The Narok County Government released a statement on June 5, 2024, affirming the implementation of the ban on private vehicles inside game drives within the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The directive came following the prohibition communicated by the Chief Park Administration on June 3, 2024.
In a statement, the Narok County government explained reasons considered before arriving at the prohibition.
The county provided instances of misconduct, noting that the blatant disregard of reserve regulations by drivers and occupants of private vehicles led to the decision.
“Numerous reported incidents of misconduct by drivers and occupants of private vehicles, displaying blatant disregard for reserve regulations,” they remarked.
The county government also cited the increasing cases of environmental degradation and neglect within the reserve premises.
“Escalating cases of environmental degradation within the reserve premises, characterized by littering, noise pollution, and unauthorized gatherings (Kupiga Sherehe and partying), all contravening the stipulated reserve protocols,” they stated.
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Reasons given:
Also highlighted in the statement are persistent incidents of private vehicles deviating from designated paths, thereby creating unauthorized routes and exacerbating the risk of environmental damage.
“These off-road excursions frequently result in vehicular entrapment, necessitating extensive rescue operations, often extending into the deep of the night,” the statement further read.
On the same note, the County government emphasized that sanctioned vehicles are accompanied by proficient guides, extensively trained in reserve protocols to ensure safe and compliant exploration of the park.
“Sanctioned vehicles are accompanied by proficient guides, extensively trained in reserve protocols, ensuring safe and compliant exploration of the park,” they informed.
In a letter dated June 3, 2024, and signed by Chief Park Administrator Alex Nabaala, the county government said the directive was in line with the Maasai Mara Management plan that was endorsed last year.
Maasai Mara National Reserve Rules and Regulations
The rules under the Maasai Mara’s National Reserve rules and regulations are put in place to ensure that tourists conserve the environment while enjoying viewing the wildlife species in their natural habitat.
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Due to the high number of tourists who visit the Maasai Mara reserve for different activities in the reserve such as game drives and nature walks, the authority which manages the reserve regulates the behavior of tourists by using the rules and regulations.
Some of the penalties put in place for those who violate the rules and regulations of the Maasai Mara reserve include paying on the spot fines to the authorities in charge of the reserve, banishment from the reserve- among others.
The rules and regulations in the Maasai Mara Reserve have helped promote tourism by involving the local community in conserving the environment and avoiding acts such as poaching which affects the amount of wildlife in the reserve.
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