Overtourism plagues Africa with viral video exposing gross act
The moment I set foot in Africa, I was hooked. I felt a sense of home like no other place had ever offered on my travels around the world.
Over 57 visits to the continent, I have trekked to see rare mountain gorillas in Rwanda, walked in the footsteps of the Maasai through the Rift Valley, walked with cheetah in South Africa's Karoo, tracked elephant on foot in Botswana and been on more game drives than I can even count.
These profound experiences led me to become more engaged within the conservation community, where I have worked with gorilla doctors, helped vets engage in rhino notching and even spent time in a counter-poaching camp in Mozambique's Limpopo National Park.
My passion for Africa runs deeper than the Rift Valley itself.
Through my time spent in Africa, I have met a handful of dedicated conservationists, safari guides, vets and wildlife photographers who are just as passionate about their homeland. To cure my Africa fix when I am back home in Australia, I often resort to following those individuals on Instagram and checking out what they are getting up to for my daily dose of bush life.
Imagine my horror when I saw Nick Kleer's latest post about a recent incident that happened in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park.
Chaos caused by human interference
Nick was on safari, hosting some guests, when he came across a large number of vehicles at a river crossing from the wildebeest during their great migration.
'Guides and rangers were allowing, and even encouraging, their guests to block wildebeest river crossings,' Nick said.
'Guests were out of their vehicles. Hundreds of people were crowding the banks. The wildebeest tried again and again to cross, but access was cut off repeatedly.
'Some panicked and leapt from cliffs. Others were injured and will likely die. And yes, nature can be brutal, but this wasn't nature. This was chaos caused by human interference.'
Nick added, 'I've always held Serengeti in the highest esteem, but what I saw today was disgraceful. Something needs to change. Rangers must enforce rules. Parks must protect wildlife before profit or content.'
What Nick witnessed was absolutely disgusting behaviour by tourists and the safari guides who should have known better.
Since the incident went viral, the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) swiftly issued a statement condemning the behaviour and rangers at the site responded by ordering the tourists back into their vehicles, reiterating that disembarking is strictly prohibited. TANAPA confirmed that the vehicles involved were identified and that disciplinary action would be taken against the guides responsible for this.
The impact on animals and the environment
National parks like the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara are under pressure. In the Maasai Mara, visitor density is up to ten times higher than in other Kenyan parks and 17 times greater than in neighbouring Serengeti. During the Great Migration, sightings at river crossings can attract more than 300 vehicles at a single spot, disrupting wildlife and damaging grassland habitats.
Crowds of safari vehicles at predator sightings interfere with natural behaviours, making it harder for lions, cheetahs and other species to hunt.
Trampled vegetation reduces grazing grounds — and narrows corridors used by migrating wildebeests — leading to a significant decline in their numbers and time spent in the reserve.
Infrastructure stress also extends to climateâ€'driven flooding and drought. In early May 2024, heavy rainfall saw camps submerged, lodges destroyed and tourists stranded; some local wildlife — giraffes and gazelles among them — perished or had their habitat disrupted.
Why the right safari operator makes the difference
Over the years, I have worked at using my words and images from my African experiences to educate consumers on the importance of choosing the right company to book an African safari with.
Selecting the right African safari operator is about more than luxury accommodations or wildlife sightings. It ensures visitors support ethical safari practices, benefit local communities and protect precious ecosystems.
Reputable operators prioritise sustainable practices, such as operating within conservancies that limit visitor numbers, employ certified guides, and support local communities with leasing and revenueâ€'sharing models.
Communityâ€'based conservancies employ local staff, cap accommodations and enforce offâ€'road driving bans to protect the land and wildlife. Some operators have even embraced regenerative tourism, investing directly in land regeneration, education and community wellbeing.
Encouraging better safari experiences beyond overtourism hotspots
Beyond travelling with an ethical safari operator, travellers are encouraged to visit less crowded regions and seasonal alternatives. Safaris outside the Maasai Mara — such as walking safaris in Mara conservancies, underâ€'theâ€'radar destinations in Laikipia or Samburu — offer rich wildlife and cultural encounters with far lower impact.
Several operators now promote travel outside peak migration periods or to lesserâ€'known destinations, helping distribute tourism more evenly across East Africa and Africa in general.
Africa has given me more than I could ever repay – wild moments that have stirred my soul, people who have become lifelong friends, and lessons in respect for the wild that I carry with me every day. But with that gift comes responsibility. As travellers, storytellers, and safari-goers, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard.
It's not enough to witness the wild – we must protect it. By choosing ethical safari operators, steering away from overcrowded hotspots, and treading lightly on this land, we can ensure that Africa's magic endures – not just for our own return, but for the generations who'll follow in our footsteps.
