Hotels in the Maasai Mara game reserve, which were closed last month following devastating floods caused by the April-May long rains, have started to reopen. The flooding had severely impacted at least 14 of the most luxurious lodges in the reserve.
Pride-Inn Lodge, one of the affected facilities, suffered significant losses amounting to Ksh20 million after floodwaters swept through its 30 cottages when the Talek River broke its banks. During a media tour of the lodge, the facility manager, Joseph Ole Kaleku, announced that Pride-Inn Lodge is the first to reopen after successfully rebuilding and cleaning up the extensive damage.
Kaleku noted that all 30 tents have been rebuilt, with an additional 15 cottages nearing completion. Fiaz Ahmed, the hotel project manager, stated that the Pride-Inn team has worked tirelessly alongside the local community to restore and enhance the camp’s facilities, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all guests.
Ahmed also highlighted that the camp is fully booked for the wildebeest migration season from July to September and is ready to receive guests. The reopening of these lodges marks a significant recovery step for the Maasai Mara’s tourism sector following the natural disaster.
The reopening of these lodges not only signifies resilience but also brings hope to the local economy, which heavily relies on tourism. The Maasai Mara, renowned for its spectacular wildlife and the annual wildebeest migration, attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The floods had temporarily disrupted this vital economic activity, but with the lodges now operational, local businesses, tour operators, and the community can look forward to a revival in tourism. This resurgence is expected to provide much-needed employment opportunities and boost the livelihoods of many residents who depend on the tourism industry.
