Perspectives

By normalising tiredness as just “being really busy,” we risk overlooking the real impact

‘This isn’t nature taking its course. This is people interfering with one of the most iconic and fragile spectacles on Earth’ – Nick Kleer. Photography: © Nick Kleer. Republished with Nick's permission.

African Safari overtourism – why making ethical choices matters

By Josh Chandler

Briefly …

The Great Wildebeest Migration has become a global bucket-list experience, but scenes of tourists blocking the herds highlight how overtourism is threatening one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Content warning: The hyperlink in this feature is to the video posted to Instagram by not-for-profit conservation advocates Cheetah Guardians may disturb some viewers. The Solo Traveller has chosen to share the link because it highlights the consequences of irresponsible tourism operators that conservation advocates want banned.

The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of Earth’s most awe-inspiring natural events. Each year, over two million wildebeests, zebras and other grazers make the perilous journey from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Maasai Mara, facing predators, crocodile-infested rivers and sheer exhaustion along the way. For decades it has been the pinnacle of the safari dream, the kind of sight people travel across continents to witness. Yet in recent months, the migration has become a victim of its own popularity.

In August 2025, a video uploaded to Instagram by not-for-profit conservation advocates Cheetah Guardians showed tourists leaving their safari vehicles at a river crossing in the Maasai Mara, crowding the banks and blocking the path of the wildebeests. Some animals were forced back into the dangerous waters they had just escaped, a scene described by the Cheetah Guardians as “chaos without management, no rules or limits, unethical guides, negligent rangers, and reckless tourists”. Outrage spread quickly across Africa and beyond, echoing a similar episode in Tanzania only weeks earlier, when over 150 safari vehicles gathered at a single crossing point in the Serengeti.

Nick Kleer, Safari Guide and Planner and Wildlife Photographer, grew up in South Africa, spending just about every one of his school holidays in the Kruger National Park or exploring game reserves across Southern Africa with his family. The chaotic scenes that Nick witnessed that morning at his beloved Serengeti National Park left him “stunned”.

“These photos show dozens of tourists out of their vehicles, guides standing by and allowing it,” Nick posted on Instagram, “and vehicles completely blocking the wildebeest’s traditional river crossing points. The result? Chaos.”

“The herds were forced to scatter. Some ran for cliffs and jumped in panic. Others tried alternative routes, but these are not the natural, time-worn paths they’ve followed for thousands of years. These ancient migration routes, shaped by instinct and generations of survival, were blocked by humans who should know better. This isn’t nature taking its course. This is people interfering with one of the most iconic and fragile spectacles on Earth.”

“This isn’t nature taking its course. This is people interfering with one of the most iconic and fragile spectacles on Earth.”

“The rangers who blocked these passages today are meant to be custodians of the wild. In my opinion, they ended up being as bad as poachers. They should be stripped of their licenses. The companies involved should no longer be allowed to enter this park. I’ve always held Serengeti in the highest regard, but this level of mismanagement and disrespect is inexcusable. Rangers and guides are meant to protect. This morning, they failed.”

The consequences are immediate and devastating. Every unnecessary delay in the animals’ ancient rite of passage raises the risk of injury or death, while the constant pressure of vehicles and visitors erodes the foundations of the incredibly fragile ecosystem itself.

Authorities have been forced to respond. Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, has promised stronger enforcement against negligent guides. Tanzania’s National Parks Authority condemned the Serengeti incident, while the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators immediately called for stricter discipline for drivers who put spectacle above stewardship.

The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators immediately called for stricter discipline for drivers who put spectacle above stewardship. Photography: Roya Ann Miller.

Travellers have more influence than they often realise. Choosing an ethical operator is one of the most powerful steps. Safari companies that cap vehicle numbers, keep to designated tracks and train their guides in wildlife-friendly behaviour are out there, but they can be harder to find among the many mass-market outfits. Conservationists stress that supporting these operators helps shift the industry standard.

David Smyth, Founder of travel consultancy Forward Travel, was in the area when the chaos unfolded, and the appalling sequence of events served to remind him of how disgraceful people can be. “At Forward Travel, our approach to the issue of overtourism is by travelling thoughtfully, choosing off-peak seasons where possible, seeking out lesser-visited paths, and designing journeys that leave a positive footprint rather than a burden. Our philosophy is simple: smaller groups, slower-paced travel, and experiences that uplift travellers and the communities they encounter. In doing so, we aim to create responsible journeys that balance discovery with preservation, ensuring exploration doesn’t come at the cost of a destination’s wellbeing.”

Another step is to diversify the experience. Balloon safaris, walking tours with reputable guides, and visits to community-run conservancies are all ways to witness Africa’s landscapes without adding to the gridlock at the riverbanks. By spreading out demand, travellers reduce the pressure on the most fragile sites while discovering perspectives often missed in the crush of vehicles.

A lone hot air balloon over a herd of zebras, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Narok County, Kenya. Photography: Sutirta Budiman.

Supporting local communities is equally vital. When tourism revenues reach those living alongside wildlife, there is stronger incentive to protect habitats and regulate tourism responsibly. Many conservancies in Kenya’s Mara region, for example, operate under a lease model where income from carefully managed safaris flows directly to Maasai landowners. This has been credited with reducing poaching and easing strain on the national reserve itself.

Limiting demand is part of the conversation too. Kenya has already begun restricting the development of new lodges and placing caps on bed numbers in parts of the Maasai Mara, recognising that infrastructure fuels visitor numbers. For travellers, this means planning ahead, being willing to pay more for operators who invest in conservation, and resisting the temptation of last-minute, high-volume tours that undercut these limits.

“For travellers, this means being willing to pay more for operators who invest in conservation, and resisting the temptation of last-minute, high-volume tours that undercut these limits.”

Ultimately, responsible travel is not about denying ourselves life-changing experiences, but about approaching them with intention. The Great Migration is a wonder of the natural world, but as the viral scenes of wildebeests blocked by crowds of tourists remind us, the miracle can quickly turn into a tragedy if left unchecked. Safaris should be transformative rather than exploitative. Protecting this ancient journey requires intentional choices – and the resolve to witness responsibly so the wildebeests can continue their crossing for generations to come.

Sources

Citizen Digital, ‘Uproar as tourists yet again block wildebeest crossings during Maasai Mara migration’, August 2025.

Expert Africa Blog, ‘Africa’s most famous wildlife migration’, 2025.

Big 3 Africa, ‘Overtourism threatens the Serengeti and Maasai Mara during migration’, 2024.

Josh Chandler is a freelance writer based in the United Kingdom.