Botswana’s tourism model remains one of Africa’s most admired – a balance of luxury, wilderness and conservation success. Speaking at the recent World Travel and Tourism Council Summit in Rome, Botswana’s Minister of Environment and Tourism, Boipuso Wynter Mmolotsi, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to a model that has long defined the country’s identity.
“Our approach has always been one of coexistence not competition,” said Mmolotsi. “Nearly half of our land is devoted to wildlife and our community-based conservation programmes have allowed people to benefit directly from protecting nature.”
He pointed to Botswana’s Community-Based Natural Resource Management programme: an initiative that empowers local communities to manage wildlife resources and benefit from tourism. From leasing land to safari operators to running community-owned camps, the programme has helped build schools, clinics and livelihoods while instilling a culture of conservation among rural populations.
“Our long-term goal is to integrate conservation into national development through green financing, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture,” Mmolotsi added.
Yet behind this celebrated model lies a growing challenge. While Botswana’s “high-value, low-volume” tourism strategy continues to attract travellers seeking unspoiled wilderness, the country’s 2019 decision has reignited debate about how best to manage the country’s elephant population.
The original moratorium, imposed in 2014 under former President Ian Khama, aimed to protect wildlife through photographic tourism and strict anti-poaching measures. In 2018, under President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the ban was lifted, citing increasing human-wildlife conflict and the need to allow rural communities to benefit economically from wildlife management.
The current quota allows the hunting of up to 400 elephant bulls annually. Supporters say the policy represents sustainable use – a way to generate revenue and provide meat for local communities. Critics argue it undermines conservation gains and threatens Botswana’s eco-tourism reputation.
Oaitse Nawa, Founder of the Elephant Protection Society, says: “Killing elephants is not a solution. It only increases human-wildlife conflict. The government should focus on educating communities not giving them meat from hunts.”
He alleges that, while international hunting companies and officials profit, rural people see little benefit. “They give meat to villagers but that’s not empowerment,” he said. “What people need is education, clean water and sustainable livelihoods – not handouts from dead elephants.”
Nawa also called for stronger oversight to ensure hunting practices are ethical and quotas are based on transparent population data. “The policy may have changed but the results on the ground are clear: more conflict, fewer big elephants and growing tension between people and wildlife,” he said.
The resumption of elephant hunting, Nawa claimed, is also reshaping animal behaviour. Some herds have become more aggressive, posing growing safety risks to tourists and guides. “These elephants are no longer calm around people,” he said. “They associate humans with death.”
Nawa believes the solution lies in returning to the principles that once made Botswana a leader — respect for wildlife, ecological integrity and genuine community involvement. Among his proposals are drilling boreholes for elephants away from farms, creating wildlife corridors to reduce crop raids and launching youth conservation programmes to foster long-term coexistence.
