University of South Africa Universiteit van Suid-Afrika
College of Economic and Management Sciences Tourism Management
⋄ ⋄
APY3704
Tourism in Africa
Assignment 1 Historical Development of Tourism in Africa
⋄ ⋄
Module: APY3704 Tourism in Africa
Assignment: Assignment 1
Semester: Semester 1, 2026
Due Date: 13 March 2026
Topic: Historical Development of Tourism in
Africa
Institution: University of South Africa (UNISA)
Department: College of Economic and Management
Sciences
Citation Style: APA 7th Edition
Submitted in partial ful
lment of the requirements for APY3704 University of South Africa
,UNISA | APY3704 Tourism in Africa Assignment 1 Semester 1, 2026
Contents
1 Introduction 2
2 Phase 1: The Pre-Colonial Period Indigenous Movement and Early Travel 3
2.1 2.1 The Concept of Pre-Colonial Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2 2.2 Trans-Saharan Trade and Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.3 2.3 The Hajj and Islamic Pilgrimage Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.4 2.4 East African Coastal Trade and the Swahili World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.5 2.5 Southern African Seasonal Movement and Cultural Gatherings . . . . . . . . 4
3 Phase 2: The Colonial Period Exploration, Safari, and Racial Tourism 6
3.1 3.1 European Exploration and the Birth of Africa as a Tourist Destination . . . . 6
3.2 3.2 The Development of Big Game Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.3 3.3 Colonial Infrastructure and the Beginnings of Mass Travel . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.4 3.4 The Racial Character of Colonial Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4 Phase 3: The Late Colonial and Post-War Period Mass Tourism and Con-
servation Policy 9
4.1 4.1 The Impact of the Second World War on African Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4.2 4.2 The Formalisation of National Parks and Wildlife Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4.3 4.3 The Growth of Beach and Coastal Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.4 4.4 The Role of Thomas Cook and Early Tour Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5 Phase 4: The Post-Independence Era Growth, Dependency, and the Search
for Sustainability 11
5.1 5.1 Independence and the Nationalisation of Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.2 5.2 The Development of Safari Tourism as an Export Industry . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.3 5.3 Tourism Dependency and the Problem of Leakage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5.4 5.4 Political Instability and Its Impact on Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.5 5.5 Community-Based Tourism and Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.6 5.6 The Rise of Ecotourism and Responsible Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.7 5.7 Contemporary Challenges and the Way Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
6 Summary Timeline: Key Phases in the Historical Development of Tourism in
Africa 16
Page 1 of 19
, UNISA | APY3704 Tourism in Africa Assignment 1 Semester 1, 2026
7 Conclusion 17
Reference List 18
Page 2 of 19
College of Economic and Management Sciences Tourism Management
⋄ ⋄
APY3704
Tourism in Africa
Assignment 1 Historical Development of Tourism in Africa
⋄ ⋄
Module: APY3704 Tourism in Africa
Assignment: Assignment 1
Semester: Semester 1, 2026
Due Date: 13 March 2026
Topic: Historical Development of Tourism in
Africa
Institution: University of South Africa (UNISA)
Department: College of Economic and Management
Sciences
Citation Style: APA 7th Edition
Submitted in partial ful
lment of the requirements for APY3704 University of South Africa
,UNISA | APY3704 Tourism in Africa Assignment 1 Semester 1, 2026
Contents
1 Introduction 2
2 Phase 1: The Pre-Colonial Period Indigenous Movement and Early Travel 3
2.1 2.1 The Concept of Pre-Colonial Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2 2.2 Trans-Saharan Trade and Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.3 2.3 The Hajj and Islamic Pilgrimage Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.4 2.4 East African Coastal Trade and the Swahili World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.5 2.5 Southern African Seasonal Movement and Cultural Gatherings . . . . . . . . 4
3 Phase 2: The Colonial Period Exploration, Safari, and Racial Tourism 6
3.1 3.1 European Exploration and the Birth of Africa as a Tourist Destination . . . . 6
3.2 3.2 The Development of Big Game Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.3 3.3 Colonial Infrastructure and the Beginnings of Mass Travel . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.4 3.4 The Racial Character of Colonial Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4 Phase 3: The Late Colonial and Post-War Period Mass Tourism and Con-
servation Policy 9
4.1 4.1 The Impact of the Second World War on African Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4.2 4.2 The Formalisation of National Parks and Wildlife Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4.3 4.3 The Growth of Beach and Coastal Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.4 4.4 The Role of Thomas Cook and Early Tour Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5 Phase 4: The Post-Independence Era Growth, Dependency, and the Search
for Sustainability 11
5.1 5.1 Independence and the Nationalisation of Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.2 5.2 The Development of Safari Tourism as an Export Industry . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.3 5.3 Tourism Dependency and the Problem of Leakage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5.4 5.4 Political Instability and Its Impact on Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.5 5.5 Community-Based Tourism and Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.6 5.6 The Rise of Ecotourism and Responsible Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.7 5.7 Contemporary Challenges and the Way Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
6 Summary Timeline: Key Phases in the Historical Development of Tourism in
Africa 16
Page 1 of 19
, UNISA | APY3704 Tourism in Africa Assignment 1 Semester 1, 2026
7 Conclusion 17
Reference List 18
Page 2 of 19
