Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Category Natural / Bio-physical Tourism: Visitor activities and experience Community / subsistence <strong>Management</strong>
Sensitive areas ie.
areas that deserve
sanctuary status
130
Characteristics
Primarily natural areas of varying sizes
with specific characteristics attractive
or necessary to species to complete
phases of their life cycle ie. bird
roosting sites, bird breeding sites, fish
spawning sites, crocodile egg laying
areas etc.
Sites have species specific
requirements relating to disturbance
and human activity
Sites designated by regulations and by
laws.
Visitor activities / operator support
Game viewing and observation related activities ie. bird-watching
taking place with some level of regulation (in Moremi GR) and some
self imposed ‘regulations’ set by the tourism industry ie. distances
boats are permitted to be to heronries etc..
Sport fishing – predominantly in the Panhandle area, and based out
of fishing camps.
Access and roads
Limited access allowed at this point in time.
Access often linked to presence of professional guides, but
exceptions exist in many cases where individuals use their own
boats to approach heronries.
Sport-fishermen at stages (during some fishing competitions)
disturb crocodile and African skimmer breeding sites on sandbanks
in the Panhandle area.
Visitor experience
Seeking for ‘life-experience’ feelings due to special nature of activity
and privilege to be in a special area
Inner-satisfaction of viewing vulnerable, rare and endangered
species
Some level of seeking solitude and isolation
Little probability of contact with other visitors or residents.
No permanent settlements.
No access for use of natural resources.
Limited opportunities for the employment of
a few members of immediately local
communities ie. mukoro polers.
Little formal management or
frequent management presence.
Few if any signs and structures for
resource protection, safety and
visitor convenience