Mulonje Tours And Safaris Limited game drives are carefully designed to give you the best and safest adventure possible. To ensure your safety, we transport you in our fantastic Land Cruisers which we maintain rigorously in our own workshops. With great, safe and reliable rescue measures, we also have great, safe and reliable driver-guides to drive the vehicles. These experienced guys stick to Park Rules which are designed to keep both visitors and wildlife safe. Below are some of the things that you should follow or be aware of in order not only to keep safe but also to protect the environment:-
Take your safari with a reliable, professional and socially responsible operator
Budget safari operators cut corners, often at the expense of safety and the protection of our environment. Therefore, choose a well-respected operator with good reviews.
Stick to the National Park rules
If you have chosen a reliable, trusted safari operator, then they will comply with the National Park Rules which are designed for the safety of visitors and wildlife. And as a visitor, kindly please listen and follow advice from your driver-guide, park rangers, wardens and climb crew (where applicable). Note that driving in the parks is allowed between 6am and 6pm only, unless permission has been given for a night game drive.
Make sure that your driver guide sticks to speed limits at all times
It can be tempting to want to go faster when on the trail of a rare wildlife species or adventure. But the roads are rough and the 50km per hour speed limit in the parks is there for a good reason. That reason is – once again – the safety of you and the precious animals. Do not put pressure on your driver-guide to exceed the speed limit! Make sure that your driver guide sticks to properly designated roads or tracks. Deviating from the designated tracks is not allowed and a responsible driver-guide knows this. Encouraging driver-guides to leave the roads is irresponsible as it frightens wildlife thereby inviting potential danger.
Beware of potential danger with wild animals
Our driver guides and the Park staff will advise you of the rare occasions when you can leave the safari vehicle. On such occasions, you must obey their advice as to how close you can approach the animals.
Smoking while on game drives is not permitted
In designated areas, where smoking is allowed, you must dispose of any cigarette ends very carefully as these can otherwise cause fires with potentially disastrous consequences for both people and wildlife, as well as catastrophic damage to the environment.
Never leave the safety of your safari vehicle while on game drives
It is strictly prohibited to leave your safari vehicle within 200 meters of any wild animal. Your driver-guide will guide you as to when you can leave the vehicle and his advice must be strictly be adhered to no matter what. If you are on a walking safari, then you will be accompanied by an armed Park Ranger whose instructions must be followed at all times for your own safety.
Never encourage your driver-guide to get too close to the wildlife
Strict rules apply as to how close vehicles can get to the wildlife (no closer than 25 meters). Breaking these rules can result in a driver-guide losing his job besides being prosecuted.
Bring a good zoom lens on your phone or camera, to get those close-up pictures since getting too close to the animals can scare them away from a hard-earned meal. Sometimes, of course, animals such as big cats will come very close to your vehicle of their own free will – enjoy those precious moments!
Wildlife safety
A number of other simple, common-sense rules are in place to protect you, our wildlife and the enviroment. Please respect these rules in order to keep everyone safe and to preserve wildlife as well as its habitat.
Comply with the local rules
Always observe animals from a safe and legally permissible distance. And remember that these rules apply to birds as well as marine life too.
Never swim in the Lakes and Rivers
It may be very hot but resist any temptation to cool off in any nearby water body. Crocodiles and
hippos are among a number of wildlife that could potentially attack. The waters also conceal many waterborne diseases.
Wildlife always have the ‘Right of Way’
Between humans, vehicles, and wildlife…it’s always the wildlife that always has the right of way!
Never ever feed wildlife in the Parks!
Wildlife is exactly that – wild. Relying on food from humans creates dependency. And the food you eat is not food that wildlife eats. Therefore, giving them some of your food ‘out of kindness’ can cause damage to their digestive system.
Leave everything as you found it
Never ever pick flowers or plants, never take souvenirs such as animal bones or eggs, or even rocks or fossils. The eco-structure is fragile but irresponsible human intervention makes it worse. That bone might be useful to some animal, that egg will hatch or provide nutrition for a scavenger. Let Mother Nature take her course by leaving everything untouched! (And remember that there are strict laws about taking such souvenirs out of Kenya / East Africa with big fines for offenders.) Do not be tempted; your photographs will be the best souvenirs you can have, and they harm no-one!
Never try to scare, disturb or antagonize wildlife
Keep your presence as low-key as you can by making as little noise as possible. So, be aware that playing music is not permitted and you should never try to attract the attention of wildlife by whistling, clapping or banging on the side of the vehicle.
Take any litter back with you in the vehicle
Litter is dangerous not necessarily to you but nevertheless; take it away with you. It could be dangerous to wildlife and so please make sure that every scrap goes back with you at the end of the day.One piece of a carelessly discarded litter could lead to the death of an animal.
Don’t bring a drone!
These are not allowed in the Parks and will most likely be confiscated if you attempt to bring them in. If you must have an aerial view, book a hot air balloon trip!
