Latest news with #NickKleer
News.com.au
09-08-2025
- 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.
Times
04-08-2025
- Times
Tourists with cameras are now as bad as the trophy hunters
Once upon a time, the big difference between a big-game hunter and a safari tourist was that the former brought death to the bush while the latter brought only wonder — but that's changing fast. Last week the South African guide Nick Kleer posted shocking footage from the Mara River in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania showing tourists and their vehicles blocking a riverbank as a herd of wildebeest tried to cross. The post has sparked outrage from guides, lodge owners and tour operators, but that fury seems disingenuous because what was shown in Kleer's video has been going on for years. The Great Migration — in which about two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles follow the rains around the plains of the Serengeti and Masai Mara — is considered to be the most spectacular natural show on earth. It has the challenges, tragedies and triumphs of any epic and, as such, it's high on the wish lists of millions. Being present at a crossing when herds of three thousand or more plunge across the Mara, Sand and Talek rivers — running the gauntlet not only of crocodiles but also the leopards, lions and hyenas lurking on the banks — is the safari industry's hottest ticket, and every tourist wants a front-row seat. But as visitor numbers have soared at Serengeti National Park and just over the border at Masai Mara National Reserve (MMNR) in Kenya, the behaviour of drivers, guides and tourists in pursuit of the best video or photograph has become progressively worse. One year before Nick Kleer posted his video from the Kogatende crossing point, I was 12 miles north, watching from a hillside above the Ashnil crossing point on the Mara River. What followed was not pretty. About 50 tourist vehicles were racing abreast towards the riverbank, weaving in and out of a panicked herd of wildebeest. These animals had tried to cross the day before, but tourist vehicles blocking their exit — as they do in Nick Kleer's video — had forced half the herd to turn back. Many of those stranded were calves, and their mothers were waiting for them on the far bank, until the tourist cars scared them away. Carcasses of the animals that perished in the crossing bobbed in the river, largely ignored by the crocodiles, which had eaten their fill overnight. The injured animals — most with broken legs — had been unable to climb the steep banks to safety, so stood bleating in the shallows, awaiting the inevitable. Above them, as the herd reformed to try again, the cars rushed in, with the photographers hanging over the sides of the vehicles, pointing Canons in the way that hunters aim rifles. Then a group of about 300 wildebeest tried a crossing, and some even made it past the tourists choking the exit point on the other side. Others, again mainly calves, tried to turn back but were trampled beneath the hooves of the oncoming masses. By the time it was over three more wildebeest were dead, with three more stranded on river beaches with broken limbs and little hope of survival. This was a tiny event in the grand drama of the migration, but these deaths would not have occurred had tourists not been blocking the exit routes. • Read our full guide to Africa Sadly, you'll see similar ignorance, selfishness and greed almost every day in the Serengeti and the MMNR. I've counted 41 vehicles parked around a single leopard in an acacia tree; picked up a basket full of plastic, wet wipes, cans and bottles from a sundowner site; seen a fist fight break out after two amateur photographers climbed onto another party's vehicle to get a better angle; and watched an open-topped Land Cruiser repeatedly charge through a herd of zebras so the whooping photographers on board could capture the panic. Such disrespect is not limited to Africa. I've witnessed a car crash in Ranthambore National Park in India as guides jostled to get their clients to the front of a crowd around a tiger, while Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is the only protected area where I've seen roadkill. In Kenya and in Tanzania safari tourism is divided between the so-called value sector — in which guests pay upwards of £800 per person per night in high season for five-star accommodation — and the mass market, in which you can book a day trip from Nairobi for as little as £227. Those in the former are taken on two game drives a day by a qualified guide; the latter typically get a driver with minimal knowledge. 'These guys are earning maybe [£15] a day, but if they promise the world they can make maybe six times that in tips,' said an MMNR guide who wished to remain anonymous. 'But I know qualified guides who are just as bad. We depend on good reviews so it is very hard to resist a client who is saying, 'I want to be at the front at the crossing and I will pay you well.'' The value sector blames all the bad behaviour and overcrowding on the day-trippers at the cheap end of the market, but that's not entirely fair. Guests from two high-end lodges were filmed at the Kogatende crossing last week and, regardless of the finger-pointing, the truth is that — with no cap on peak-season visitor numbers — overtourism has arrived in the bush and it's hurting the wildlife. Two years ago the MMNR's new management plan warned that overcrowding was not only spoiling the tourist experience but was also leading to habitat degradation and 'a major decline in several of the reserve's charismatic wildlife species'. • Two women died on safari last week — are these trips becoming more dangerous? Access to the Serengeti is relatively cheap (£3 a day for Tanzanians and £52 for foreigners) and — while many in the industry say that a significant increase in fees is the most effective way to limit numbers — the Tanzania National Parks Authority is actively encouraging low-cost, high-volume tourism and will raise prices by just 15 per cent in 2026. However, it is not guaranteed that higher prices would limit numbers. Last summer the entrance fee to the MMNR for foreigners increased from £52 to £150 a day. Official arrival figures aren't yet available, but anecdotal evidence suggests that it's had little effect on