Mohammed Hersi . A hotelier passionate about Tourism & Governance in Africa

Masai Mara is our jewel, it’s world famous then a fatal error happened . Migration was declared 8th wonder and pap world famous Masai Mara was reduced to a 3 month destination just like that Mara was killed.

As tourism players and a challenge to both KTB who drive MagicalKenya & County Government of Narok we must reposition Mara and make Mara a year round destination besides quality of game is on another level. It has always been a year all round destination before that fatal announcement and we all swallowed the poisoned chalice.

Tanzania equally experience the migration but they hardly hype it to avoid the mistake we made. They sell and promote Serengeti as an all year round destination.

Ways to help Mara find it back MOJO.

1. We must all drop those videos and pictures of wildebeest crossing a flooded river with waiting crocodiles. Adopt all rounded pics and videos showing full Masai Mara. The Chinese market have made it a ritual that they must see the migration which is wrong promotion of Mara in emerging market of China.
2. From 2025 we should up the park rates for July to October for both local and international visitors then drop the rates in other months and even much lower during the wet months to drive bookings in alow months. What is the use of having 300 vehicles lining up along a river bank to the point of even blocking the entry and exit routes used by the migrating gnus. We must avoid changing park rates at short notice , main tour operators work 18 months in advance on the minimum and even two years in advance . Short notice rate changes cause serious upheaval and disruption to our international partners and you cannot pass the difference to the buyer. Once a sale has been made and paid for its a done deal.
3. Narok County goverment MUST stop licensing any new lodges unless it is a small eco lodge with minimal footprint. Mara is 15 time smaller than Serengeti but we have double the numbers of lodges and camps.
4. Mara is a premium park. It makes money . We must fix the roads, fix the airstrip.
5. As we fix the airstrips we must also fix small terminals with clean wash rooms , lounge and wifi with a gift shop run by local women and youth. Departing visitors would love to spend to support the local community how will that happen when they are not enabled.

As always I choose to remain an optimist

Mohammed Hersi