Property owners make recommendations for Serengeti river crossings to TANAPA

The Mara River Crossing in Serengeti National Park is one of Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife spectacles, attracting visitors from around the world. However, the increasing pressure on this area from mass tourism, congestion of vehicles, and habitat degradation poses significant challenges to sustainable tourism and conservation.

Recognizing the critical need for intervention, the Hotels Association of Tanzania (HAT) has developed a set of comprehensive recommendations to address these issues.

These proposals aim to balance conservation, visitor satisfaction, and sustainable economic benefits while ensuring the long-term viability of this globally renowned attraction.

Objective

The primary goal of these recommendations is to provide actionable strategies for managing the Mara River Crossing effectively. By addressing critical challenges such as overcrowding, enforcement of regulations, and vehicle management, we seek to preserve the ecological integrity of the Serengeti while enhancing the visitor experience.

HAT Recommendations

1. Awareness and Communication

• Increase awareness among tourism partners and guides regarding TANAPA’s rules and guidelines for the Mara River Crossing.

• Establish regular communication between stakeholders and TANAPA to ensure transparency and efficiency in resource utilization and management.

2. Enforcement and Compliance

• Strictly enforce existing rules and guidelines, imposing fines for violations to ensure compliance.

• Ensure adherence to the Exclusion Zone terms in accommodation concession contracts to limit the number of properties and reduce tourism pressure in sensitive areas.

3. Vehicle Management and Capacity Control

• Limit the number of vehicles allowed per sighting, with periodic reviews to adjust based on ecological data.

• Implement a quota system for vehicle allocations based on property type:

• Permanent Tented Camps (PTC) with 30 beds: 8–10 vehicles.

• Seasonal Camps: 4–5 vehicles.

• Day trips: Require pre-booking at least a week in advance and limit to 30–40 vehicles.

• Introduce the use of special or designated vehicles for crossings, as modeled in Rhino tourism experiences.

4. Infrastructure and Investment

• Clearly define terms for Seasonal Camps, Mobile Camps, and other facilities, ensuring alignment with the area’s carrying capacity.

• Cap the number of seasonal camps per area and limit their operational duration to a maximum of 4 months per allocation.

  
  

5. Zoning and Special Concessions

• Convert the Northern area into a special concession zone with adjusted fees to manage overutilization.

• Reassess the carrying capacity of crossing areas and revise the Serengeti General Management Plan (GMP) to establish clear "Limits of Acceptable Use."

  
  

6. Visitor Experience Improvements

Revise the model for viewing crossings to require guests to stay a minimum of 3 nights, reducing day-trip congestion and enhancing the visitor experience.

Introduce altitude guidelines for balloon safaris to minimize disruptions to wildlife and other guests during the crossings.

7. Diversification of Tourism Products

Diversify Tanzania’s tourism offerings by developing and marketing untapped potential in the Southern and Western Circuits.

Incentivize investment in these regions through strategic pricing and marketing campaigns.

8. Managing Investment Pressures

Reduce investment pressure within Serengeti National Park by encouraging development in neighboring districts and providing incentives for investments outside the park.

Conclusion

The Mara River Crossing is a shared national treasure that requires collective responsibility to preserve its ecological and economic value. Implementing these recommendations will not only alleviate pressure on this critical ecosystem but also support Tanzania’s broader goals of sustainable tourism growth.

HAT remains committed to working collaboratively with TANAPA, stakeholders, and the Government of Tanzania to ensure these measures are adopted and executed effectively. These recommendations are designed to provide actionable solutions that balance conservation, visitor satisfaction, and economic sustainability, ensuring the continued success of Tanzania’s tourism sector.

Hotels Association of Tanzania (HAT)

Utalii House, Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road,P.O. Box 2308, Dar es Salaam

Email: info@hat-tz.org | Website: www.hat-tz.org