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News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
Overtourism plagues Africa with viral video exposing gross act
A recent incident in Africa has gone viral for all the wrong reasons, as wildlife photographer and safari guide Nick Kleer witnessed some of the most shocking behaviour he had ever seen. And not from the animals, but from the people meant to protect them. The moment I set foot in Africa, I was hooked. I felt a sense of home like no other place had ever offered on my travels around the world. Over 57 visits to the continent, I have trekked to see rare mountain gorillas in Rwanda, walked in the footsteps of the Maasai through the Rift Valley, walked with cheetah in South Africa's Karoo, tracked elephant on foot in Botswana and been on more game drives than I can even count. These profound experiences led me to become more engaged within the conservation community, where I have worked with gorilla doctors, helped vets engage in rhino notching and even spent time in a counter-poaching camp in Mozambique's Limpopo National Park. My passion for Africa runs deeper than the Rift Valley itself. Through my time spent in Africa, I have met a handful of dedicated conservationists, safari guides, vets and wildlife photographers who are just as passionate about their homeland. To cure my Africa fix when I am back home in Australia, I often resort to following those individuals on Instagram and checking out what they are getting up to for my daily dose of bush life. Imagine my horror when I saw Nick Kleer's latest post about a recent incident that happened in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Chaos caused by human interference Nick was on safari, hosting some guests, when he came across a large number of vehicles at a river crossing from the wildebeest during their great migration. 'Guides and rangers were allowing, and even encouraging, their guests to block wildebeest river crossings,' Nick said. 'Guests were out of their vehicles. Hundreds of people were crowding the banks. The wildebeest tried again and again to cross, but access was cut off repeatedly. 'Some panicked and leapt from cliffs. Others were injured and will likely die. And yes, nature can be brutal, but this wasn't nature. This was chaos caused by human interference.' Nick added, 'I've always held Serengeti in the highest esteem, but what I saw today was disgraceful. Something needs to change. Rangers must enforce rules. Parks must protect wildlife before profit or content.' What Nick witnessed was absolutely disgusting behaviour by tourists and the safari guides who should have known better. Since the incident went viral, the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) swiftly issued a statement condemning the behaviour and rangers at the site responded by ordering the tourists back into their vehicles, reiterating that disembarking is strictly prohibited. TANAPA confirmed that the vehicles involved were identified and that disciplinary action would be taken against the guides responsible for this. The impact on animals and the environment National parks like the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara are under pressure. In the Maasai Mara, visitor density is up to ten times higher than in other Kenyan parks and 17 times greater than in neighbouring Serengeti. During the Great Migration, sightings at river crossings can attract more than 300 vehicles at a single spot, disrupting wildlife and damaging grassland habitats. Crowds of safari vehicles at predator sightings interfere with natural behaviours, making it harder for lions, cheetahs and other species to hunt. Trampled vegetation reduces grazing grounds — and narrows corridors used by migrating wildebeests — leading to a significant decline in their numbers and time spent in the reserve. Infrastructure stress also extends to climateâ€'driven flooding and drought. In early May 2024, heavy rainfall saw camps submerged, lodges destroyed and tourists stranded; some local wildlife — giraffes and gazelles among them — perished or had their habitat disrupted. Why the right safari operator makes the difference Over the years, I have worked at using my words and images from my African experiences to educate consumers on the importance of choosing the right company to book an African safari with. Selecting the right African safari operator is about more than luxury accommodations or wildlife sightings. It ensures visitors support ethical safari practices, benefit local communities and protect precious ecosystems. Reputable operators prioritise sustainable practices, such as operating within conservancies that limit visitor numbers, employ certified guides, and support local communities with leasing and revenueâ€'sharing models. Communityâ€'based conservancies employ local staff, cap accommodations and enforce offâ€'road driving bans to protect the land and wildlife. Some operators have even embraced regenerative tourism, investing directly in land regeneration, education and community wellbeing. Encouraging better safari experiences beyond overtourism hotspots Beyond travelling with an ethical safari operator, travellers are encouraged to visit less crowded regions and seasonal alternatives. Safaris outside the Maasai Mara — such as walking safaris in Mara conservancies, underâ€'theâ€'radar destinations in Laikipia or Samburu — offer rich wildlife and cultural encounters with far lower impact. Several operators now promote travel outside peak migration periods or to lesserâ€'known destinations, helping distribute tourism more evenly across East Africa and Africa in general. Africa has given me more than I could ever repay – wild moments that have stirred my soul, people who have become lifelong friends, and lessons in respect for the wild that I carry with me every day. But with that gift comes responsibility. As travellers, storytellers, and safari-goers, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard. It's not enough to witness the wild – we must protect it. By choosing ethical safari operators, steering away from overcrowded hotspots, and treading lightly on this land, we can ensure that Africa's magic endures – not just for our own return, but for the generations who'll follow in our footsteps.
ABC News
06-08-2025
- ABC News
Long-term National Trust SA volunteers go public about controversial 'service fee'
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ABC News
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Former outback station Thurloo Downs nears opening as NSW national park
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