TANAPA bans six tour guides following Kogatende incident

The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) has imposed a one-year ban on six tour guides for breaching park regulations.

The six, who work for various tour companies, will not be permitted to undertake professional work in any of Tanzania's national parks during this period. Their ban will remain in force until mid-2026 meaning these drivers will miss out on participating in much of next year's migration season, too.

According to TANAPA's Conservation Commissioner, Musa Kuji, "The guides violated professional ethics by allowing tourists to disembark from vehicles and block a major wildebeest crossing point at the Kogatende section of the Mara River in the Serengeti. This disruption caused confusion and panic among the animals. In some instances, tourists were even allowed to sit on vehicle bonnets during the game drives."

The incidents came to light after South African guide and wildlife photographer, Nick Kleer shared footage on social media.

TATO's Executive Director, Elirehema Maturo welcomed TANAPA's decision saying it would deter future violations of wildlife protection laws. "This is a commendable move by TANAPA and all stakeholders should support it," he said.

He added that TATO had produced a Safari Code of Conduct and Ethics booklet, translated into nine languages to encourage compliance with conservation laws amongst safari guides and tourists.

However, Tanzania Tour Guides association (TTGA) Chairman, Lembris Loipuko whilst agreeing that the drivers were wrong to allow passengers to disembark, argued that there were underlying reasons for their actions. For example, he cited a broken bridge at the crossing point which has gone unrepaired by TANAPA for the past two years. This he claimed, had led to vehicle congestion on one side of the river, limiting the viewing experience.

In letters to the tour companies, TANAPA stressed that disembarking from vehicles during game drives was strictly prohibited , particularly in ecologically sensitive areas such as river crossings during migration. The authority warned that such breaches not only threatened wildlife, but also endangered visitor safety and diminished the quality of the safari experience.

The Mara River crossing, which occurs between July and September, is regarded as one of the most dramatic spectacles of the Great Migration, attracting thousands of tourists from across the world. Any disturbance during this time can have lasting effects on migration patterns and the survival of the wildebeest, zebra and other species. Wildlife experts note that migration routes and behaviours afe often ingrained in the animals' genetic memory.

Conservationists warn that irresponsible tourist behaviour can disrupt natural processes and put both animals and humans at risk. "These measures are essential to protect our natural heritage and to ensure all tourism activities in national parks follow established regulations, " TANAPA stated.

This latest disciplinary action is part of a wider effort by TANAPA and industry stakeholders to enforce strict compliance with park rules. In recent times, the authority has increased patrols, introduced heavier penalties and worked closely with tour tour companies to educate visitors on responsible safari conduct.

Tim Henshall, Head of `Tourism Marketing in the UK, added, "The entire industry has been forced to stop and think about behaviour in national parks. There are many influences to consider here and many challenges to address, but this is a positive start. The Serengeti remains the number one wildlife destination on the planet".