Businesses flourish in wake of wildebeest migration

Tented camps and lodges in the popular Maasai Mara National Reserve are enjoying surging business thanks to the wildebeest migration.

Wildlife enthusiasts from across the world have flocked to the Mara to catch a glimpse of the wildebeest migration named one of the new seven wonders of the world.

Karen Blixen Chief Executive Officer Ronald Mutie says bookings for game drives in the Mara were on the increase owing to the spectacle.

He said occupancy at Karen Blixen Camp in the Mara had jumped to 90 per cent this month up from 50 per cent last month.

He also attributed the boom of safari seekers to marketing campaigns done by Karen Blixen in UK, USA, Canada, Germany and Australia.

He said the establishment received visitors from Sweden, Norway, Belgium, United Kingdom, France, US, Germany and Australian markets.

“There are high hopes that tourism will perform better this year than last year following an increase of international tourist bookings from overseas markets,” he said.

Somak Safaris General Manager Paul Kurgat said guest numbers at the Ashnil Mara Camp were currently standing at 90 per cent compared to 40 per cent last month.

He added that the camp was already fully booked for August, adding that the facility will enjoy the swell in business up to September.

“We are delighted that our camp has visitors from the European markets of Germany, United Kingdom, Italy and Japan,” he said.

Mr Kurgat noted that aside from the overseas markets, Somak Safaris is targeting domestic and regional tourists.

“We are also marketing Kenya in southern Africa, west and north Africa for the country to get visitors from across the continent,” he said.

Africa, he added, was a lucrative market with many people who can afford to go on holidays.

SOAR IN ARRIVALS

Heritage Hotels Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Hersi, said the Mara Intrepids was busy following a rise in safari bookings.

He added that guest numbers at the camp were currently at over 80 per cent compared to 50 per cent last month.

At the Coast, hotels are expected to enjoy brisk business from August following the resumption of charter flights from some European countries to Mombasa.

Last week, a Polish airline - Small Planet - inaugurated direct flights from Warsaw to Mombasa boosting international tourist arrivals at Moi International Airport.

The chartered airline will operate one flight a week to Mombasa from July to October.

Additionally, German leisure airline Condor recently introduced direct flights from Munich to Mombasa bringing flights by the carrier to three per week, with two from Frankfurt to Mombasa.

Charter airlines from Italy are also expected to resume flights to Mombasa between this month and August, rekindling hope of tourism revival in resort towns of Malindi and Watamu in Kilifi County.

Last week, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said he expected international tourist arrivals this year to surpass the figures of 1.2 million last year.

Mr Balala observed that international tourist bookings for summer and winter were on the increase as holidaymakers were yearning to visit the country for both leisure and safari.

Editing by Philip Momanyi