Ecotourism in South Africa

Ecotourism is the concept of responsible travel to areas that might be protected, and possibly rated as especially fragile. The intent behind ecotourism is to create as little detrimental impact on the environment as possible.

As one of the world's few megadiverse countries, South Africa has used ecotourism to sustain and improve its immense biodiversity, as well as invigorate its economy. Tourism is the fourth largest generator of foreign exchange in South Africa, and ecotourism is the idea of encouraging visitors while promoting and supporting a country's biodiversity.

South Africa contains an immense degree of biodiversity, and thus, ecotourism is a way for the country to benefit from wildlife in a non-consumptive and legal manner, as opposed to allowing illegal activities like poaching and trafficking for the international wildlife trade - things which are strictly prohibited, and actively prevented in the country.