It goes without saying that Africa is the home of safaris in the world. This means the world
flocks to national parks and game reserves in Africa, at times, putting pressure on these
places.
However, as Africa celebrates the revenues that stream in from tourists seeking to catch a
glimpse of various species, the question of conservation plans arises.
Where should one draw the line between profits and conservation? At what point should a
country decide that having tourists actually upset the balance of the ecosystem and safety
of animals, hence call for a break putting the animals first?
Maasai Mara National Park, KE
In Kenya for instance, the famous Maasai Mara has been in the spotlight for over tourism
for the past decade, in what critics say is a journey to its destruction if it is not checked.
In 2017, the county government of Narok, the county in which Masai Mara game reserve is
domiciled, announced an audit of all hotels within the park.
This was informed by concerns that some of the hotels had been put up illegally, and were
not adhering to the outlined environmental guidelines.
The audit at the time sought to ensure ‘compliance of hotels in environmental and regulatory
requirements.’
At the same time, the County administration announced a vibrant project to recruit and train
more rangers who would help in the management of the park.
“2,700 poachers have been arrested and 4,000 snares collected,” the report read in part,
unearthing the threat to poaching that the animals face.
There was also the decision to tarmac Narok-Sekenani road to ease access to the park, not
just for tourists but for security agencies as well. This road was completed in October 2020
and has significantly improved security operations in the area.
It was also in 2017 that Narok started the process of putting together Masai Mara
management plan. On March 28 this year, Narok finally launched this plan in an event that
was graced by Kenya’s Tourism cabinet secretary Peninah Malonza and her environment
counterpart Soyipan Tuya.
In this plan, the issue of pressure in the reserve, especially at the Mara River ecological
zone was addressed. The plan prescribes special management of this area that doubles up
as the rhino breeding area as well as crossing zone for wildebeests, eighth wonder of the
world.
It also seeks to zone the reserve to regulate visitor use. The zones are segmented as high-
use, low use, Mara River Ecological and Masai Mara National Reserve buffer zones.
With this arrangement, the conservation efforts will zero in on the high use zones with an
aim of enhancing the reserve’s tourism product and provide a high quality, proactively
managed, wildlife viewing experience for visitors.
Further, no more entry points will be added and the existing ones will remain as such.
Air balloons, that are a common feature in the Mara, were also affected as the plan
recommended no new ballooning concessions or expansion of existing concessions in the
reserve during the lifespan of the plan, including balloons taking off from outside the reserve.
Only six balloons will be allowed in the park, and these must have approval and be licensed
by the County government of Narok, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the National
Environment Management Authority.
Kruger National Park, SA
What Kenya is attempting to do is not different from what other African countries have
accomplished.
South Africa for example has led conservation efforts in the world-renowned Kruger National
Park that hosts the endangered rhino. The park has resorted to heightening security within
the park by increasing the rangers.
At the same time, visitors at the park are required to pay conservation fees that goes into
ensuring sustainability of the conservation efforts.
Virunga National Park, DRC
However, all is not well at Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
following the persistent conflict witnessed in the country.
The national park is placed on the boarder of Rwanda and Uganda where M23 rebels are
known to operate.
So volatile is this situation that rangers have been unable to access the gorilla area for one
year now. This means the apes are unmonitored and should they be under attack, the
rangers can do little to assist.
However, despite this challenge Virunga has registered an increase in gorillas from 200 to
350.
Virunga, the oldest national park in Africa, adopts ‘Fortress conservation’ method which
means humans and the indigenous people are not allowed in the park.
This is different from Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania which allows the
Maasai people to play a role in conservation efforts.
This method of conservation has been heavily criticised in the past.
According to the African Wildlife Foundation, “Critical to protecting these vital ecosystems
are people. Sharing land across the continent, local communities and wildlife often live
alongside each other, leading to struggles for space and water.
If people and wildlife learn to live together — inside and outside of protected areas — the future for all will thrive.”
Despite the war in DRC, Virunga now battles oil exploration efforts that are to be done at the
centre of Virunga National park. In 2014, Soco International, a British oil company had
bought exploratory rights for Block V in 2010, but abandoned the projects after a worldwide
campaign against the act led by the Church of England and other shareholders.
The world can only hope that Africa will be able to implement the conservation plans without
interference from stakeholders, seeking to benefit from revenues in the world’s most
majestic national parks and game reserves.
