Dear Mara experts,

I've read a few threads on here saying that Naibor has gone 'downhill'.

Can anybody elaborate on this and advise whether standards have indeed dropped. I'm thinking of going but am concerned about some of the reports.

Thanks

No idea about Naibor - but, I have read that they are located in the Talek area. Should be good for gameviewing, right????

First, Naibor, though found on the Shompole site and can be booked thru them, is no longer owned or managed by Shompole.

New owner purchased Naibor about 1+/yrs (maybe 2/yrs) ago. From what I understand, the camp itselt is fine and well located... problem seems to be the recent managers which can have a trickle-down impact on other services. But can't provide specifics.

I stayed at Naibor in October 2008 and thought it was a nice camp. The tents are large with a minimalistic design, not my favourite but all right. Bucket showers worked well. Main area nice again, not a lot of common area space. Location was very good and so was the gameviewing. I do prefer other camps but nothing wrong with Naibor.

Sorry i meant October 2007

Thanks for comments.


Alejandra - I think the managenent issues have cropped up since your visit, but maybe I'm worring unnecessarily.

It has gone down hill with respect to security.

Check out our little adventure at Naibor on the following links:


http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...fety-issue.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-to-expect.cfm


Paul

I was/have been also worried about Naibor regarding security. But have calmed down.
We have niot yet decided but might be going early next year.
I'll report back in case give it a try.

For sure has Naibor the most comfortable vehicles for game viewing.

SV

PaulTraveller,

Very sorry to have read about the incident and i'm sure it was a traumatic situation for you and your family.

What are the authorities telling you?

I saw the other post of yours - do you think "guns" in camps is the solution here? Do you think the askaris etc etc., could endure the responsibility of handling guns?

I personally think, the parks authorities along with the Govt and the camps and lodges in the Mara ought to get down to the bottom of this. What they do, they'll have to inform to create a better confidence in travellers.

Right now, it appears like the bandits know that there is a bounty that awaits them, if they can only ambush innocent tourists at these tented camps. Not a good situation at all.....

Once again, very sorry to read about your situation.

Regards,
Hari

Hi HariS
Ideally keeping the criminals out of the Mara would be the best solution. I guess this is not actually possible otherwise the Kenyan authorities would be doing this.

My opinion is that the criminals have worked out that remote tented camps are an obvious easy target, and so these types of camps need something to discourage this sort of attack. I believe other camps such as Entim which has been robbed more than once, have armed guards for this purpose (no proof of this just what I have read on the net). However I don’t believe these would be the local guards protecting the camps from animals, but more likely guards trained in the use of firearms. Naibor is only 20 minute drive form the nearest ranger station but this did not prevent the robbery from occurring, nor did not help in the recovery of our stolen property.

By the way Naibor has threatened to sue me for libel via a legal firm. However, my account of the incident and subsequent actions of Naibor Management as posted on this web site and others is factual, so I have nothing to fear from a legal perspective. I do need to correct a prior posting where it was stated that the owner of Naibor, Anthony Cheffings, is a director of KATO, is only a member of this organization. Cheffings is a director of another association KPSGA , Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association. My error on this particular point.

In any case the threat of legal action seems to indicate Naibor really wants to keep the truth under wraps.

Hi PaulTraveller,

Thanks for the reply. Sorry about your situation.

Regards,
Hari

Thank you for your clarification on organization membership, PaulTraveler.