Nevertheless, it’s possible for tourists to apply for a permit that allows them to fly drones in some of Botswana’s parks.Ī caveat to these grants is that if caught operating a drone in a manner that disturbs the natural behavior of animals, one could be fined up to $470.

One can be arrested and their equipment seized by authorities.īotswana soon followed suit and made all their wildlife sanctuaries and game parks restricted fly zones. The consequences of breaking these no-fly zones are severe. South Africa was the first country to ban the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in all their national parks. Generally, drones are not allowed in national parks. Moreover, questions about drones compromising one’s privacy are also points of contention. People travel across continents to be in the wild landscapes of Africa, and once they are there, the moment of a lifetime can be easily and quickly ruined by the monotonous buzzing of a drone.Ī rare event or animal sighting on safari could be ruined for everyone in an instant. While it can be agreed that drone videography and film make for some incredible material, your use of drones can have an adverse effect on the natural behavior of the very wildlife you wish to observe.Īnother important consideration is that of your fellow guests. The standard rule for a wonderful safari is this your actions should never affect wildlife while you are observing them. If you’ve never seen an elephant on the run, trust us, it’s both dangerous for the elephant and for those who end up in the way. There have also been recorded cases of protective elephants taking fleeing with their young in panic. In one of these instances, the inconsiderate use of drones over a herd of wildebeest made them panicky and as a result abandoned a necessary river crossing. There have been several examples of such incidents. Studies show that flying drones back and forth over animals’ heads can result in them becoming highly stressed. The primary concern of every game reserve in Africa is the wildlife they are protecting.

It is therefore no surprise that we are getting more and more inquiries from our guests who would like to take their drones on safari.īefore you start packing up your drone, consider the rules and regulations that now govern drones in both public and private reserves: 1. The costs of buying and maintaining a drone are also reducing due to rapid improvements in drone technology. Seeing the world from a bird’s eye view has never been easier, nor more convenient.ĭrone photography safari is an emerging and exhilarating trend in aerial videography that is starting to take root in our lives. In recent years drone technology has been made available to the public and with it has come a tremendous amount of stunning global footage gathered by drone users from a multitude of destinations.

Mini drone with camera south africa