demand — and last week President Ruto of Kenya announced a new push to increase overall visitors from three million in 2025 to five million in 2027. Restricting visitor numbers to the Serengeti and the MMNR, perhaps by copying the Rwandan model of limited permits, would reduce pressure on wildlife but would require significant increases in conservation fees and risk turning safari tourism into even more of a pursuit for the rich than it is now. And this won't improve behaviour. Guides always want to earn tips; tourists (especially the frantic ones with the big cameras) always want the best view at every sighting — and that doesn't change because you're paying £1,100 a night in a top-end lodge rather than £227 for a day trip in a pop-top minibus. One argument is that the parks can do without the so-called box-tickers who come for migration, but every species in the Greater Mara ecosystem — and elsewhere in the protected areas of Africa — is dependent on tourism for its survival. Take away the tourists, the conservation argument goes, and the only way to make that grassland pay is to put cattle on it. Calls for heavier sanctions on irresponsible tourist traffic have fallen on deaf ears in park administrations, so here is a simple, effective fix: position rangers at the key crossing points during migration and ban all safari vehicles from approaching within 1,000ft until the herds have moved on. The industry will argue that the crossings are the most exciting and dramatic feature of the migration, and a ban on getting close up will hit bookings. Maybe it will, especially from the trophy hunters dreaming of an award-winning photo. But is their money worth the life of a single wildebeest? Share your views in the comments
Forbes
30-07-2025
- Forbes
Behind The Viral Video: How Safari Vehicles Endangered The Great Migration In Serengeti
Tourists are taking photos during the Great Migration at the Kogatende crossing point on the Mara ... More River in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania on July 21. "I have seen over 100 crossings during my 16 years of guiding, but I have never seen anything like this. I was visibly shaking," said Nick Kleer, a wildlife guide who posted a video on Instagram showing countless safari vehicles disrupting the Great Migration at the Kogatende crossing point on the Mara River. Each year in July and August, thousands of tourists flock to Tanzania to witness one of nature's most dramatic spectacles: the high-stakes wildebeest crossing of the Mara River. At one time, Kleer counted over 150 vehicles driving towards the Kogatende crossing. So what exactly happened on July 21 in Serengeti National Park that left safari guide Nick Kleer deeply unsettled? How did the sheer number of safari vehicles and the behavior of both guides and tourists not only jeopardize the safety of wildlife but also put human lives at risk? I interviewed Nick Kleer via a video call to ask him directly. What Happened Was Not Only Outrageous But Also Dangerous Visiting Serengeti National Park has specific rules that should be clear to everyone who guides groups there, but also to those who visit the park. The most relevant ones in this case include the requirement for vehicles to stay on authorized tracks and refrain from disturbing or harassing wildlife. It is strictly prohibited for visitors to exit the vehicle within 200 meters (656 feet) of any wild animal, except in designated areas. Also, drivers should not approach animals closer than 25 meters (82 feet). However, on July 21, Kleer witnessed the opposite. He saw how all the above rules were broken. Safari vehicles and people obstructing the path of the Great Migration at the Kogatende crossing ... More point on the Mara River in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. He told me in the interview that the pathway to the river crossing is very narrow. Clear markers show the location where vehicles should stop to keep their distance from the animals. But that is not what happened. And he saw everything from the other side of the river. "There were too many vehicles too close to the animals. They went beyond the markers. Many tourists were out of the jeeps watching the crossing, taking photos, laughing and chatting. I was furious. I kept shouting to stop and go back to the jeeps. But nobody listened and nobody cared," he said. Kleer asked the question, 'What would have happened if these tourists had run into a pride of lions? Because they could have since lions come here to hunt. I don't think I want to come back here during peak season ever again. I wouldn't want to see this again, or worse.' Tour Companies Obstructing The Riverbank Could Be Identified Safari vehicles with Leopard Tours and Nomad Tanzania stickers are at the Kogatende crossing point ... More on the Mara River in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania on July 21. Based on the photos he took, Kleer identified at least four tour companies whose names were visible on the sides of the jeeps: Tanzania Specialist, &Beyond, Nomad Tanzania and Leopard Tours. I contacted all four companies for comment, and two responded. Joss Kent, executive chairman and CEO of &Beyond, released a statement via The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA). In the statement, he shared what happened at the crossing after the &Beyond jeep arrived with guests around 09:35 a.m. on July 21, 2025, and parked in a designated area roughly 7 meters (23 feet) from a known river access slope, without obstructing wildlife or other vehicles. Within the hour, a surge of additional safari vehicles overwhelmed the site, blocking escape routes and disrupting the natural movement of the migrating herd. As a result, & Beyond's vehicle became trapped and unable to retreat due to thick bush, steep terrain, and congestion caused by the surrounding traffic. "Our vehicle remained stationary and boxed in by surrounding vehicles and terrain, unable to leave the sighting. Throughout the entire encounter, neither our guide nor any guests exited the vehicle," said Kent in the statement. Kleer also said during our interview that both &Beyond and Nomad Tanzania reached out to him after watching his video, taking what happened seriously and acknowledging the disruption they were also part of. Safari vehicles with Tanzania Specialist