Overcrowded African hotspot remains a favourite with British travellers

Overtourism is becoming a serious issue in many parts of the world, and one country facing this problem could be a popular African destination loved by British travellers.

South Africa is famous for lively cities such as Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, along with its wildlife experiences.

One of its biggest draws is Kruger National Park. However, some reports suggest that certain areas may now be struggling with too many visitors.

In 2024, South Africa welcomed around 8.92 million tourists from abroad, according to the government.

After visitors from other African countries, Europeans make up the largest group of international travellers.

Despite this success, some locals are beginning to feel the pressure of high visitor numbers, much like residents in Spain and Portugal.

Overtourism has become a major talking point recently, with protests taking place in destinations that are popular with Brits.

So, could South Africa be heading in the same direction? Some people believe it might be.

One major concern centres around Kruger National Park, which covers a huge area of around 19,000 square kilometres.

It is one of the country’s most visited attractions and is famous for being home to the Big Five animals, lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos.

Worries have been raised about the impact of rising visitor numbers on the park and its wildlife.

University of Zululand lecturer Michael Brett has said that too much importance has been placed on money made from the park.

He explained that ecotourism is not meant to involve large crowds, as high numbers of people can disturb animals and cause many problems.

Elsewhere, frustrations have also been shared in Cape Town, which is one of South Africa’s capital cities. In the colourful area of Bo-Kaap, residents have grown unhappy with the number of tourist buses passing through their streets.

Last year, a group of locals held a protest outside the Bo-Kaap Museum, asking for an end to what they called the exploitation of the area.

Osman Shaboodien, who leads the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association, told The Guardian that while tourism brings in some money, it offers very little benefit to the local community.

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