In order to be a responsible tourist on safari activities you should obey all rules and regulation created by TANAPA. Safety during a safari is very importance. Safety on safari is your responsibility also your guide. A safari can be very exciting but coming in close contact with animals in the African bush can be dangerous. Some animals like giraffes and elephants may look cute but beware. You must watch out especially for elephants, lions, buffalos, hippos and crocodiles.
a) Stay in your car all the time.
b) Don’t stand up or stick anything out of the car. Many safari vehicles are open-topped. If you stand up or wave something around on the side, some animals will get annoyed.
c) Don’t watch an animal at close range. If do, you should be careful of its behavior and move away as soon as it starts appearing agitated. It’s not possible to tell when an animal will decide to step into the middle of the road. Remember, you have to stop if this happens.
d) Keep your windows up. If you are in a car with windows, it’s better to keep them closed.
e) If you are on a walking safari stay downwind from the animals to keep them from catching your scent. When the animals you are approaching look hostile, create an escape route without making any noise. You could also walk away slowly to avoid aggravating the situation.
f) Walk away slowly. If you encounter an animal that doesn’t like your presence move back slowly and quietly.
g) Avoid swimming in rivers or lakes unless you are absolutely sure there are no hippos or crocodiles.
h) Always wear boots and socks when walking around the bush. There are plenty of venomous snakes and scorpions around that could bite you.
i) Don’t walk around at night in areas where you know there is wildlife present that can be potentially harmful to you.
j) Don’t leave your tent at night. If you need to, call the security to help you
it’s important to note which items are unethical or illegal to buy. These items are like Purchasing items like ivory, rhino horns, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, and plants harms the community and encourages further illegal activity.
Do not litter, disturb plant life, or take anything from the wild. If you have any trash, no matter how small, please dispose of it in a trash receptacle or gather it in a plastic bag for later disposal.
It’s best to do this before you leave for your trip so you reduce both the weight of your bag and the footprint you leave behind.
Tanzania does not yet have recycling programs that will handle hazardous materials such as rechargeable batteries. There are many resources for properly disposing of old batteries within North America.
The first step toward being a responsible and ethical traveler is learning about your destination. There are many books available to help you learn about the different countries, cultures, and languages, as well as a wealth of information online. You can also consult with your tour operator, who has vast amounts of experience with the safari destination.
We know you’re going to get excited when spotting a pride of lions for the first time, but try to express such excitement quietly. You especially want to tone it down and remain at a safe distance when a predator is on a hunt or eating a kill, a mother has a young animal beside her, or a lone male lion or buffalo is near.
The rules in parks, reserves, and conservation areas are in place to protect you, the wildlife, and the environment. Please respect these rules to maintain the beauty and health of the land you’re visiting.
Wildlife populations are dense, so use common sense by not wandering off unguided. Watchmen, patrol the grounds at night, and your guides will accompany you on walks around or outside your camp.