A high-end tourism development in Kenya’s Maasai Mara has drawn sharp criticism from conservationists and indigenous leaders who say it threatens a vital wildlife corridor, and claim it violates the rights of local communities.
The Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara Safari Camp, currently under construction along the Sand River inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, is situated along a key migratory corridor used during the annual Great Migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra and other species. Conservationists argue that the location – just 30 metres from the Tanzania border – could potentially disrupt the ecosystem.
Leading the opposition
The Maasai Education, Research and Conservation (MERC) Institute, led by veteran Kenyan conservationist Meitamei Ole Dapash, has issued an urgent appeal for transparency and accountability from Marriott International, which manages the Ritz-Carlton brand, about the development.
“It is deeply troubling that a company known for maintaining strict environmental and ethical standards in cities like Washington, London and Tokyo would abandon those same standards in Kenya,” said Dapash.
In a letter to Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano, MERC called for the immediate release of all permits, land agreements and environmental assessments required under Kenyan law. The letter gave Marriott 14 days to respond, threatening legal action and international advocacy if ignored.
Dapash stressed that the project undermines years of cross-border conservation between Kenya and Tanzania. “The development violates the Mara Tourism Management Plan and disregards a broader regional strategy to preserve migratory species. It also breaches a presidential directive issued in July 2023 that imposed a moratorium on new infrastructure within critical wildlife corridors, buffer zones and dispersal areas,” he said.
Environmental concerns
Environmental concerns are growing as construction reportedly cleared ancient riverine trees and altered terrain by building up earth mounds, which could obstruct traditional wildlife access to the river.
“This particular river crossing was one of the most reliable and commonly used points for wildebeest entering Kenya,” said Dapash. “Wildebeest do not cross rivers randomly; they follow ancestral paths. By disrupting these, we’re forcing them into unfamiliar and often dangerous alternatives.”
Environmentalists, including Marc Jones, have echoed MERC’s concerns, saying the development lacks proper ecological assessments. He warned that the changes in terrain are already forcing wildlife into more perilous crossings, raising the risk of injuries and deaths.
“The result is a privatised zone where only about 60 wealthy guests a day will enjoy front-row seats to the migration while thousands of other tourists, and the public, are kept out,” he said.
Government response
However, the Narok County government has defended the project. In an official response dated July 29, addressed to Dapash, County Secretary Mayan Olejuya described the allegations as “unfounded, malicious and self-serving”. He maintained that the Ritz-Carlton camp operates under a lawful lease agreement and within the legal framework of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013.
Olejuya further stated that the camp aligns with the Maasai Mara National Reserve Management Plan 2023-2032 developed through public participation and approved by the County Assembly.
“These initiatives generate much-needed revenue for the County Government of Narok and benefit local residents,” he said. “We shall continue to work with all tourism stakeholders and partners, including the Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara Safari Camp.”
However, MERC and other critics dispute this, claiming the final version of the plan differs significantly from earlier drafts shared with community members. They argue the camp’s approval, coming just after the moratorium was announced, raises questions.
With more than 300 camps in and around a 1 510 square kilometre reserve, conservationists warn the Mara is reaching breaking point.
“We’ve been sidelined despite promises that tourism would uplift our people. You cannot destroy our ecosystem and then try to buy our silence with a few jobs,” said Dapash.
MERC is now preparing a comprehensive legal and international advocacy campaign. Plans include seeking judicial review of the permits, challenging the project under Kenyan environmental law and escalating the matter through international conservation treaties.
“The Maasai Mara is not just a place of beauty. It is a global heritage. Its destruction for luxury tourism cannot be justified. If we continue to treat it like a carcass, where every scavenger takes a bite, then there will be nothing left to pass on to future generations,” added Dapash.
Marriott International had not responded to Tourism Update’s request for comment at the time of publication.
