of Communications, Research and Development has corrected some of the original claims. It says:

“The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism would like to clarify that there is no decision made to ban wildlife hunting. Instead, what is being done is to encourage photographic tourism and gradually limit but not ban wildlife hunting.”

On the 13^th and 14^th of July, a workshop for local media practitioners was conducted. It was at this workshop that the ministry spokesperson highlighted the advantages of photographic tourism to Community Trusts. Apparently there was no reference to a hunting ban and she was quoted out of context. While this has led to confusion over the future of Botswana’s hunting policy, what is needed is a push to promote photographic safari throughout the country.

Photographic Safaris in Botswana

A photographic safari is a great way to experience nature in Botswana’s vivid landscape. Here is a quick photographer’s guide to Botswana:

• Best time to go:  June through September is when animals are concentrated around water sources and are at their most spectacular
•  Attractions:  Unlike other areas around Botswana, the Okavango Delta is wet all year-round and therefore always has great game-viewing.  Animals migrate following the water so be sure to check migration patterns.

Some places to try:

• Jacks Camp-they employ a full-time “meerkat follower” and is renowned as the best place in the world to photograph meerkats.
• Mombo- Perhaps one of the most luxurious camps in Botswana as well as one of the most expensive, but perfect for the nest wildlife one can see.
• Vumbura Plains- With its vast array of activities from powerboat rides to mokoro trips and night drives, the park offers photographers many wildlife options set to find that perfect shot.
• Chitabe- Various BBC productions have been filmed here as the area is known to be rich with wildlife, and is especially good for hippo photography.

Aerial photography

The smaller planes which fly from lodge to lodge are generally not the best way to spot and photograph game. You can charter a small aircraft to partake in an aerial safari, but the restrictive nature of a plane and its small windows makes this tricky. Although it is very expensive (often $1000 or more an hour) a helicopter ride can offer the most spectacular highpoints for some interesting perspectives and with the right angles, amazing shots.

It seems that while hunting creates a healthy community through job creation; the shift towards photographic development is proving prominent. Botswana, like any other country with an abundance of wildlife, needs to be protected and the decreasing numbers in many species proves this point.

 

Related posts: