Beks and his wife Sophia are the founders of African Bush Camp. He was born in a rural village called Lupane, which is between Victoria Falls and the historic city of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. Growing up in a village and spending time with old African folk for eight years of his life, gave him insight into his cultural background and knowledge of the bush.
When he went to high school he was sent away to a typical old, military-type boarding school; Plumtree, which is a small Botswana/Zimbabwe border village. Taking up Falconry as a hobby amongst other sports, his love for the bush grew from spending much time bird hunting, camping and exploring in the woods. After completing his Cambridge advanced level studies, he went straight into the bush and started working as a trainee safari guide in the Gwayi Valley on the outer perimetres of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and at the same time he spent time canoeing the Zambezi River, where he was soon awarded the Prestigious award of River Guide of the year in 1997.
He went on to join Wilderness Safaris that year and worked as a guide and camp manager in various National Parks including Hwange, Gonarezhou, Matusadona and Mana Pools. He also hunted extensively for National Parks and other safari companies particularly controlling problem animals causing havoc in the local communities. In 1998 he was awarded his full Professional Guides Licence.
Beks has travelled extensively in the USA, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and is a very keen photographer and writer, having some of his pictures and articles published in well known travel and outdoor magazines such as Getaway and the British magazine Country Life. His specialty is in tailor made safaris, and guiding small select groups and families through-out Africa's remote places. Whether he takes you through Botswana's Okavango Delta, Namibia's desert sand dunes, or down the mighty Zambezi on a walking and canoeing safari, his passions and excitement for the bush and its wild life wears onto all his guests that travel with him in search for the authentic African experience.
The African Bush Camps website can be found here: www.africanbushcamps.com
How has the safari industry changed since you first began guiding?
The industry has become very regulated and to a point where some of the activities have become impacted by what the insurance companies dictate what you can and can’t do. Whilst this is necssary in some instances as the industry has grown, it has limited safari travelers in their experinces in more exposed elements. Also guest expectations have changed and so camps have become incredibly luxurious to a point where most camps are sold on the concept of how luxurious the camp or lodge is as oppossed to the actual safari experience.
What has to change for photographic safaris to replace hunting safaris?
For hunting concessions to be given over solely to photographic useage? Real benefits in terms of community development initiatives, local employment with fair wages, and training and equiping of tourism related skills needs to be top priority. These three things extend immensely towards creating a sustainable socio - economic front. Photographic tourism employs more people for longer periods of time and financial gain reaches the comunities more than the hunting industry where most of the funds are paid into a trust, tribal councils etc and never filter to the average community member. Also people are employed for about 6 to 8 months of the year and in some cases without a guarantee of employment for the following year.
“Trophy hunting is a tool for conservation.” What is your response to this statement?
It is a tool for conservation provided that the revenues from hunting are ploughed back into the area and true development actually takes place , reaching the actual members of communities. In general we have seen an increase in hunting quotas whilst hunting area sizes have decreased and consequently animal populations have decreased. Based on my observations, I see little to no contributions to conservation and what I have seen is merely vast tracks of land becoming marginalised in the way of diversity of wildlife and a decline in trophy quality of the wildlife hunted in those areas.
How has the safari industry been affected by the economic downturn, and what steps have been taken to attract new clients?
2009 has seen tourism numbers drop by anything from 30% to 40% (in some cases up to 50%) accross the board due to the economic downturn. As a result of this downturn, the industry has reacted by dropping rates and extending very attractive discounts in order to get “bums on beds”, however some operators have zoned in to try and penetrate new markets such as the eastern European market and look at ways to break into the markets that appear to be coming out of the recession quicker than others such as Japan. It is my hope that this puts a reality check at the pricing of bednights in expensive destinations where in the last few years we have seen prices of safaris going through the roof due to high demand
Zimbabwe: how has the negative media coverage of the country's problem affected tourism - and what must be done by the authorities to restore Zimbabwe as a premier safari destination?
The Zimbabwe situation has resulted in a dead tourism industry. For example an area such as Hwange in its height of tourism had about 35 safari camps in and around Hwange National Park each with an average capacity of about 15 staff. Today there is about 5 active companies operating in this area. This means that the general local populous that was employed in this industry has diminished drastically and in terms of benefits to families, you can count on 1 staff member supporting anything from 3 to 5 other people. When you do the maths, it’s scary how many people are no longer beneficiaries of wildlife and consequently the arguement to conserve and protect it and its natural areas for the future no longer makes sense, especially to the suffering individual who sees no immidiate gain.
The Zimbabwe authorities need to re-store rule of law so that there is accountability and recourse in all areas, thus creating the ideal environment for investment into the country. This has to be done with focus and emphasis on security of tenure and respect for land rights in order to expedite investment and rebuilding of infrastructures. I believe this alone to be one of the biggest hurdle that Zimbabwe is currently facing.
What is the greatest threat now to Zimbabwe’s wildlife?
1) Lawlessness and no recourse for perpetrators of wildlife and conservation areas 2) the pressure by Government parastatals to commercialise wildlife areas and resources without due consideration for the implications in the long term.
How can the safari industry better benefit local communities in areas surrounding national parks and reserves?
Promote local involvement, pay fair wages and raise awareness of cultures through marketing initiatives. Cultural tourism needs to be promoted more so that wildlife is not seen as the only tourism aspects but rather that rich cultures and tourism are the experiences that make a great holiday.
Can you see a greater move from foreign owned / financed safari outfitters and companies to solely African owned and managed companies? How long will this take and what will be the increased benefit to local people and communities?
