11 Mar 2014

Tourism operators on both sides of the Kgalagadi Trans-Frontier Park are not allowed to undertake night drives for tourists, says the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama.

He told Parliament on March 10 that this was expressly prohibited by the Generic Rules and Regulations of Kgalagadi Trans-Frontier Park.

He, however, said it had been noted that tourists on the South African side were allowed to undertake night drives under the guidance of South African National Parks (SANParks) personnel not tourism operators. The minister said furthermore, a special vehicle had been designed for this purpose and was owned by SANParks.

In addition to the regulations not allowing self-drives at night, Mr Khama said currently it was also not an option as it would require escort by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks staff which was a challenge due to staff shortage.

Minister Khama was answering a question from the Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central Mr Dumelang Shaleshando who asked the Minister if it was true that tourism operators on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Trans-Frontier Park were not allowed to undertake night drives for tourists while their counterparts on the South African side offer such drives to their clients. ENDS