In a scene more reminiscent of a predator swooping on its prey than a routine traffic stop, a SANParks helicopter descended swiftly onto a road near Tshokwane Picnic Site in the Kruger National Park (KNP) earlier today.

Its target? A speeding vehicle with no number plates, an unusual and unwelcome sight in the protected wilderness.

The driver was fined for his transgressions. The incident occurred while SANParks was conducting its annual conservation census.

KNP spokesperson Rey Thakhuli confirms the incident. “We can confirm that a pilot witnessed a speeding vehicle without number plates and flagged it down. However, the vehicle did not have plates yet as it was newly purchased,” he says.

Thakhuli adds that any park official, including pilots, is authorised to issue fines for transgressions in the park. He urges visitors to respect the speed limit for their own safety and that of the animals.

Watch the video:

*This article was amended after it was published to display the original video source. 

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