Engare sero: The Mountain of God, Oldoinyo Lengai, stands as a formidable presence near the town of Engare Sero in northern Tanzania. At its base lies Lake Natron, a vital breeding site for 75% of the global population of lesser flamingos. This area also holds significant cultural and ancestral value for the Maasai people. However, recent developments have raised concerns about potential mass evictions.According to Deutsche Welle, the Tanzanian government's establishment of the Pololeti Game Reserve in 2022 has already led to forced evictions and significant disruptions for the Maasai community. Thousands, including 36-year-old Nesikar Daudi, were displaced when their land was designated exclusively for hunting and tourism. Affected residents faced the loss of livestock and the destruction of homes, with many relocating to Lake Natron.Since the 1990s, Tanzania has expanded its protected areas by 20%, but Maasai lawyer and activist Joseph Oleshengay argues that this strategy masks economic interests tied t o tourism and trophy hunting. Oleshengay claims it is a mechanism for land dispossession, with authorities reclassifying land without consulting local communities.In Tanzania, game reserves, game-controlled areas (GCAs), and wildlife management areas (WMAs) are designed to protect wildlife but differ in their rules and impact on local communities. Game reserves, like Pololeti, completely ban human presence. Currently, 43% of Tanzania's territory falls under some form of protected area, affecting the livelihoods of many Maasai people who rely on these lands for grazing their livestock.The Tanzanian government's strategic plan for 2021-2026 involves converting nearly 7,000 square kilometers from GCAs into game reserves, including 4,000 square kilometers in the Lake Natron area. This project threatens to displace hundreds of thousands of people. Despite the area not being officially designated as a game reserve yet, reports suggest that restrictions on local communities' movements are already being enforced.Tourism interests in the region are significant, with the land around Lake Natron hosting hunting blocks leased to private companies. In June 2023, Donald Trump Jr. visited the area, engaging in a costly safari that included hunting. Such activities highlight the economic motivations behind these land reclassifications.The repercussions extend beyond land rights, with essential health services being curtailed. In 2022, the Flying Medical Service, which provided free healthcare to remote communities, had its flight permits revoked without explanation. This has left many, like 28-year-old Nalotwesha, without access to critical medical assistance.The Maasai, once able to move freely between Tanzania and Kenya, now face restricted access to land for their pastoral lifestyle. The transformation of areas like Lake Natron and Pololeti into game reserves poses a significant threat to their traditional way of life.