Capital for developments and investment in assets and equipment is the single biggest hurdle for any African entreprenuer, followed by access to the market place. I cannot see a greater move from foreign owned/financed safari outfitters to solely African owned operations until these two key issues are resolved. However what I do see and would encourage is more shared ownership and joint management with empowerment strategy to link foreign ownership and local ownership. These strategic partneships need to be real partnerships and not merely fronts – that in my opinion is only the start towards this greater move.
What opportunities can safari tourism offer local people to break the cycle of subsistence poaching?
Subsistence poaching is a way of life in all parts of the world, and especially in Africa. I do not believe that this will ever be eliminated completely. However this can be decreased to negligeable amounts if local people benefit from employment and aforded opportunities to grow their careers through tourism and wildlife related industries. Wildlife conservation initiatives through education of children i.e.Children in the Wilderness, is what will change the world as new generations become of greater influence.
How important is it for the environment, the policy of “Take only photographs, leave only footprints”?
It is a fully loaded policy in many ways more than one and can be translated into so much fact. So yes, I absolutely believe this is what will sustain the very attractions that people travel around the world to see and experience.
From your own experience, what are the negative impacts of safari tourism, and how should responsible safari outfitters prevent such things occuring in future?
With all good intentions visitors to remote parts of the world like to take gifts such as candy, pens and pencils for school etc. and hand these out directly and without a system or controls. Whilst it gives the visitor instant gratification to see a disadvantaged person spring to joy, there is no measure of the positive impact if any and there is no audit on whether it has had long term positive impact. There are great charities and trusts that can provide you with distribution and long term reports and audit on what your gift to Africa has done for individuals. Giving directly and indescriminently has the tendency for the most part to encourage a begging hand and this is often unpleasant for any traveller. It is the responsibility of all safari outfitters to come up with initiatives that they can share with their visitors.
With so much information online at websites such as www.safaritalk.net – are clients more informed about low impact and responsible tourism? Is this something you discuss with them, and if so, how do you go about educating them?
The flow of information and availability of it through web sites and guest valuations and feedback is definitely helpful and has made a huge difference. However it should not be asumed that everyone is well read and from travel agents in the market place to safari outfitters, we need to all play our role in educating the visitor to Africa on why we do what we do. This starts with travel agents chosing or recommending responsible safari outfitters for travel, and for safari outfitters demostrating this responsibility. For example a safari camp in the desert with bucket showers in the bathroom needs to explain why they have bucket showers.... this makes you aware of the need to conserve a valuable resource in the dry desert, go to the extreme of enouraging less flushes in the toilet unless absolutely necessary. The days of hiding solar panels in the camp because asthetically they are not pleasing to the eye, are days of the past, they can become great subjects of discussions when seen next to the accommodation. Our greatest mistake will always be to assume that the visitor knows or is aware or has been informed.
Please define your ideal safari client.
Adventure seeking guest who is more focused on the safari experience than the level of luxury of facilities.
How can young black Africans, especially those from a poor economic background be encouraged to become interested in wildlife conservation and environmental protection?
Through educational programmes directly related to wildlife and conservation, and assisted and sponsored guaranteed education long term. There needs to be incentives to young Africans to excell in education and have a realistic goal to chase after with some kind of guarante to be able to have the necessary financial resources to cary it through. Often programmes only allow for sponsorship at specific age groups and by the time they leave school, there is very little follow through for them to excell beyond that.
Why should it be that foreign NGOs always seem to be making headlines with regard to wildlife conservation, and yet black Africans, working hard on the ground in demanding situations with limited resources barely receive any recognition?
NGOs have the funding for the publicity and PR in order to continue doing the work they have set out to do. The average worker that has made it happen does not have access to the same funding and the chances are that he is on survival mode and recognition is the last thing in his or her agenda.
How do you see the bushmeat crisis affecting African wildlife in the coming years?
The crisis of Bushmeat is influenced directly by the status of a country or region in terms of its economic stability. As long as African Governments make the wrong decisions and its people do not have revenues or incomes to survive, bushmeat becomes the obvious and first alternative.
Do you believe that restocking of national parks and reserves outside of South Africa with rhino is a sensible plan, with the high levels of poaching, and professional syndicates operating with impunity?
Restocking outside of South Africa is a sensible plan but Governments and authorities in those specific regions or countries need to demostrate commitment towards protecting those wildlife areas. If poaching of such endangered wildlife is still occuring in large numbers, it clearly demostrates the inability and or lack of commitment to being custodians of much bigger stock. My dream is that one day my children will see black rhino roam free again in the flood plains of Zambezi valley in places like Mana Pools.
In your opinion, what can be done to ensure the survival of the rhino outside of South Africa?
Afford them the same protection and seriousness that important people of the world are afforded.
If planning solely for you and a couple of close friends, what would be your ideal safari?
There are so many places in Africa that have enriched me, and all of them have been in remote parts of Africa, away from the crowds. A safari in the Zambezi valley remains extremely exhillerating and one can spend 2 weeks and only experience the tip of it.
Can you foresee a day when you will no longer want to guide tourists in the bush? If so, why will that be – and what will you do then?
Seeing wildlife and experiencing the wilderness through the eyes of an enthusiastic tourist has often brought to life and given me a special sense of appreciation for what I have access to. Seing the evidence of heart felt appreciation when I share my knowledge and experience with keen individuals is very fulfilling and gives me an immidiate sense of achievement. As a matter of fact, the business of being a camp owner gets in the way of guiding safaris, and one day I hope to return to doing more safaris in pursuite of undiscovered places around Africa.
What is your vision for the future of the safari industry?
My vision is to be alligned with low impact environmentally savvy safari outfitters around the World, who have a keen interest in show casing and preserving cultures around them as part of the safari experience.
The views expressed therein are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Safaritalk.