Tourists attacked in Mara!

Old Jul 27th, 2010, 06:07 PM
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Tourists attacked in Mara!

Does anyone know which camp this attach occurred at?

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Alarm%2...z/-/index.html
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Old Jul 27th, 2010, 07:43 PM
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Another report says the people attacked were Kenyan self-drivers at a private campsite. No comment on its reliability.
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Old Jul 27th, 2010, 08:14 PM
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http://www.eturbonews.com/17502/camp...servation-area
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Old Jul 28th, 2010, 11:45 AM
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This is really sad news. Our hearts go out to the man who died and other victims who were injured.
We are trying to decide on Mara camps for a visit next year,and wondering which Mara camps have taken measures to ensure visitor safety...any of you have first hand info from your visits? I heard some camps have armed guards and that Mara Intrepids has an electric fence. Not sure if these security measures are for people problems or animal problems... Does anyone know if these security measures are due to problems with bandits? Also,in your opinion, how effective would what you saw be in preventing such attacks?
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Old Jul 28th, 2010, 12:06 PM
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Terrible news - it sounds like one of the basic camp sites that typically have poor or non existant security.

Karn, Intrepids is right in the middle of the reserve and whilst anything is possible, it is probably the safest spot in the Mara.
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Old Jul 28th, 2010, 02:22 PM
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After the incidents at Naibor Camp last year, most all of the very small camps now have KWS armed guards, in addition to the camp's askaris. They're on duty from dusk-to-dawn. For a fee for each man, they're dropped off at the camps at dusk and picked-up at dawn. This was the case when I stayed (as only guest besides camp manager) at Sala's in early June.

Sala's is sited on the Sand River that separates Kenya & Tanzania, the farthest south property in the Mara and not another anywhere nearby.

These incidents, regardless where they occur are terrible.

Intrepid's is fenced and this is primarily to keep game out. If the bad guys are up to no good, this wouldn't inhibit them.
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Old Jul 28th, 2010, 03:09 PM
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This happened at one of the Mara Conservancy's private campsites http://www.maratriangle.org/blog/. Private campsites are wilderness sites with no existing facilities (you or your tour operator bring everything in and set up/take down camp) and are booked on an exclusive basis per party. Previously it was recommended but not required to hire 2 rangers for security.
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Old Jul 28th, 2010, 04:46 PM
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Update from 1/hr ago - Five (5) of the bandits have been caught within 18/hours of the incident. Search for the remaining 5 should bring results soon, as those already in custody start talking.

The group camping on this private campsite (celebrating a birthday), are a well-known Kenyan family, which is much upsetting to all those who know them. And, as my friend says "we'd be if it were strangers."
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Old Jul 28th, 2010, 06:59 PM
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Oh, thank goodness it was only local Kenyans involved. At first I thought it was international tourists!

That would have been dreadful.....
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Old Jul 28th, 2010, 07:15 PM
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It's not "only" local Kenyans - nobody said that or meant that. Google is easy to use.
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Old Jul 28th, 2010, 11:29 PM
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Simbakubwa, please tell me you were not serious in your posting above. ??
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Old Jul 29th, 2010, 05:05 AM
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Of course I wasn't (it was sarcasm).

I just found the article and responses so interesting that because it was only local residents attacked, it didn't get the same response as if it was international tourists.

So sad.
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Old Jul 29th, 2010, 06:57 AM
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Very sad news..... Simbakubwa, I skipped a heartbeat when I read your earlier message (minus the intended sarcasm).
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Old Jul 29th, 2010, 07:01 AM
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How very sad! My DH and I spent 6 nights on a private campsite (known as "special" campsites) in the Mara Triangle in August 2009. At the time, we were self-driving and completely on our own. We camped on the Maji Ya Ndege special campsite in our roof-top tent. Our nearest neighbours were a group of six South Africans that were camped with a guide about a kilometre south of us on another special campsite. At the time, we believed that our only threat was from the elephants, lions, hippos and other wildlife that wandered nearby. An attack from bandits was not something that we had even considered.

The incident at Naibor happened shortly after we were in the Mara (Oct 2009). Needless to say, we were rather alarmed, but we assumed/hoped that it was an isolated incident. Apparently not! When we booked the campsite back in November 2008, there was no hint of trouble on the Mara Conservancy website and no recommendation to hire armed guards. If there had been, we certainly would have reconsidered our plans. The armed guard recommendation appeared on the Mara Conservancy website shortly after the Naibor incident. Safari Drive, the company we hire our vehicle from, now requires its clients to hire guards for the Mara and the Western Corridor of the Serengeti (after our incident there).

