benbooafrica

Having just completed a month's visit to Kenya we thought it worth warning other's who are planning to go there that crime is currently seeing a re-surgence so be extra vigilant..

While we were camped in the Masai Mara a tented camp was attacked by bandits and the occupants robbed at gunpoint, this incident has been kept quiet by the authorities.

We ourselves were robbed whilst dining at the popular Rangers Restaurant attached to Nairobi's National Park, the key note being it was not by outside criminals but by the staff who took a bag off my wife's chair and stole our cash as we ate! Many tourists visit this popular restaurant so you should be aware that the staff are not to be trusted.

We travel independently in Africa each year so are well used to the risks involved out here but this year the severe drought in East Africa and the economic downturn in Kenya in particular has made matters worse, be careful.

mkhonzo

How did you catch the staff at Rangers?

atravelynn

Sorry for your loss. Can't be too careful, thanks for the warning.

sandi

Sorry to hear, but Rule #1 anywhere - do not put your bag on back of one's chair... belongs on your lap.

shelleyk

Or put it under the table with the leg of the chair through the strap of the handbag.

spassvogel

I know there was an attack on ENTIM in Sep (after that camp suffered one in Feb 09) as well as one on NAIBOR in Oct 09.

Now that CLAIRE is reporting at PORINI they have Askaris with spears PLUS armed guards (rifle) I assume (but don't know) this is done to enhance safety.

More bad news might have an impact which would be sad.

SV

sandi

I can't recall a camp I've stayed that, the askaris and/or rangers, for evening escorts, not having a weapon - spear or rifle.

flowerpower

Can anyone elaborate on the attack on Naibor.I just booked it and am wondering what happend and why if known -it isnot too late for me to change if need be.

thanks,
FP

spassvogel

I have no specifics on the Naibor incident. If you are concerned you should ask the camp directly.

We have never been escorted by an Askaris who carried a rifle - just spears but we have never felt insecure.

And as we have heard any incident has been tried to be kept under the carpet (there have been incidents before.) and not made public as such. Maybe that's the reason "rumour" just makes it worse.

There is no need to change camps - IMO! The possibility that Naibor again has to fear an attack is minor!

We are going to visit Naibor in Feb and a friend goes in Dec. No worries on our sides at all.

Happy travels.

SV

flowerpower

SV, I cant wait to hear about your trip to Naibor...I waffled back and forth between 3 or 4 camps to visit after 4 nights at Ngere Serian;
my gut feeling kept saying Naibor!

Thanks for all your replies to my many thousands of questions. We've been to S/Africa which I loved ,but I let a TA plan it (was great by the way, but some travel logistics were strange and the lodges were kind enough to improve upon them for us)
So for this trip- after reading so many Fodorites trip reports - I decided to TRY and plan it myself. It has been a real education and I highly recommend the research - even if a TA has planned it for you or it is a planned group

Obviously I have the forum to thnk who helped me immensely!

FP

Trac0

spassvogel

I think it is very irresponsible of you to give advice on future attacks at Naibor. What do you base this advice on?
It was my family that was brutally assaulted and robbed at Naibor on 7 October 2009. We believe it was an 'inside job' so perhaps it MIGHT happen again.
Do you know how heart wrenching it is to see your husband and teenage sons beaten? Apart from the horrific ordeal our family suffered - We are disgusted by reaction of the camp owners who did nothing to assist us. Infact we did not hear from them until 3 weeks after the robbery, and only to be told 'Africa is a dangerous place' Flowerpower I can give you advice from first hand experience...Naibor is NOT a place you want to visit

canadian_robin

Trac0
I am certain that SV did not mean to make light of your experience at Naibor. I find it difficult to imagine the fear and trauma that you and your family must have experienced. I offer you all my deepest sympathy and hope that you are well on the road to recovery.

