Wildebeest migration lures tourists back to Maasai Mara

Corporate News

Residents of Mpeketoni view the damage left behind at the Equity bank after unidentified gunmen attacked the coastal Kenyan town of Mpeketoni, June 16, 2014. Joseph Okanga/REUTERS 

 

By JOSPHAT NGENO

In Summary

• More than 120 tourists from different countries have checked into the Sarova Mara Hotel to watch the migration of thousands of wildebeests from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Kenya.

Tourists have started trooping back to Kenya despite travel advisories ahead of the wildebeest migration in Maasai Mara.

 

More than 120 tourists from different countries have checked into the Sarova Mara Hotel to watch the migration of thousands of wildebeests from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Kenya.

The UK, US and Australia issued warnings to their citizens against travelling to Kenya. This had a negative impact on tourism and led to the loss of hundreds of jobs in the multi-million shilling industry. 

Tourists were urged to reconsider travelling to Mombasa and Nairobi, where most of them land before proceeding to the Maasai Mara by road.

Mr Steven Keriga, the assistant lodge manager of Sarova Mara, said tourists started arriving two weeks ago. He was optimistic that by August, when the migration ends, the lodge would be fully booked.

Most hotels in the Mara are operating below 50 per cent bed occupancy. Mr Keriga said the last three months have been tough on all hoteliers, but luckily Sarova Mara did not have to lay off staff as witnessed in hotels at the Coast.

Linda Boroskwi, a tourist from Germany, said she had visited different places during her stay and had seen nothing of great concern. Joylene Chomsky, a tourist and medical volunteer from the US who is in the country for the fifth time urged more tourists to continue visiting Kenya.

Last year, majority of tourists who visited Mara during the peak season were from China, the first time Asian visitors outnumbered Western nationals. Hoteliers say that this year, more Spaniards and Australians have visited the Mara.

According to Kenya Tourist Board Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa, the number of Chinese visitors increased by four per cent in 2013-2014. “Chinese tourists increased significantly making the country among the top ten source markets,” he said.

The dilapidated Narok-Sekenani road leading to the Maasai Mara has been earmarked for tarmacking in the financial year beginning July.