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Reply to the Recent Comment

Category: Wildlife | Date: Feb 06 2008 | By: admin

I thought I would answer Pippa’s comment on my new entry as many people wonder about the same thing.

The so-called “Masai Mara” is sub-divided into three sections. Narok, Mara Triangle and Koiyaki-Lemek. Narok and Koiyaki are both in Narok district, while Mara Triangle is in Trans Mara district. The Trans Mara side of wildlife reserve is administered by a private company called “Mara Conservancy”. Mara Conservancy’s work is supported 100% from tourist park fee (they have been operating without donor support and government support since 2001). Total number of lodges in Narok and Koiyaki is over 60, where as lodges in Mara Triangle supporting Mara Conservationy’s work is only 5. Out of USD40 park fee, 55% goes to Trans Mara county council for district work (road, school, hospital, etc) and 45% goes towards wildlife adminstration work.

maramap.jpg

Please refer to this map on the administrative partitioning of the Maasai Mara. The pink area is the Koiyaki wildlife area (Maasai Group Ranch), green area is the Mara Triangle (Mara Conservancy) and blue area is Narok side of Mara (administered by Narok CC). The dark blue line shows the boundary of the area people often refer to as “Masai Mara National Reserve”. Beige area is Maasai land where I do my dog vaccination against Rabies and Canine Distemper Virus which came to halt due to current unrest and lack of car.

I was not exactly sure what it means when Pippa mentioned “another USD40” has to be paid to Triangle”, but I am guessing it is problem of double park fee that came about in last couple of years. When clients staying in Triangle went on extended game drive on Koiyaki side, they were charged extra park fee and the same happened when client went to Narok side. Thus, now same thing happens when clients from Narok or Lemek’s side enter into Triangle. If you stay in Narok side, you pay USD10 (agreed price by Narok and Triangle). If you stay in Koiyaki side, you pay USD40 (Koiyaki insisted that they will charge full park fee in their reserve so Koiyaki client have to do the same to Triangle). Offcourse, when you stay in Triangle, you pay “additional park fee” to enter Narok or Koiyaki. You will only pay USD40 if you stay in one part of Mara. They have been trying to come up with one-time park fee for entire Mara, but no agreement has reached up to this date.

10 Responses to “Reply to the Recent Comment”

paula, on 06 Feb 2008

Asuka, I can see why this partitioning of the Masai Mara is so confusing for readers. Could you post a map for us to see graphically where everything is in relation to each other? During my visits to the Triangle I was super impressed with what the Mara Conservancy has achieved, it’s so well managed. On the otherside …well our car kept getting stuck on the ‘roads’ - they were more like ditches. From Kenya Wildlife Service perspective on management, Pippa should know that KWS has no role in the Mara conservation areas - this is the first protected area under local community management. There is now a code of conduct that tourists and drivers are asked to follow - enforcing it may be tough… sometimes visitors get really stroppy….but we need to be strict to save this heritage

asuka, on 06 Feb 2008

Sure thing Paula. I will update this entry with Mara map.

asuka, on 06 Feb 2008

I hope this map will clearify the partitioning. Big Asante (thanks) to Will for helping me with my map.

THERESA SISKIND, on 06 Feb 2008

Can anyone explain to me why people who claim to love wildlife could then disrespect their habitats and put these animals at risk with their destrutive behavior?!

How much do we need to save the Mara Triangle? | Mara Triangle, on 07 Feb 2008

[…] area of 510 sq kms, which borders Koiyaki, Narok, and the Serengeti in Tanzania -you can look at Asuka’s latest post for a […]

Dana-Arizona USA, on 09 Feb 2008

Theresa, I wonder the same thing also. It totally amazes me when I visit the Mara annually, how some people have such utter disrespect for the wildlife. It’s like a big party out there sometimes loud laughing, shouting, drivers getting way too close to the animals. I noticed this past September the Conservancy’s strong presence (with their three vehicles) at the major migration crossing areas telling people to stay in their vehicles, not to block the area when the animals come up the banks, in other words to make the people behave. We all can help the Conservancy and report such bad behavior to the Rangers. Unfortunately, the drivers from some camps and those from Nairobi rely on tips from their guests and will do anything to make them happy. This is totally unacceptable.

Paula is correct that Conservancy manages their side of the Reserve so much better than the Narok side. Somebody’s pockets on that side must be getting ‘fat’ with the park fees that are not being directed to the much needed services.

Asuka - another vehicle donaton from me this coming pay period. Thank you also for your postings on the blight of the Mara.

THERESA SISKIND, on 09 Feb 2008

Yes Dana, I have heard of such problematic behavior. It is akin to those who visit the gorillas and refuse to wear a mask. This exceeds juvenile behavior, it warrants being listed as a criminal activity.

Shige, on 14 Feb 2008

Thank you, Asuka, for uploading the informative map. After reading the map, however, two questions have arisen within my mind.
(1) Which organisation administers the un-coloured narrow area sandwiched between the Oloololo escarpment and the Mara river and located to the north of the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara N/R? I understand Kichwa Tembo and Olonana are located within this area. Unfortunately, the graphical resolution of this area on Google Earth is lower than that of an area covering Little Governors, Serena and the Mara Conservancy HQ.
(2) The yellow highland area is shown as a “Maasai Land”. It may be the case, but I consider that the true name of this area is not properly shown.

asuka, on 14 Feb 2008

The area you have mentioned is “Oloololo Game Ranch”, it is a piece of land owned by local Maasai gentleman and it is designated as wildlife area. Kichwa Tembo is within this area, but Olonana’s land is owned by different person.

The yellow highlighted area labelled as Maasai land is combination of divisions referred to as Kirinkani, Olorerian and Kimintet.

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