Tourists visiting Maasai Mara Game Reserve will no longer use private vehicles for game drives.
This follows a directive by the Narok county government in efforts to control the flow of tourists into the world-famous park to protect its ecosystem.
On Monday, the county government banned the use of private vehicles for game drives within the Maasai Mara game reserve to control traffic ahead of the wildebeest migration set to kick off in June 2024.
In a letter dated June 3, 2024, and signed by Chief Park Administrator Alex Nabaala, the county government says the directive is in line with the Maasai Mara Management plan that was endorsed last year.
“The vehicles that will be used during game drives are safari trucks, safari Land Cruisers, and safari vans only and no private vehicles will be allowed into the reserve,” said Nabaala in the letter copied to all the gates section commanders and all airstrip commanders.
In a press release on Wednesday morning, Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu affirmed that private cars will no longer be used inside the park due to noise pollution and unauthorised gatherings.
“…there is littering of the park, noise pollution, unauthorised gathering ( kupiga sherehe and partying),” the County said the vices contravenes protocols in the reserve.
According to the Governor, private car users have been displaying blatant misconduct inside the park flouting park regulations and endangering their lives.
“There are numerous reports of misconduct by the drivers and the occupants of the private vehicles displaying blatant disregard for reserve regulations” noted Ntutu.
Narok County further accused private car users of taking off road navigations for their own pleasure, later necessitating rescue operations that run into the night.
“Sanctioned vehicles will be accompanied by proficient guides extensively trained in reserve protocols to ensure safety and compliance.”
Majority of the private car users into the park have been using the option to cut cost and maximise parties in the wild.
All the private cars will now have to be parked outside the Sekenani gate as adventurers will be forced to pay more to acquire the authorised cruisers into the park as well as an extra cost to the tour guides.
