Hotels upbeat as wildebeest migration lures back tourists
Wildebeest cross the Mara River at Look-Out Point in Maasai Mara National Reserve in 2013. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mara Sarova Game Camps assistant manager Stephen Keriga said yesterday they have reported an increase in bookings, with domestic tourists pushing bed occupancy to more than 80 per cent.
- Meanwhile, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge in Lake Nakuru National Park is already fully-booked for the high season.
- In Mombasa, some hotels have remained in business thanks to conferences and domestic tourism.
Preparations for the high tourist season next month have started in earnest with hoteliers ahead of the wildebeest migration.
Hoteliers have urged Western countries to lift travel advisories against Kenya to boost tourism in the country.
Mara Sarova Game Camps assistant manager Stephen Keriga said yesterday they have reported an increase in bookings, with domestic tourists pushing bed occupancy to more than 80 per cent.
Mr Keriga said their occupancy currently stands at about 45 per cent for the tents, which have about 200 beds. “As the year started, bookings stood at between 10-20 per cent,” he said.
For residents, a double tent goes for Sh18,000 a night in the low season and Sh32,000 during the peak season full board accommodation.
Meanwhile, non-residents pay Sh37,350 a night for a luxury club tent and Sh14,800 for a standard tent.
A luxurious family tent in with two bed rooms goes for Sh68,400 a night.
Mr Keriga said they expect the wildebeest migration to boost tourism, which had been hard hit by the Ebola scare and terrorism.
He said they have recalled staff who had been sent home due to low hotel business.
Meanwhile, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge in Lake Nakuru National Park is already fully-booked for the high season.
Mr Ken Korir, the hotel manager, said all the 67 rooms had been taken up through block-booking by tour firms.
“Tour firms book rooms in anticipation of visitors. The number of rooms might go down or up depending on how many visitors they get,” he said.
Mr Korir said business in the hotel has been good despite the terrorism threats.
In Mombasa, some hotels have remained in business thanks to conferences and domestic tourism.
Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort general manager Raj Jadhav said the occupancy has stood at between 60 and 70 per cent.
Sai Rock Beach Resort general manager Robert Kiri said they expect between 60 and 100 per cent occupancy due to conferences held by county governments and non-governmental organisations.
“Despite the low tourist season, we have 10 per cent international guests while the majority are conference participants and locals,” he said.
Reported by George Sayagie, Wanjiru Macharia and Mathias Ringa
