Overtourism threatens Africa’s major national parks

11-08-25

A viral video captured an alarming scene during the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park (Tanzania): tourists, some on guided safaris, got out of their vehicles and crowded the riverbank, blocking the passage of wildebeest. The situation caused panic — some animals leapt from cliffs, others were injured, and several may have died. The behavior was widely criticized as “chaotic” and “shameful.”

The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) responded quickly. It confirmed the identification of the vehicles involved, ordered the tourists back into their cars, and announced penalties for the guides responsible.

The problem goes beyond this incident. Both the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara Reserve face a massive overload of visitors. In the Mara, tourist density is up to ten times higher than in other Kenyan parks and seventeen times greater than in the Serengeti. At critical crossing points such as river fords, more than 300 vehicles can gather in a single spot, causing disruptions to animal behavior, destruction of vegetation, and interrupted migrations.

Moreover, tourists and their guides — obsessed with getting the perfect shot — often block sensitive areas. A recent report described how vehicles approached within less than 300 meters of crossings, leading to trampling of wildebeest, calves being crushed, and animals trapped and defenseless in the water.

Faced with this pressure, one expert proposes a strong measure: banning vehicle access within a 1,000-foot radius around crossings during the migration. While this could impact tourism revenue, the argument is that wildlife should take precedence over the spectacle.

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