Diego Fetzer
A veteran Maasai Mara tour guide has lifted the lid on fresh challenges facing the world-famous wildebeest migration He says the spectacle is no longer guaranteed, with tourists sometimes waiting hours without witnessing a crossing Allegations of interference and changing conditions are raising fears that Kenya’s biggest tourism draw may be losing its magic TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
A long-serving tour guide in the Maasai Mara has sparked debate after alleging that Tanzania is deliberately blocking migrating wildebeests from entering Kenya.
Tanzanian authorities accused of blocking wildebeests from migrating into Kenya. Photos: Samia Suluhu, Ayezenstein/Getty Images.
Source: UGC Charles Lukokolo, who has worked as a guide in the reserve for 30 years, said the once-thriving industry is now struggling as tourists spend hours without witnessing the famous wildebeest migration.
The wildebeest migration is one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles, involving millions of animals moving annually from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania into the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
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The crossing of the Mara River is particularly famous, often featured in global travel documentaries.
Speaking in an interview with NTV, Lukokolo described how different the spectacle was in the past compared to the current situation.
“In the past we were very well organised. The animals would come, and we would prepare ourselves accordingly. You could even witness the Mara River crossing at least three times a day, depending on how long you stayed,” he recalled. Are Tanzanians blocking wildebeests from enetering Kenya? The guide claimed that officials across the border in Tanzania are using different methods to stop the animals from moving into Kenya, including the use of helicopters and jeeps.
“When they see the animals coming in large numbers, they at times use helicopters or drive jeeps in front of them to scare them back. It has made it very difficult,” he alleged. Lukokolo said the effects are clear on the ground. Visitors can now wait for several hours by the Mara River and still miss the iconic crossing because the wildebeests turn back.
“When they reach the riverbank, they retreat. They sense the environment is not friendly. It becomes very challenging because the experience is no longer guaranteed,” he explained. He added that predators such as lions and cheetahs, once easy to spot during the migration season, are less visible as they no longer camp by the river in anticipation of prey.
Lukokolo said in earlier years, these predators would hunt in large numbers, sometimes killing more than they needed.
“We used to see lions and cheetahs making multiple kills, sometimes three or four wildebeests, even after they had eaten their fill. It was part of the raw spectacle that drew global visitors,” he noted. An image capturing wildebeests crossing the Mara River in Maasai Mara National Reserve. Photo: Ayezenstein.
Source: Getty Images Is climate change affecting wildebeest migartion? Apart from alleged interference from the Tanzanian side, Lukokolo pointed to climate change as another factor threatening the migration.
He observed that reduced water levels in the Mara River have affected the natural balance of the ecosystem, even leading to a decline in crocodile populations.
“There was a time you could count at least 30 crocodiles lying in the river mud waiting for the animals. As soon as the wildebeests started crossing, the crocodiles would attack, and it was fascinating to watch. Today, you find very few, and many animals walk freely across the river,” he said. The guide warned that if these issues persist, the annual migration that draws thousands of tourists from around the world could lose its appeal, dealing a heavy blow to Kenya’s economy and conservation efforts.
Did Maasai Mara tourists block wildbeests migration? In a related development, the Kenyans were angered by a viral footage showing tourists blocking wildebeests from crossing the river.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano responded by introducing new measures to curb misconduct.
She directed tour operators to ensure visitors remain inside vehicles except in approved areas, warned of penalties for guides and companies flouting the rules, and called for more ranger patrols at key crossing points.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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