TANAPA responds swiftly to safety breach at Kogatende crossing point

On 21st July, video footage and stills circulated on social media depicting tourists disembarking from safari vehicles at Kogatende area crossing point site number four (4), a strictly forbidden area under Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) rules.

TANAPA rangers stationed at the Kogatende outpost promptly responded to the incident instructing tourists to return to their vehicles, reaffirming that disembarking in that location is a violation of established procedures.

Exiting safari vehicles in unauthorised zones disrupts wildlife movements and poses significant safety risks. Lion, leopard, and other predators often accompany wildebeest migration,making such actions potentially life-threatening for tourists.

TANAPA has already identified all vehicles involved in the particular breach of park regulations and strict disciplinary measures will be taken against the Driver Guides operating those tourist vehicles

Catherine Mbena, Assistant Conservation Commissioner

Corporate Communication, TANAPA

Tim Henshall, Head of Tourism Marketing UK added, "We should not see this as a end, instead it must and will be used as a stimulus to address larger issues regarding tourism in this area. It is pleasing to see such a swift response from TANAPA and this emphasises that they, and other stakeholders will move effectively and efficiently to ensure this kind of thing never happens again in Tanzania"

Source: Tanzania Tourism UK