Hundreds of wildebeests and zebras that migrated to Masai Mara Game Reserve from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in July have returned a month earlier due to lack of grass, disrupting tourist arrivals. About 1.6 million of them migrated between July and last month, ecologists say, adding that pasture was essential for wildebeests that crossed the Mara River into Kenya to calve.
The animals whose annual migration kicks off tourism peak season in the reserve are in northern Serengeti pursuing pasture and water. “Half of them have returned due to lack of enough pasture. We hope the rains that started last weekend will assist grass regenerate for them to return. It has affected arrivals,” said Lily Waddington, a director with Osero Camp, east of the reserve.
She said between the end of July and early this month, arrivals oscillated between 90 per cent and 80 per cent, adding that currently most hotels are operating below 60 per cent because of the early migration back that has seen concentration of lions and other cats plunge.
Waddington added that most hotels in Serengeti were now recording heavy bookings from tourists who would have visited the Mara before the low season begins next month when non-resident wildebeests are expected back to Tanzania.
Hot air balloon and tour operators said low arrivals have affected their business, claiming that between late last month and mid this month, business has dropped by 60 per cent. Most mobile tented camps that operate during the peak seasons are folding and sending its staff on forced leave due to depressed business, hoteliers added.
“The season is fizzling out earlier than expected due to economic, early migration back to Tanzania among other factors. Establishments west of the park have been hard hit by the migration,” said Jackson Soit, a tour guide with Mara Sarova Game Camp.
Mara Sarova Game Camp, Keekorok Lodge, Mara Serena Lodge, Governors Camp, Kichwa Tembo Camp, Kempinski Mara Lodge and Mara Intrepids Camp are some of the hotels whose bookings are still above 50 per cent.
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