Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) would like to inform all Diplomatic Missions, within and overseas, Tourist Representatives, Tour Operators, Travel Agents, operators of tourist accommodation establishments, transporters, tourists and the general public that, the Sand River/Bologonja Border crossing point connecting Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania IS NOT OPEN.TTB has seen the need to clarify the distorted information in order to avoid confusing and inconveniencing tourists intending to visit Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara Game Reserve or vice versa, as per attached circular e-mail issued by Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) on 18th September 2009. The circular e-mail reads as follows, quote:
“Dear Member,
SAND RIVER BORDER CROSSING
Arising from talks held between the E.A. member states, we are pleased to confirm that in a move that will dramatically reduce the travel time between Mara and Serengeti, an agreement has been reached to open up Sand River Gate in the Maasai Mara. This will now take effect as a new official border crossing between Kenya and Tanzania.
The development was announced by the Minister for Tourism, Hon. Najib Balala, after he obtained confirmation about the opening from both Immigration Chiefs.
Our initial enquires to confirm the actual situation on the ground reveals that there is full deployment of Immigration staff on the Kenyan side at Sand River, whereas they are yet to be deployed on the Tanzanian side. This unfortunately means that travellers cannot be cleared from Kenya into Tanzania (or vice versa) as there is lack of immigration personnel on one side of the Border.
This has been brought to the attention of the relevant authorities and we will continue to follow up closely until the situation is rectified.
Kind regards,
Fred Kaigua
CHIEF EXECUTIVE” – end of quote.
The e-mail circular is misleading as there is no agreement of any kind reached to open the Sand River/Bologonja border point. The agreed designated border point being used to cross by road from Maasai Mara to Serengeti is Isebania/Sirari, now being commonly used by all Tour Operators from Tanzania/Kenya.
We would like our esteemed clients to note that, Tanzania has no intention to re-open the Sand River/Bologonja Border point. The entry point will remain closed for environmental reasons. The fragile ecosystem of the area which is a World Heritage Site cannot be sacrificed for the purpose of shortening the route between Maasai Mara and Serengeti.
TTB wishes to inform all Tourist Agents and the general public that, according to the Tourism Co-operation Agreement between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Kenya following the Arusha Summit Communique of November 16th, 1983, Article X(b), tourists shall be transported in and out of each Country through designated border posts or regional towns.
The designated border points between Kenya and Tanzania are:-
Tanzania Kenya
Namanga Namanga
Sirari Isebania
Holili Taveta
Horohoro Lungalunga
For more information, contact:
The Managing Director
Tanzania Tourist Board
P.O. Box 2485
Dar es Salaam
Tel: +255 22 2111244/5
Fax: +255 22 2116420
Email: safari@ud.co.tz / ttb@ud.co.tz
Website: http://www.tanzaniatouristboard.com/
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