Initially, I agreed with SV that, statistically, it was probably pretty safe to visit Naibor. He likely assumed, as I did given the attack, that the camp had increased security to prevent future attacks. With increased security, it would be natural to assume that it was safe to visit Naibor. SV and I had no way of knowing that you suspect an "inside job", which puts an entirely different (and alarming) light on the situation. I also find the response of the camp owners quite shocking. Had SV known of your suspicions of staff involvement and the camp ower's response, SV's post may well have been different. I know that, given your info, I would be re-evaluating my plans if I had a reservation at Naibor.

As far as I know, there is no posting on Fodor's describing the incident at Naibor (at least I couldn't find one when I did a search). I would encourage you to post an incident report, if it is not too traumatic for you. This would allow Fodorites like FP to make an informed decision when debating whether or not to stay at Naibor.

I wish you and your family well. Robin

spassvogel

Thank you Robin.

Of course such an incident is horrible and thank's God these mobsters did not freak out and some really bad things happened!
A terrible experience I would not wish to anybody!

Exactly - I evaluated the incident like let's say a plane crash. If an airline has been flying for 30 years without incident the possibility of a occurance is on the increase.

An airline which just had an incident most probably won't have one soon again.

Also the second post under different nickname made me suspicious. Particularly as camp owners in 2009 have been trowing dirt on to each other in order to gain business. So I there was kind of doubt on my side - which has faded by now.

The assumptions that staff members were involved and the fact that camp staff seeks safety instead of helping/warning guests is totally inexcusable.

My concern here is that

NONE of the TOUR OPERATORS who advise/promote openly here in the forum contribute to this topic.

These folks state frankly that they regularly visit the destination - part of their job/fam trips/hosted by "their" camps. So they at least should have first hand information.
As far as I am concerned I would have thought it's not just selling a destination and promoting certain camps but also provide travellers with valuable information.
Loyalty towards camps AND future guests request honest information.

Not posting on that issue (or is it hiding or are they just putting their heads into the sand?) is certainly something which should be evaluated by each and every fodorite.

My advise for Paul and Trac: Make it public whenever and wherever possible. Contact all means of information: TV, travel magazins, newspapers - every big newspaper has a "Sunday Travel" magazin/site or similar. Only a worldwide outcry will make these folks

- put appropriate safety measure in place
- act professionally on all sides: police, tourism office, government

and finally all cover-up will stop.

Tourism must suffer and most of all these camp owners! I feel for the Massai if tourism will decrease. But the incident described above must lead to consequences.

SV

shelleyk

TracO- I was sorry to hear abour your family's horrific experience. I do think that when you are ready, if you are able, you should post and publicize details of your experience. If tourism suffers perhaps then the camp owners will do more to insure the safety of their guests. Guests may need to be protected from two legged predators as well as from four legged animals. I hope your family is doing ok.

Patty

Robin & Shelley,
The details are posted in this thread (not one you'd automatically think to look in) http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-to-expect.cfm

canadian_robin

Thanks Patty! I had missed that post! Robin

benbooafrica

Hi Mkhonzo, Sorry for the late reply since we posted this topic we have been travelling in remote parts of Tanzania and then onto Lake Malawi so have had little access to Internet, now we are back in the UK so have the space to respond. Basically we were sitting outside on a verandha with no other diners nearby, sods law it then started to rain heavily, the first serious rains Nairobi had had since April and we were forced to quickly move tables to one nearby, in the upheaval the waiters who rushed to help us move took the opportunity to take the bag and then quickly rifle through it's contents before throwing it under another table also close by, by the time we realised it had gone and found it all our Kenyan cash and KWS smart card had been taken. We and the police who we called in know it was the waiters but without physical evidence we could not prove it, last we heard the police still have two waiters under questioning but we are not holding our breath as even if cash is recovered out there it never resurfaces! A painful lesson to be more careful next time and avoid Rangers Restaurant like the plague from now on. Have a good Xmas & New Year one and all.