Local tourists at the Maasai Mara National Park. [Photo/ knowella.worldpress.com]
National Parks and game reserves are experiencing a rise in the number of visitors as the high season beckons.
Kenya Association of Tour Operators (Kato) Tsavo East and West National Parks and Amboseli branch chairperson Willie Mwadilo said Wednesday that lodges and tented camps were busy because of a rise in visitor numbers.He said lodges and camps in Tsavo East and West National Parks and Amboseli National Park are enjoying occupancy of between 60 per cent and 70 per cent up from 30 per cent and 50 per cent respectively last month.Mwadilo said visitor numbers are expected to jump to 80 per cent in August.“Tourists from Poland and Germany are flocking to the parks thanks to charter flights operated by YUI Poland to Mombasa,” he said as he attributed the rise in tourist arrivals on the newly launched SGR line.“Both local and international tourists from Nairobi and Mombasa nowadays travel by train to Voi and then head to the national parks for game drives,” Mwadilo added.Heritage hotels chief executive officer Mohamed Hersi said more international wildlife enthusiasts are expected to land in Mara in August to watch the wild beast migration wonder.He said wildlife lovers from the US, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, Japan and China are set to tour the Mara to watch the wild beast migration.Hersi said the Mara Explorer camps are foreshadowed to enjoy occupancy of between 70 percent and 80 percent from July up from the present 50 per cent.Ashni hotels managing director Rajan Bhandari said as reported by the Business Daily that the Ashnil Mara Camp will be busy from August following a rise in bookings for the summer season.“We have hotel sales for the summer season as international tourists are visiting the country for game viewing in the national parks” he said.“Between July and August, we are expecting more tourists to visit the Mara, Tsavo East and West National Parks and Amboseli National Parks.”On Saturday, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said international bookings were on the rise following an intense marketing campaign initiated by the Kenya Tourism Board.“One of the European Airlines has registered 90 percent flight bookings to Kenya for the summer season,” the CS said.