Two foreign tourists have been robbed of various items worth several million dollars at gunpoint in Arusha National Park, raising serious doubts about the security situation in the game sanctuary.
In the rare episode, three heavily armed gangsters posing as game wardens reportedly ambushed the tourists in the park located nearly 35kms north-east of the northern safari capital of Arusha.
The thugs managed to put the tourists under siege and ransacked them before walking away with hard cash, tourist bags, digital cameras and other valuable items.
Arusha regional police commander Basilio Matei confirmed the incident.
“My men, in collaboration with Tanzania National Parks Authority game wardens, are currently working extra time hunting for the armed hooligans,” Matei said.
Jeremiah Maka, a professional tour guide with Big Expeditions who was escorting the tourists, said the incident took place at Ngurdoto crater within the national park late last week.
Maka named the victims as Christina Lazano from Spain and Paulina Elago from Namibia.
According to him, the two tourists were resolved to visit the nearest park in Arusha after taking time off from participating in an international conference.
“This is a strange incident to happen within the maximum security national park. It is unbelievable indeed, no one can buy the tale,” Maka explained.
For his part, Big Expeditions executive director Nicholaus Minja made a passionate call to the police and TANAPA to apprehend the culprits behind the shameful incident.
"The latest robbery incident will tarnish the good image of the country, but I hope the police, in collaboration with TANAPA, will do something about this,” Minja stressed.
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