Samenvatting

The phenomenon of climate change became an evident threat to the nature-based tourism sector with its various Safari Operators in Zimbabwe. Tourism enterprises, such as Safari Operators, are not able to avert this phenomenon from happening and are challenged with the complex and multidimensional nature of this global driver of change. Zimbabwe, as a country with a low-income level and lack of political stability, is expected to be more vulnerable and less resilient. Research which is centred around the resilience capacity of Safari Operators as individuals within a socio-ecological system (SES) against the effects of climate change is relevant in overcoming the common lack of understanding. This study aims to explore the capacity of resilience of Safari Operators in nature-based tourism, to adapt to the impacts of climate change in three main tourism areas in Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls National Park, Zambezi National Park and Hwange National Park. Specifically, it investigates the impacts of the phenomenon in question on Safari Operators, the requirements of a resilient system incorporated in the three cases, emphasising on the dimensions of persistence (vulnerability) and adaptability/preparedness as well as the impacts of the system specific influences on Safari Operators, focusing on economic and political factors.
To explore the research questions guiding this study, a multiple case study approach was utilized, seeking to research common parameters instead of solely comparing case results. Online semi structure interviews represent the data gathering method. By snowball sampling respondents were recruited to take part in the study and nine (9) participants divided amongst the three study areas in focus took part. Responses were analysed using primarily deductive coding, establishing strong linkages to the theoretical framework guiding the study.
The results demonstrate a specific case perspective of the problem in focus and was able to add to the existing knowledge presented in the literature review. The most prominent finding was the importance of the individual, referred to as the human dimension, within resilience towards a certain driver of change. Despite the results indicating low levels of certain requirements that build resilience, the case of Safari Operators shows a generally strong level of resilience towards the impacts of climate change. Specifically, within the requirements where the human dimension is an essential part of. Explicitly in the context of SES’s, thus a synthesis of humans and nature, the human dimension is crucial when reviewing the resilience capacity towards the impacts of climate change and should be a central part of the conceptual framework.