We had planned to return to the Mara in August 2012 on a self-drive basis and again camp on a special campsite. The idea of having to hire the protection of two armed guards while camping in the Mara holds no appeal to me. Unless they can get security under control, it's time to go elsewhere. We will be watching the situation in the Mara for the next two years and will make a decision then. I will be most disappointed if we are not able to return to the Mara on a self-drive basis. We loved our time on that special campsite and the feeling that we had the Mara Triangle all to ourselves. Such fond memories! Robin
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Old Jul 29th, 2010, 08:28 AM
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Mara Triangle just added the info. to their website:

http://www.maratriangle.org/blog/
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Old Jul 29th, 2010, 09:19 AM
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Here are my two cents on the issue of security in the Mara. When I was planning our recent trip, especially given the fact we had children with us, security was a high priority. The one place of the ones we were going to, that I was concerned about, was the Mara (and spare me comparisons between crime in big cities all over the world versus the Mara). I spent a significant amount of time researching and talking to people I know in Kenya on this.

For what its worth, here were my conclusions. (This is my personal opinion and undoubtedly subject to generalizations).

• Virtually all the violent incidents in the Mara have been perpetuated by criminals from the south- allegedly from over the TZ border.
• Smaller camps have been more vulnerable (the widely reported incident at Naibor) last year and some allegedly prior to that. This latest incident was in a campsite in the heart of the Mara.
• I would not stay in a smaller tented camp in the central or southern Mara for now- the further south the worse.
• None of these camps have effective security that could prevent armed intruders. Things like electric fences are useless from a (non-animal) security perspective.
• The larger lodges/camps (Serena & Governors Main as an example) are safer. However those wanting to stay in smaller camps would probably not stay at a Serena type lodge.
• If a camp in the Mara park is desired, those camps near the Masai Mara northern border are more desirable.
• Although nothing is impossible with criminals, the risk is dramatically reduced outside the Masai Mara making the private conservancies even more attractive. The number of rangers and guards I saw at camps in the Mara North and at the fantastic place we ended up staying at in Ol Chorro, was reassuring, but the geographic advantage- criminals from across the border having to cross the parks northern borders even more so. Most importantly, the good relations between the Masai and the camps within the private conservancies serve to deter crime. A criminal will not want to mess with the Masai right in their home territory.
• Security was an important factor in our choice of camp and it will behoove camp operators in the Mara in the future to market their security arrangements.
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Old Jul 29th, 2010, 11:36 AM
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It's an absolutely sad incident and it comes to a time when Kenya really doesn't need any additional bad news - let's hope 04 of August goes without violent incidents!

As to the security for campsites: We were advised to hire two askaris or rangers for security.

I must say I haven't been afraid at all till I heard about the incidents last year (Naibor, Ilkeliani, Entim). Since then I ask the camps I am interested in about their security measures.

Furthermore - since we got aware of the 2009 incidents we of course asked questions while traveling the Mara in Feb 2010 and were told by several people that incidents" used to happen - but without causing a big noise.

So better ask beforehand!

Happy travels!



PS: I am sure when looking at stats those incident are relatively seldom but the fact that one is totally depending on safety and security sleeping in a tent makes those raids "special"!
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Old Jul 29th, 2010, 02:59 PM
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Perhaps that is why they call them 'special' campsites!

Seriously though, hiring two askaris might make one feel better, but if the gang of 10 terroritsts attacked in the middle of the night, there is little that two askaris could do.

Perhaps the Mara really is wilder than we think.
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Old Jul 29th, 2010, 05:42 PM
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There's a difference between askaris with spears vs KWS rangers with weapons.

... and as SV's post, AKR1 should know that Ilkeliani Camp is actually a camp outside that Talek gate, north of the Reserve (Mara North Conservancy).
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Old Jul 29th, 2010, 06:34 PM
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The Mara Conservancy website recommends (since the incident at Naibor) that visitors on special campsites in the Mara Triangle hire two (presumably armed) rangers. However, I cannot help but wonder how much difference two armed rangers would have made in this latest incident, where reportedly ten to eleven bandits, some of whom were clearly armed, were involved. I am not certain that I would feel safe even with two armed rangers watching over me, and I certainly wouldn't wish to jeopardize the lives of rangers just so that I may enjoy the migration and the other wonders of the Mara. Robin
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