Africa-Press – Botswana. Boat operators on the Chobe River have been implored to use the appropriate routes for boat cruising.
In an interview recently, Chobe region’s senior wildlife officer from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) Mr Phuthego Phuthego expressed discontent over the fact that some professional guides disregarded the stipulated routes on Chobe River.
He said professional guides taking tourists on boat cruises were equally guided by a code of conduct just like their counterparts taking clients on game drives.
Mr Phuthego remarked that the rule book for boat cruises pronounced that there was a one-way route which commenced at the DWNP jetty where operators registered occupants on the boat.
The officer indicated that the route circled Sedudu Island in a clockwise direction before returning to the boat stations.
However, he observed that some operators took a U-turn along the route and cruised back to boat stations using the entry route.
This, he said led to congestion on the river because while other boats were circling clockwise some were moving in the opposite direction.
Mr Phuthego stated that Chobe River was a habitat for abundant wildlife species for food and water hence it was essential that people undertaking tourism activities protected biodiversity.
He said animals like elephants submerged themselves in the river to cool off which attracted hoards of boats to surround them to marvel and take pictures.
The officer said the code of conduct clearly defined that only four boats should be in close proximity to elephants when they cool off, spend five minutes then clear way to accord other boats the same opportunity.
“We have observed that some boat operators disregard these regulations and spend over 30 minutes stationary around the elephants which results in crowding as more boats arrive at the scene.”
Mr Phuthego condemned the behavior because it obstructed elephants from manoeuvring and crossing to the other side.
Moreover, he said this posed a risk on boat occupants as animals were bound to become irritated and violent causing them to charge at tourists, causing panic and potentially causing injuries.
He said a total of 1 113 boats cruised on Chobe River in April, 1 312 in May and 1 287 in June, with diverse clients from Batswana, SADC countries and the rest of Africa, as well as from Asia, Europe and North and South America.
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