Impacts of climate change on the businesses of mountain guides in the Drakensberg

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to survey a select group of mountain guides operating in the Drakensberg, a subtropical highland climate area, in South Africa. This was to ascertain ways in which the group participants had noticed the effects of climate change and how these effects had affected their businesses over the last ten to twenty years (2003–2013–2023). There is growing literature on mountain guiding and climate change, primarily from the Western Alps of Europe but also including South and North America. Literature on mountain guides and climate change in Africa, by comparison, is very sparse indeed (this is the research gap). The literature focuses primarily on the observations of climate change and its effects, and the coping mechanisms employed by the guides. The methodology was to contact the guides and ascertain their observations of the effects climate change and how they were being forced to adapt their businesses. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire and follow-up questions. Following review, a number of other questions were posed to the guides. Research analysis comprised a thematic analysis of the questionnaires, to determine key issues and trends. The knowledge of climate change effects and the changed modus operandi of the guides did improve understanding of a tourism sector that is heavily dependent on a stable and relatively risk-free mountain environment. While the effects of climate change in the Drakensberg cannot be compared to those of heavily glaciated mountain environments, they nonetheless are occurring and affecting mountain-guiding businesses. Effects of climate change appear to be centred around the severity and timing of summer storms, increased erosion and less snow in gullies in winter. Recovery steps and initiatives were focused upon as pointers towards establishing a more resilient economic sub-sector. A number of recommendations regarding further research have been included.