The Botswana government has denied that some mobile safari operators are restricted from operating in game reserves and national parks.
Rule J. Opelo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism (MENT) has said that there is no instrument or regulation in place to prevent or bar any licensed mobile tourism operators from operating in wildlife parks and game reserves or any other protected areas in Botswana.
Kenson Kgaga, Botswana Guides Association (BOGA) Chairman, previously told Tourism Update that some mobile tour operators had been denied entry into the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park.
Opelo explained that congestion had led the Ministry to redirect the traffic to other protected areas that can still accommodate more operators.
“MENT would like to indicate that due to the congestion of vehicles at Mababe, Khwai, Moremi, Kachikau and Kasane routes that lead to both the Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve, licences given to new mobile safari operators are directed to other protected areas that can still accommodate more operators.”
This does not affect companies that have the old or existing mobile safari licence.
The Ministry has engaged associations of private operators and explained the importance of protecting the environment and, above all, the niche Botswana has on the wilderness experience that cannot survive any high volumes of vehicles in the protected areas.
