Swiss tourists reject claims of reckless driving, reaffirm confidence in Nature Responsible after Serengeti incident

WEDNESDAY September 2, 2026

By Adam Ihucha

The Tranquillity News Correspondent, Tanzania

Four Swiss tourists who escaped unhurt after an unexpected safari vehicle incident at the Mara River in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park have reaffirmed their confidence in Nature Responsible, saying they would have “no hesitation” travelling with the company again.

The incident occurred on Sunday August 30, 2026, at the Kogatende wildebeest crossing, during the final eight days of the visitors’ Northern Tanzania safari.

All four tourists and their Tanzanian guide escaped safely, and the visitors have since continued their holiday in Zanzibar.

The tourists say the incident was frightening but does not define their overall experience with Nature Responsible.

They also say they were disappointed and concerned by some of the early media reports and speculation surrounding the incident, which they felt did not accurately reflect what they personally witnessed.

In particular, the tourists say some reports gave the impression that their vehicle had been driven recklessly or rushed towards the river in pursuit of a better viewing position.

They strongly disagree with that characterisation based on their firsthand experience.

In a joint statement, the four visitors said their guide had been careful and respectful throughout their safari and had not been driving recklessly or rushing for a better viewing position.

“Throughout our entire safari he was never someone who rushed to get the best position.

“He was always very careful when approaching animals and viewpoints, drove slowly and respectfully, and was considerate of the environment and the other safari vehicles.”

According to the tourists, their vehicle initially stopped behind other safari vehicles while they waited for the wildebeest migration to begin.

After another guide suggested moving slightly to improve their view, their guide moved a short distance and stopped again.

The vehicle was stationary when, according to one of the tourists, he felt a small jolt before it unexpectedly began rolling downhill.

The visitors immediately realised something was wrong and shouted for the guide to stop.

“From what I could see, he was pressing very hard with his foot on what I believe was the brake pedal and was clearly trying to stop the car, but the vehicle continued rolling.”

As the vehicle continued moving, the four passengers quickly exited through the door and windows. Their guide was also able to escape safely.

At no point during this situation did I observe him driving recklessly, rushing to get a better position, or deliberately trying to get too close to the river. Quite the opposite.” One of four tourists from Switzerland.

The tourists have deliberately avoided speculating about the technical cause of the incident, saying that they cannot determine why the vehicle did not stop and that the matter should be established through the appropriate investigation.

They say this is precisely why they were disappointed by some of the early reporting.

“We were surprised and disappointed to see information and speculation being reported that did not correspond with what we personally experienced,” said the tourists, stressing:

“We believe it is important that the facts are established properly and that our firsthand experience is also taken into consideration.”

They also reject any suggestion from their personal experience that their guide was behaving recklessly.

“At no point during this situation did I observe him driving recklessly, rushing to get a better position or deliberately trying to get too close to the river. Quite the opposite.”

The tourists say Nature Responsible’s support following the incident further strengthened their positive impression of the company.

“From the beginning until the end, we were extremely happy with the company and felt very well looked after.

“After the incident as well, Nature Responsible supported us a lot, stayed in contact with us and made sure that everybody was doing well.”

The Nature Responsible CEO, Ms Fransisca Masika, said the company’s immediate priority was the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.

“First and foremost, we are profoundly grateful that all four of our guests and our guide are safe. The wellbeing of our guests and our team is always our first responsibility.”

Masika said Nature Responsible would respect the ongoing investigation and avoid speculation about the cause or responsibility.

“We will not speculate about the cause of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.

“Our responsibility is to support our guests, support our guide, cooperate fully with the relevant authorities, and learn every appropriate lesson from this experience.”

She added that the company would continue reviewing and strengthening its safety and operational procedures.

Founded in 2012 by Fransisca Masika, Nature Responsible is a Tanzanian-owned safari company based in Arusha, specialising in personalised and responsible travel experiences across Tanzania and East Africa.

The company focuses on wildlife safaris, conservation, community engagement, and creating authentic experiences for international travellers.

For the four Swiss visitors, the incident remains a frightening memory within an otherwise highly positive journey through Northern Tanzania.

They regard it as an isolated and unexpected incident and say they do not want speculation about its cause to overshadow their overall experience.

Most importantly, they are safe, their guide is safe, and they have continued enjoying their holiday.

Their final message is unequivocal: “If we were planning another safari in Tanzania tomorrow, we would have no hesitation in travelling with Nature Responsible again.”