As a dense fog blankets Tanzania's Ruaha National Park, a small plane emerges from the mist. Inside, four tourists clutch their seats in excitement. With a final tilt and adjustment, the pilot aims for the 1.2-kilometre gravel runway. For those on board, this journey, shrouded in the mid-morning haze, promises an adventure into the heart of Tanzania’s untamed wilderness. Tanzania has unveiled a new airstrip within the heart of the renowned Ruaha National Park popularly known as RUNAPA, located in the country’s southern highlands. RUNAPA covers over 20,226 square km and is the largest national park in Tanzania. The Msembe airstrip, costing 780 million Tanzanian shillings ($335,000), was launched in Mlungu village, Mbarali district in June 2024. While the tourists flying over the park are enchanted, the wildlife in Ruaha has a different reaction to the plane. The sound of its engines and the sudden burst of dust sent animals scrambling for cover. Elephants trumpeted in alarm, and a herd of impalas darted into the underbrush. Birds took to the sky in a flurry, their routines disrupted by the human intrusion. Environmentalists have opposed the move, saying increased air traffic could disturb wildlife and upset the park's ecological harmony. Critics argued the airstrip's construction prioritises tourism over conservation, potentially setting a precedent for further infrastructural developments in protected areas. "Building an airstrip in the middle of a national park goes against the principles of conservation,” said Grace Mwakyusa, an ecologist with the Tanzanian Wildlife Conservation." The noise and activity associated with air traffic can disrupt animal behaviour, affect breeding patterns, and even drive some species away from critical habitats."