Loliondo: Matatus breaking park rules

By Leonard Korir

The rush to Loliondo area in Tanzania in search of miracle treatment has led to increase in accidents involving wild animals and vehicles in Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

Vehicles destined to the area transiting through the game reserve are causing traffic congestion and disrupting the serene environment.

According to Mara Conservancy, Chief Executive Officer, Brian Heath, the Loliondo bound matatus were breaking the park rules by littering the reserve and engaging in over speeding.

Heath reported that recently a lion was run over and killed near Keekorok by an over speeding matatu prompting complaints from tourists and lodges in Mara.

He said there were also cases of drivers of such matatus trying to bribe game rangers in order to be allowed to transit at odd hours.

"The undisciplined nature of the matatu industry has been felt in the reserve. Most of these vehicles arrive at the entry gates well after closing time causing considerable stress to our gate staff. In the end we decided to charge all the vehicles for transit as a way of regulating the upsurge in traffic," said Heath.

This comes ahead of the world-renowned wildebeest migration expected to be witnessed from next month.

Tour operators fear that such an influx of vehicles might interfere with the migration.

Recently, one person among the Loliondo bound passengers died in Mara Triangle while another broke his arm when the matatu they were travelling in overturned due to over speeding.