Tourism boom as wildebeest migration roars

Herds of wildebeests crossing River Mara from Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. There is a tourism boom in Mara as the migration kicks off. [File, Standard]

It is all systems go for this year’s wildebeest migration at the Maasai Mara National Reserve as hotels experience up to 95 perc ent bookings.

A spot check by The Standard has revealed that investors are hopeful of reaping big from the phenomenon after devastating floods that wreaked havoc on some camps and lodges along rivers.

The peak season runs from July to September every year when millions of wildebeests spectacularly cross from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya.

The spectacle attracts thousands of international and local tourists who book hotels and camps around the game reserve for the golden chance to watch the world’s eighth wonder.

The animals have to crisscross the Mara River several times in different spots where crocodiles prey on them.

This forms one of the highlights of the migration as the animals fight to cross the river in one piece.

Women selling beads at the Sekenani gate - the main entrance to the Mara- and artists are also reaping huge from foreign and local tourists.

“We are already reaping the fruits of the high season, as tourists have increased in number.

‘‘I now sell beads worth between Sh7,000 and Sh15,000 a day,” said Nayiarei Noonkipa.

The management of the reserve said they are expecting more than 100,000 tourists to witness the migration this year, which is to start by mid-July.

Mara Chief Park Warden Stephen Minis, on Saturday, said the number of tourists had increased tremendously in the past few weeks, and according to hotels inside and outside the reserve they are recording booming business.

Sarova Mara Camp General Manager Jane Kiragu is upbeat that the bookings were impressive despite challenges the tourism industry was facing locally following heavy rains that swept some tented camps and persistent demonstrations against the government.

Speaking to The Standard over the weekend, Kiragu said the hotel has 75 tents entry-level tents, 20 deluxe tents, 20 club tents and family tents, which are two-bedroomed, all fully booked for the next three months.

Kiragu said the experience in the hotel for their clients will be different as they are upscaling their tourism products and improving their tents to give their clients the experience of a lifetime.

“In Sarova, we are 95 per cent fully booked, and we are expecting more visitors.

‘‘We are currently trying to improve club tents, which are the hotel’s high-end tents, and the experience is quite different,” said Kiragu.

She said the difference is in the high-end tents since the hotel has introduced a private dining area dubbed ‘Olchani’ with a great experience in a woody area overlooking a little lake beside it, an open fireplace, a private heated swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.

According to their bookings, they have clients from all over Europe, with citizens of Spain, Britain, Germany, Dubai, India, and domestic market travellers.