Chobe National Park (CNP) has introduced new measures to tackle congestion around the Chobe Riverfront.

Briefing the trade on the measures at the Hospitality and Tourism Association conference in Maun last month, Mokwaledi Mafa, CNP Acting Park Manager, said the new measures included the adoption of a code of conduct for tour operators and restricting game drive vehicles for each company.  “Only two vehicles from each company will be allowed in the park per day. We will also allow for bookings to be done at least seven days in advance. A booking confirmation will also have to be made two days in advance,” Mafa said.

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Joseph Mbaiwa, Professor of Tourism studies at Maun based Okavango Research Institute told Tourism Update that CNP congestion is caused by the massive attraction of its riverfront.  He said the Chobe Riverfront is preferred by local and neighbouring countries’ tour operators who shun other parts of the park for the scenic beauty and wildlife concentrations at the river front.  Mbaiwa said the proximity of Chobe to Victoria Falls further boosts visitation and this put pressure on the fragile eco system. He said there is a need for tour operator involvement, provision of resources for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and the strengthening of monitoring by DWNP.

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To relieve safari vehicle concentration, DWNP started implementing the CNP decongestion strategy in 2012.  DWNP introduced three one way routes in the CNP. The three routes are the Riverfront route, the Upper route and the Nogatshaa route. Each route carries a total of 75 vehicles and selection in to the routes is on first come basis.

However, Mafa pointed out that tour operators have been disobeying the strategy and continue to congregate at the water front. Operators complain that save for the disputed riverfront area, the Upper and Nogatshaa routes have poor game viewing.

Lesh Moiteela, a manager at Wilderness Safaris opines that the strategy worsens congestion as there is only one entrance on the East side of the park going into the one way routes. He said the industry contention is that there should be another entrance on the western side. Further, Moiteela suggests the creation of a mid-way entry and exit point to the tar road to allow those wishing to exit the riverfront to do so without having to drive back and forth to Sedudu and Ngoma. Moiteela also called for a standalone strategy to manage self-drive tourists. “If we are to maintain our pristine environment, which is what is it because of our low volume model, we need a standalone strategy to control self-drive tourists.”