Drones in the Serengeti: Why They are NOT Allowed

As you plan your Safari, you may have thought of bringing a drone with you and this may have led you to wondering; Are Drones Allowed in the Serengeti? I was wondering about this myself and so I decided to do some research and here is what I found.

Drones are NOT allowed in Serengeti National Park for the average tourist. They create a really disruptive environment for wild animals and it can cause injury to the animals and other tourists.  Poachers also use drones to spot the animals they want to catch and this makes their use prohibited within all the national parks in Tanzania.  In this article, I breakdown what this restriction means for you and let you know who gets to fly drones in the Serengeti.

Can a tourist use a drone in Serengeti?

According to the regulations controlling the use of drones in Tanzania, you need to get a permit from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority and have been licenced by any of the following bodies in order to be allowed to fly a drone in Tanzania.

1. The British Model Flying Association
2. Model Flying New Zealand
3. Model Aeronautical Association of Australia
4. Model Aeronautics Association of Canada
5. Federal Aviation Administration FAA (UAS Division Certification)
6. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
7.  New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (NZ CAA)
8. United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA)
9. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
10. Civil Aviation Authority South Africa (SACAA) 

However, even if you’ve satisfied these requirements, you will still not be allowed to fly a drone in the Serengeti.  this is because drones have often been used by poachers to hunt and also cause high levels of stress in the animals. When doing research for this article I found articles mentioning that drones have been found to cause stampedes which can result in injured animals and also endanger the lives of tourists. 

In addition to this,  the humming of drones can be quite disruptive to the peace and quiet in Serengeti. I found this to be one of the big reasons why many people spoke badly about people would want to fly drones to the Serengeti

What it takes to fly a drone in the Serengeti

In addition to the restrictions by the Tanzanian civil aviation authority,  for you to fly a drone in Serengeti you will need to part with large sum of money that will be paid to the park management to ensure the safety of the animals and other tourists while you’re flying your drone. 

I tried to look for how much it would cost but I could not find a specific cost.  all that I saw mentioned was that it was quite expensive and is usually reserved for large television networks or film crews who can afford it.

Where can you fly a drone in Tanzania

Apart from the national parks the only other place where you cannot fly a drone is near an airport or  within City Limits. other than that you are allowed to fly drones within Tanzania as long as you have the necessary permits and licences. 

You can download the document with the regulation on unmanned Aircraft in the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority Website through this link

What happens if you fly a drone in the Serengeti

 if you choose to ignore the directive,  you are likely to have your drone confiscated if you try flying it in the Serengeti.  I also read that the game Rangers at the Serengeti bring down drones.  I’m not sure how accurate this is but I would imagine it is true.

Things you should not do in the Serengeti

 Other than not flying drones within the park,  here are few things that you need to avoid doing when at the Serengeti. 

1. Take any animals or animal parts out of the park: Taking any trophies out of the national park is illegal and can get you arrested.  you may want to carry a souvenir with you and you can do that by buying a gift item from the gift shop.
2. Feed the animals:  it might seem harmless to feed some animals like monkeys when you are in the park.  The thing that you need to remember however is that these are wild animals and can become vicious if they feel threatened or angry.  feeding the animals in the park also creates an unhealthy dependence on humans and reduces their ability to fend for themselves.
3. Dangle your limbs outside the vehicle:  safari into the Serengeti is an adventure into the actual untouched wild.  this means there will be surrounded by wild animals that consider everything around them to be food including your limbs if they’re hanging outside of the vehicle. 
4. Get out of the Tour Van: getting out of your vehicle when out on a tour Drive is extremely dangerous.   unless you are accompanied by an armed park ranger, you should never get out of here to a vehicle.
5. Make a lot of noise or be disruptive:  loud noises are both annoying tour tourists around you and can scare the animals near you.  with animals like elephants being double or triple the size of your tour van, you do not want to scare them or make them view you as a threat.

A Final Word

As you prepare for your trip to Africa, I would like to recommend a few products that would help make your life easier. 

1. Information About Africa: I have created a YouTube channel that focuses on things about traveling to Africa that only Africans can tell you about. Check out the channel for insights about African culture and things you can do as a traveler to optimize your trip. You should also visit TripAdvisor forum posts (Here is the Kenya Forum) and ask questions about your particular situation. There are a lot of people who are happy to help you out. 
2. Choosing a Safari Company: I have written an extensive article on how to choose a safari Company. You can. Check it out before starting the process of searching for a safari company.
3. Safari Planning Services: If you’d rather leave the planning to an expert, I offer personalized safari planning services. I handle everything from helping you choose the right safari company, creating your custom itinerary, managing bookings, and even providing a packing list and reminders for important trip details. It’s like having a personal assistant dedicated to your trip, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, so you can focus on enjoying the adventure. Learn More in this article