Row looms over luxury camp on Mara River

Tourists watch wildebeests crossing Mara River, Narok County. There are illegal structures built along the river. PHOTO | GEORGE SAYAGIE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The county government’s statistics indicate there are more than 300 camps and lodges in the reserve.

National Environment Management Authority (Nema) is on the spot for giving a nod to the construction of a luxury camp on the banks of the Mara River.

A section of hoteliers protested claiming that Rafiki camp, which is being set up by a German couple at the Enkutoto conservancy adjacent to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, is a threat to conservation.

WILDLIFE

In a joint statement signed by Camp Olonana sanctuary and Tangulia camp owners, they claimed the camp is being built on riparian land.

“This facility is being built 400m away from our camps, apart from being on a riparian area.

"It is congesting the conservation area and blocking a wildlife corridor and blocking them from accessing the river,” the statement reads.

COMPETITION
But Narok County Nema director Patrick Lekenit said the project had met all the requirements and there was no need for his office to stop it.

“The hoteliers seem to fear competition from the facility that is being constructed,” Mr Lekenit said.

He said he had toured the site and had spoken to both parties over the stalemate and will Tuesday hold a joint stakeholders meeting, which will be attended by Tourism Executive Lena Munge.

TOURISM
The row comes as the county government’s statistics indicate there are more than 300 camps and lodges – most of them illegal – in the reserve, particularly in rhino-breeding zones, water points and along the Mara and Talek rivers.

According to the statistics, there are only 29 percent legal facilities with conservationists raising an alarm that unchecked growth in the facilities will interfere with conservation.

Mr Jackson Looseyia, a veteran guide of 26 years and presenter of BBC’s Big Cat Diaries, said in estimates there are 7,000 tourist beds in the Mara ecosystem.