South Africa



South Africa
Growth in South African and sub-Saharan African tourism is driving overwhelmingly positive tourism performance on the continent. Over the past two years Africa achieved the fastest growth rates of any major region in the world.

Ecotourism is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry – growing worldwide by 30% each year. Southern Africa, which lacks the urban attractions of the west, is richly endowed with a wealth of natural and cultural attractions. It is therefore not surprising that the region has been identified as one of three world regions likely to show significant tourism growth in the foreseeable future. According to WTO forecasts, Southern Africa could be looking at over 300% growth in tourist arrivals by 2020.

In South Africa, tourism statistics for 2006 show a 14.5 percent increase in tourism arrivals compared with 2005 figures. South African arrivals growth rates far outstrip the rest of the world, which averaged around 4.5 percent over a similar period. The industry is one of the fastest-growing in the country, contributing R93.6-billion to SA's gross domestic product in 2004.

The ASL is working to ensure that this revenue reaches those who need it most – rural South Africans.

South African Pilot Projects
The following projects have been selected:

Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) is South Africa’s most successful rehabilitation project to date. It was established in 1911 to provide a sanctuary for an ailing population of 31 elephants, today it teems with hundreds of elephants as well as numerous other large and small game species.

The ASL Foundation was previously involved in supporting the Mayibuye Ndlovu Development Programme (MNDP). There are immediate opportunities to improve active equity and skills participation, by local communities within the bourgeoning tourism development framework in and around the AENP in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
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Madikwe Game Reserve, North West Province
Madikwe is a big five reserve on the edge of the Kalahari. It is the site of a pioneering community-owned lodge model and as such surrounding communities are already benefiting from tourism revenues.
The ASL managed to secure additional funding from the Tourism Enterprise Project (TEP) for the implementation of a 12-month pilot skills development programme in the Madikwe Game Reserve. The objective of the training programme is to train and register 14 - 20 black local field guides in the Madikwe Game Reserve.
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Community-owned lodges at Madikwe
The ASL Foundation continues to support the Sebolao and Balete Ba Lekgophung Development Trusts, owners of the two community-owned luxury lodges at Madikwe, Thakadu River Camp and Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge. These two lodges were established with the support of Mafisa Planning & Research, the former implementing agency of the ASL Programme.
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Khomani San, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape
When the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park was proclaimed during the 1930's, the livelihoods and freedom of movement of some of South Africa's last remaining first peoples, Bushment as they call themselves, were curtailed. A number of people were settled at the Park Headquarters at Twee Rivieren, and some gained employment, including the herding of the livestock of the Park Warden. However, many members of the clan so dispossessed of their land dispersed, some to Namibia, others onto nearby farms, other further afield.
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Northern Wild Coast, Eastern Cape
Pondoland, on the east coast of South Africa, is lapped by the warm Indian Ocean and boasts spectacular biodiversity and natural beauty. The Pondoland Hiking trail is probably the best way to truly appreciate the area and the route follows dramatic coastal rock formations and deeply incised river gorges.

Six community owned camps were established on the Pondoland hiking trail between Port St John and the Mkambathi Game Reserve to provide poverty alleviation benefits for the local people. However, to date these camps have failed to provide the expected revenue. The European Union has contracted a team that is currently involved with the ASL programme to devise ways to make the camps and the hiking trail function more effectively.
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