Tourism Boosting in Maasai Mara National Reserve Kenya
Tourism Boosting in Maasai Mara National Reserve Kenya by safeguarding the ecosystem’s amazing species to attract more Tourists
The Mara Triangle, a 520 square kilometre area between the Siria escarpment, the Tanzanian border, and the Mara River, was declared a National Game Reserve in 1948, according to Manchau Shuma, chairperson of the Narok County Assembly’s tourism, wildlife, and culture committee.
According to Shuma, the national reserve’s main objective is to safeguard the ecosystem’s amazing species.
Tourism Boosting in Maasai Mara National Reserve Kenya
The reserve was placed under the County Council of Narok’s jurisdiction in 1961, and the core area was expanded to the east to include a total size of 1,831 square kilometres.
The reserve’s current length of 1,530 kilometres was reached in 1984 when portions of it were set aside to allow access to watering holes for animals.
The management of the Reserve was divided between the County Councils of Narok (CNN) and County Council of Trans Mara (CCTM) in 1995 with the foundation of the Trans Mara District, according to Shuma, who also serves as the Loita Ward Member of the County Assembly (MCA).
While CCTM was in charge of the reserve west of the Mara River (commonly known as the Mara Triangle), CNN was in charge of the reserve to the east of the river.
He claimed that the two county councils were replaced by the Narok County Government, which is now in charge of overseeing the entire reserve, following the adoption of the new constitution.
strengthening the National Reserve
The Narok County Government unveiled three policy documents, namely the Maasai Mara Management Plan, Spatial Plan, and Greater Mara Ecosystem Plan, to be used between 2023 and 2032, in an effort to strengthen the National Reserve.
Peninnah Malonza, cabinet secretary for tourism, and Soipan Tuya, cabinet secretary for the environment, presided over the launch during a ceremony organised by Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu at the Sekenani Gate in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
In addition, MPs Ken Aramat (Narok East), Kitilai Ole Ntutu (Narok South), Julius Sunkuli (Trans Mara West), and David Sankok (East Africa Legislative Assembly) were present. The Principal Secretary (PS) in charge of Tourism, John Ololtua, the PS for Wildlife, Silvia Museiya, and the PS for Culture and Heritage, Ummi Bashir, were also there.
The three documents, according to CS Malonza, will go a long way towards conserving the magnificent environment as the game reserve’s administration is anticipated to improve.
“I could not wait any longer when the Governor came to my office to tell me about the proposal because I felt it was good for the community. Additionally, it will protect the National Reserve, she added.
Additionally present were MPs Ken Aramat (Narok East), Kitilai Ole Ntutu (Narok South), Julius Sunkuli (Trans Mara West), and David Sankok (East Africa Legislative Assembly), as well as Principal Secretaries (PS) Silvia Museiya, Ummi Bashir, and John Ololtua (PS) in charge of Tourism, Wildlife, and Culture and Heritage.
National Reserve management
As the management of the game reserve is anticipated to improve, CS Malonza stated that the three documents will help a great deal in maintaining the great environment.
I was unable to wait any longer when the governor came to my office to inform me of the proposal since I knew it would be beneficial to the neighbourhood.
The National Reserve would be protected as well, she added.
The CS pledged to allow a lot of interested Maasai men to enrol in the Utalii College, which she oversees, so they can take courses in wildlife preservation and tourism.
The release of the three documents, according to Ms. Tuya, a native of Narok County, was a significant step in advancing the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which is well-known throughout the world.
The ten-year plan, according to Governor Ntutu, is a significant development in the management and development of the Maasai Mara National Reserve because it captures the varied interests and worries of everyone who cares about the reserve’s future.
“For the sake of the future of our people, it has necessitated us at this juncture to act swiftly and have the plans in place,” he said, noting that the process to implement the management plan began back in 2007 and that over 50 meetings involving various stakeholders and environmental scientists have since taken place.
county Spatial Plan process
Similar to how the Greater Mara Ecosystem Management Plan was started in 2020, he noted that the county Spatial Plan process began in 2016.
With significant effort and the help of the County Assembly, my administration was able to get these three plans authorised in a record-breaking five months, according to Governor Ntutu.
The Wildlife Conservation & Management Act of 2013 and the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (2019), according to the governor, facilitate the implementation of the plans.
He disclosed that the County Assembly’s suggestions were made by a joint committee made up of representatives from the fields of tourism, wildlife conservation, culture, physical planning, zoning, and trade and cooperative development.
The county government passed the three documents with unanimity. Nobody in the County Assembly spoke against it, he said.
Before inviting the public to participate, the joint committee, under the direction of experts and diverse stakeholders, had multiple meetings both inside and outside the County Assembly premises to familiarise themselves with the document.
The zonation and visitor use scheme, which aims to control and regulate visitor usage and impacts in the several zones of the National Reserve, is one of the major topics emphasised in the management plan.
Mara River Ecological zones and MMNR buffer zones
The management plan’s zonation concept provides four types of zonal areas, including high-use zones, low-use zones, Mara River Ecological zones, and MMNR buffer zones.
The high use zones will be the focus of management actions under the new regulation to improve the reserve’s tourist offering and give visitors a high-quality, actively managed wildlife safari experience.
There will be specific management recommendations and activities to protect the Mara River biological zone, which experiences considerable tourism pressure because it is home to rhino breeding grounds and wildebeest crossing locations.
For public road access to the national reserve, there will still be seven entry sites: Sekenani, Talek, Musiara, Olalaimutiai, Sand River, Enoompuai, and Oloololo. For air access, the entry points are Keekorok, Olkiombo, Musiara, Mara Serena, and Kichwa Tembo.
Balloons taking off from beyond the reserve
No new ballooning concessions or expansion of existing concessions, including balloons taking off from beyond the reserve, will be allowed in the reserve during the term of the plan in order to minimise adverse effects on the environment and tourism product of the reserve.
The Narok County Government, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and the National Environment Management Authority must all grant permission and licences before a concession can have more than six balloons.
The 19% of MMNR admission fee receipts that are distributed to neighbouring towns through a Community Support Fund will continue to help the local community.
Additionally, guests at the Reserve will be required to pay an accommodation licence fee that will be based on the type of accommodations offered at each location and will be specified in the annual County Finance Bill.
The National Reserve’s road network will also be improved and maintained in accordance with the new law to facilitate optimal visitor use and security coverage.
The reserve’s complete road network will undergo routine upkeep and restoration, which will optimise visitor usage of the region, lessen traffic in heavily frequented places, increase access to new portions of the reserve when suitable, and consolidate existing roads.
Compiled by
World Travel News, Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