stickers are at the Kogatende crossing point on the Mara ... More River in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania on July 21. The response from Tanzania Specialist came from a generic team email, with no individual representative identified, and included the following statement: 'We have conducted a thorough internal investigation to understand exactly what happened and who was involved, to make sure that those at fault own and learn from their actions, but also that nobody is accused unfairly. After getting feedback from the head of our guides, who happened to be onsite, it seems that even though some of our vehicles appeared front row, our company guides tried to avoid this situation. None of our vehicles dropped off any guests in the mentioned area.' When I asked Kleer about them, he recalled, 'We bumped into one of the Tanzania Specialist vehicles on our way. The driver asked my driver in Swahili where the river was and how to reach the crossing. He seemed untrained and unprofessional which is a dangerous combination.' TANAPA Vows Disciplinary Action Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) also released a statement the next day via ATTA. Catherine Mbena, assistant conservation commissioner, said that '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.' I reached out to Catherine Mbena for further comments, including what type of disciplinary measures were taken and which companies were identified. Still, I have not received a reply as of today. When I showed Kleer the statement, he said, 'Guides are not paid enough. If a tour company allows guides to do this for the extra tips, they should take the biggest hit and not the guides. The companies are the ones profiting from these migrations.' A huge group of animals (wildebeest) exiting the Mara River in Tanzania during the annual wildebeest ... More migration. "The migration is dramatic and chaotic. The noise of thousands of wildebeest is incomparable to anything else," said Kleer. 'However, it is also dangerous if thousands of people behave horribly. And there should be no excuse for the behavior I witnessed." "What happened on July 21 has been building up for years. One day, the bank will collapse, or a visitor will get hurt. It is not a question of if, but when," he added. Kleer was also confident that if tourists knew both the rules and the risks, 99% of them would behave responsibly. What Needs To Change Before It Happens Again When asked how the situation should be addressed, Kleer emphasized the need to increase the number of rangers. He also advocated for stricter penalties, such as banning drivers who violate any rules from the park, and suggested higher parking fees to avoid similar incidents. "In Kenya, for example, the introduction of significantly higher park fees and stricter vehicle regulations in the Maasai Mara last year was, in part, an attempt to curb exactly this type of challenge," said Ryan Powell, chief operating officer at &Beyond. "With the migration now heading into Kenya, it remains to be seen whether those measures will have the intended impact," Powell added. As the Great Migration continues to draw global attention, so does the responsibility of those who come to witness it. Understanding the rules, respecting wildlife and demanding better from the industry are no longer optional. Tourists must ask themselves: Are we contributing to the preservation of this extraordinary ecosystem, or to its unraveling? Do we know what ethical, responsible safari behavior looks like? Will we hold ourselves and our guides accountable? Africa is vast, with endless alternatives for experiencing its wildlife, natural wonders, and rich cultural heritage without contributing to overtourism or harming fragile ecosystems.
Miami Herald
24-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Tour groups block millions of wildebeest during iconic ‘Great Migration.' ‘Chaos'
Dozens of safari tour groups in Serengeti National Park were photographed blocking the river crossing of millions of wildebeest during their annual 'Great Migration' — widely regarded as one of the most impressive spectacles in nature. In an Instagram photo shared July 21 by wildlife guide and photographer Nick Kleer, tour vehicles and spectators could be seen standing along the banks of the Mara River, obstructing routes that have been traveled by the species for generations. 'These ancient migration routes, shaped by instinct and generations of survival, were blocked by humans who should know better,' Kleer said in the post. 'The herds were forced to scatter. Some ran for cliffs and jumped in panic,' Kleer said, calling the situation 'chaos.' 'The rangers who blocked these passages today are meant to be custodians of the wild,' Kleer said in the post. 'In my opinion, they ended up being as bad as poachers.' In a video about the experience, a shaken up Kleer said his small group was parked a safe distance away from the river on the opposite side, with extra space to allow the wildebeest to pass through since their usual entry and exit paths were blocked. Responses to the images The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators condemned the 'unethical safari practices' in a new release shared July 21. 'This behavior not only compromises the safety of guests and wildlife but also threatens the integrity of one of nature's most spectacular phenomena,' Executive Director Elirehema Maturo said in the release. Training sessions were held for over 1,000 guides across Tanzania to 'reinforce best practices in ethical and responsible guidance,' Maturo said. Kleer shared a photo of a press release from Tanzania National Parks stating that all vehicles involved had been identified and 'strict disciplinary measures will be taken' against the guides, according to a July 21 post on X. It is against park rules for tourists to get out of their vehicles at the area, officials said. The Great Migration The Great Migration is the largest mammal migration on earth. During this event, between 1 and 2 million wildebeest travel nearly 500 miles, beginning in Tanzania's southeastern Serengeti and trek north to Kenya's Masai Mara before returning in the fall. The massive heard travels in lines up to 25 miles long, facing perils including crocodile-filled rivers and lions, according to experts.
