Indigenous knowledge and ecotourism-based livelihoods in the Okavango Delta in Botswana

The objective of this paper is to examine the use of indigenous knowledge in the promotion of ecotourism-based livelihoods in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Theoretically, this paper is informed by the sustainable livelihoods framework to answer the following questions: a) what is the link between indigenous knowledge and promotion of ecotourism-based livelihoods b) how effective is indigenous knowledge in promoting ecotourism livelihoods in the Okavango Delta c) what problems threaten ecotourism-based livelihoods in the Okavango Delta and d) what are future prospects of indigenous knowledge in the promotion of sustainable cultural tourism and livelihoods in the Okavango Delta? Primary and secondary data sources indicate that communities such as the Basarwa of Gudigwa have commodified culture to sustain their livelihoods. This includes accommodation, for instance, of traditional dwellings, and knowledge of hunting and gathering in order to attract tourists to their village. Other groups such as the Bayei of Seronga and other surrounding villages like Ditishiping use their traditional knowledge of the river waterways to transport tourists in mekoro (dug-in canoe), the Bambukushu and Bayei in Etsha 6, Gumare, Shakawe, Shorobe and Maun produce baskets for sale to tourists. These are some of the ways that rural communities adopt not only to benefit from the growing tourism industry in the Okavango but also to promote their livelihoods. These attempts have, as a result, facilitated the development of ecotourism-based livelihoods in the Okavango Delta.