What Are We Doing to Africa’s Wildlife?
“Serengeti overtourism, dozens of tourists out of vehicles at a river crossing in the Serengeti…”
A scene that’s gone viral for all the wrong reasons.
The Reality Behind the Photos
This week, a post by @nickkleer stopped me in my tracks. It showed dozens of tourists standing outside their vehicles at a river crossing in the Serengeti, right in the thick of the Great Migration. It’s not only reckless and dangerous, it’s deeply disrespectful to the wildlife. And honestly? It’s heartbreaking, making me furious and sad at the same time!
Why Is This Happening?
As someone who spends a lot of time on the ground in Africa, I know what goes on behind the scenes. The sad reality is that some guides are pressured by tourists promising bigger tips if they can get closer. Closer to the action, the river crossings, the drama. Even if it means disturbing the wildlife, blocking crossing points, or causing panic among the herds. I’ve seen footage of wildebeest turning back because a vehicle is parked in the river. That’s not just a nuisance – it leads to injuries, drownings, and more kills from crocodiles.
❌ This Is Not the Kind of Tourism We Support
At Fleewinter, we do NOT support this kind of tourism. It goes against everything we believe in. We only work with serious guiding companies who take conservation to heart, guides who would never allow clients to get out of the vehicle in these situations or push too close to the wildlife. We believe the real magic of Africa lies in watching nature unfold on its terms – not ours.
What happens when we interfere?
Chaos. Animals panic, ancient routes are disrupted, calves get separated from their mothers, and stampedes can turn deadly — not just for the herds, but for entire ecosystems, and sometimes even for people. This isn’t drama, it’s destruction.
And what can we do about Serengeti Overtourism?
This migration draws travellers from all over the world to East Africa, but it only continues if we act responsibly.
We need to:
- Stay in your vehicle
- Keep a respectful distance
- Support responsible guides who prioritise nature
- Avoid peak-crowd hotspots
- Travel in off-peak seasons
- Choose destinations that manage tourism properly
… Don’t stay silent when others cross the line!
And sometimes we need to say no to that dramatic photo shot if it means compromising the wellbeing of wildlife.
A Different Kind of Migration: Botswana’s Best-Kept Secret
While the Serengeti struggles under the weight of tourism and East Africa’s Great Migration might be the best-known wildlife spectacle on the planet — and rightly so — but it’s not the only show in town.
Few realise that Africa hosts other, smaller mammal migrations that are just as impressive in their own way. there’s another migration that unfolds quietly in Botswana – and it’s just as spectacular. Here two zebra migrations unfold each year, including the longest land mammal migration on the continent. These journeys offer incredible wildlife encounters, often without the crowds, and serve as a powerful reminder of nature’s resilience and the deep-rooted instinct to move with the seasons, despite the growing pressures from human development.
✅ No crowds
✅ No vehicle pile-ups
✅ No stress on the animals
✅ Just wild, raw beauty
Written by Daphne Wijnveldt
Top Travel Tip
“..Waking up at 5am, doesn’t get better than in the African Bush! Waking up to the sounds of the wildlife, the smell of fresh coffee and the knowledge that soon you will see amazing things during a morning game drive” – Daphne, Africa Safari Specialist
