Administrators of Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) are taking action to reduce crowding at locations where visitors can observe the migration of wildebeest in the Serengeti National Park.
At a meeting with tourism stakeholders yesterday, Massana Mwishawa, the deputy conservation commissioner, presented the new effort. She also mentioned the annoying delays at entry gates, the arbitrary detours from approved viewing routes, and the careless speeding of drivers of tourist vehicles.
Industry observers describe it as a ground-breaking action that will revolutionize tourism traffic control and animal protection by incorporating cutting-edge technologies to solve urgent issues affecting the area.
He identified critical wildebeest crossings in the northern Serengeti area as the major challenge, noting that an overwhelming influx of tourist vehicles and unpleasant tourism practices necessitate technical measures.
He added that TANAPA has been forced to respond to these issues by using monies from the national government to upgrade vital infrastructure, like as highways, and that five new police cars for the Mara River region will shortly be put into service.
He explained that this is to ensure the preservation of this globally recognized wildlife extravaganza by enforcing stringent controls and easing the excruciating traffic at the well-known Kogatende spot.
TANAPA is holding daily tours guide awareness and sensitization seminars in response to stakeholders’ growing worries about the potential ecological problems that the viewing frenzy may cause.
He voiced concerns about the impending danger to the delicate equilibrium of the wildebeest migration, which sees about two million animals yearly traverse the Mara River to the neighboring Maasai Mara Reserve in search of greener conditions across the border.
Even while the number of safari vehicles is increasing and thus puts strain on viewing sites, the migration is an important economic engine that draws waves of foreign tourists and generates substantial earnings. It is truly a marvel of nature.
According to observers, TANAPA’s innovative proposal heralds a new age in wildlife conservation and eco-tourism. This number, along with excessive speeds and dangerous driving practices, puts unprecedented pressure on the conservation area and its rich biodiversity, he said.
In addition to protecting the integrity of the wildebeest migration, TANAPA is poised to revolutionize the tourism industry by utilizing cutting-edge technology and improving infrastructure to make it safer, more effective, and far more sustainable.
The 4,000 square kilometer northern Serengeti receives up to 600 vehicles every day during the busiest times of the year, when up to 4,200 tourists are anxious to view the migration.
Wilbard Chambulo, a well-known tourism investor and chairman of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), has expressed concerns over careless driving at the Kogatende observation location.
He issued a warning during the stakeholders conference, stating that unchecked speeding and the quantity of vehicles could convert Kogatende into an unattractive and dirty place.
According to him, there are safety issues associated with high-speed driving, breaking of the law, and animal crowding that disturbs the natural behaviors of the animals.
According to a study by Dr. Emmanuel Massenga of the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), wildlife and visitor experiences are being negatively impacted by traffic congestion in the northern Serengeti.
According to the research, up to 600 cars per day cause extreme traffic jams in important migratory hubs like Kogatende, and the spread of tented camps exacerbates the problem.
