Bandits kill Dutch tourist and his guide at Serengeti National Park

A Dutch tourist and a Tanzanian national were on Thursday killed by suspected bandits after the latter invaded the Ikona Wildlife Management Area on the outskirts of the Serengeti National Park.

A Dutch tourist and a Tanzanian national were on Thursday killed by suspected bandits after the latter invaded the Ikona Wildlife Management Area on the outskirts of the Serengeti National Park.

A statement signed by the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ambassador Khamisi Kagasheki, says the Dutch tourist has been identified as Eric Brekelmans. The Tanzania national has been identified as Renatus Benard, the Moivaro Camp Assistant Manager.

“The Ministry expresses its sincere shock over this event that is abnormal. We would like to take this opportunity to assure visitors that every effort is taken to ensure their safety is in place with comfort when they are in the country,” the statement reads in part.

Moivaro Camp is owned by the Moivaro Coffee Lodge Company and the killed tourist was a client of the company’s Leopard Tours of Arusha. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in collaboration with the Leopard Tours and Moivaro Coffee Lodge Company have taken steps to comfort the affected, including the wife of the deceased tourist, Mrs Annelnes Brekelmans.

During the incident the camp had 40 guests and that they were robbed of their property along with their passports. The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism and that of Home Affairs, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi have already visited the scene of the incident.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police delegated to Tourism sector, Mr Kitalike, has also gone using a Police helicopter to strengthen security in the area. The police, wardens of the Department of Wildlife and the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) park wardens have also jointly strengthened security at tourist sites and the manhunt for the suspects have begun.

Efforts of transporting the body of the deceased to Arusha completed yesterday while preparations for burial are still underway.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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