TANAPA responds swiftly to safety breach at Kogatende crossing point
- Tim Henshall
- Jul 22
- 1 min read
Image courtesy of Asilia Lodges & Camps
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".
Far stricter control measures should be implemented before a situation like this occurs. There are way too many vehicles allowed in an area at the same time. This situation will continue as long as no controls are placed on the amount of vehicles allowed in the general area as well as specific areas where crossing are occurring.