GENERAL

The first three weeks of April were unseasonally dry but then we had a week of heavy rain in the last week. The dry spell enabled us to burn, and we were able to attract a lot of animals up from the Lemai Wedge.

The war in the Middle East is beginning to have a major impact on tourism and costs. We experienced a 16% drop in overseas visitor numbers in March, compared to March last year and all the indications are that April will be significantly worse. The Government increased the price of fuel on the 14th, with diesel going up by Ksh 40 per liter, about 25% to Ksh 206, petrol went up by about 15% to the same price. There was a public outcry and the Government then reduced the price to Ksh 197 the following day. The increase will still have a serious knock-on effect, and we can expect price hikes in almost all commodities. This is at a time when tourism and revenue are way down.

We held our Board meeting on the 10th. The major issue for discussion was renewal of the Collaboration Agreement. This expires on the 30th June this year.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) gave a demonstration on the use of modern speed cameras on the 21st, both hand-held and fixed. We hope that we have a trial and then deploy them in the near future. These cameras have a range of several hundred meters, have excellent clarity and send a message and fine to the owner’s mobile.

COLABORATION AGREEMENT

We held our quarterly planning meeting on the 13th and agreed to concentrate on routine activities, as we have concerns about revenue and expenditure in the coming months. We did agree on one or two smaller projects, and these included:

Installing solar power at the Wardens’ offices in Sekenani;
Cabro bricking the parking area and fencing the office compound.
We also agreed to install solar at Talek Gate to enable communication and provide lighting at the gate.

The Planning team visited ongoing and completed projects and these included the Wardens’ offices and construction at the Keekorok airstrip. It was agreed that the bead ladies will be able to start using their new market on the 20th and that KAPS would be ready to move into the new revenue office. The office is now functioning, but the bead ladies are yet to be allocated their booths.

We replaced the burnt-out inverter at the Keekorok staff camp and repaired the pipeline to the ranger camp at Mara Bridge in the Main Reserve. This had been damaged in the recent flooding.

We replaced the borehole pump at Look Out, the motor was burnt out.

The fuel shortage is real, we have had a bowser in Nairobi for a week, waiting for diesel, it will probably be there for a few more days.

STAFF

We held a senior staff meeting on the 19th, to inform them of the current global and financial situation and to seek ways of cost cutting. We have agreed to reduce allowances and the monthly meat ration. We have also agreed to reduce vehicle usage and cut down on the use of heavy machines, such as the grader, lorry and roller. This is a temporary measure and will be reviewed in June or July.

WILDLIFE

The remaining cheetah cub was killed by a leopard in the enclosure on the 31st March.

A newborn elephant calf was found dead on the 14th.

A speeding tourist vehicle hit and killed a buffalo calf and severely injured a sub-adult male. The injured buffalo was killed and eaten by a lion. The driver has been banned from driving in the Triangle for three months.

A young elephant was treated for a dislocated hind leg on the 27th, the infected wound was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, but it will probably always walk with a severe limp.

TOURISM

The drop in tourists visiting the Triangle experienced in March can partly be attributed to the flooding and the fact that the river was uncrossable for a period. But the further drop in April, almost certainly as a result of the war in the Middle East. Operators are reporting little or no interest in bookings.

SECURITY

Two people were arrested at Lugga ya Ngiri in the Lemai Wedge on the 31st March by the Ngiro-are team.

The Iseiya team crossed the river for two days from the 16th and only managed to arrest one person, he was caught when fishing. The rangers noted where a number of pools had been poisoned to kill fish.

Two hippo were killed in the Lemai Wedge, rangers chased off the poachers before they could butcher the animals, unfortunately no one was arrested.

REVENUE & ACCOUNTS

If March revenue is anything to go by, and we expect April and May to be even lower, we will have to dip into our reserves. Our share for March only just covers salaries – nothing else. We have been looking at all possible cost-cutting measures and will substantially cut development, reduce routine maintenance and cut staff costs wherever possible. Staff costs this year average out at 65% of our total expenditure. We won’t touch salaries but will be reducing allowances and travel wherever possible.

The picture is similar for the Greater Mara and the collaboration work that we undertake there. Our average monthly expenditure for the past nine months has been Ksh 51[1] million. We anticipate that the County’s share will not exceed Ksh 23 million per month – leaving a significant shortfall. The Conservancy can’t afford to carry the cost, hence cutting back on all but necessary expenditure.

If March revenue is anything to go by, and we expect April and May to be even lower, we will have to dip into our reserves. Our share for March only just covers salaries – nothing else. We have been looking at all possible cost-cutting measures and will substantially cut development, reduce routine maintenance and cut staff costs where ever possible. Staff costs this year average out at 65% of our total expenditure. We won’t touch salaries but will be reducing allowances and travel wherever possible.

The picture is similar for the Greater Mara and the collaboration work that we undertake there. Our average monthly expenditure for the past nine months has been Ksh 51[2] million. We anticipate that the County’s share will not exceed Ksh 23 million per month – leaving a significant shortfall. The Conservancy can’t afford to carry the cost, hence cutting back on all but necessary expenditure.

[1] 1 US$ = 128.8 Ksh at the current rate of exchange

[2] 1 US$ = 128.8 Ksh at the current rate of exchange

REPORT ON FOCUS FOR APRIL 2026

Work on the Visitor Centre is being hampered by the engineer’s instance on quality checking every item and step of the way. This can cause delays of up to two weeks as concrete and steel samples are sent for analysis. Now the delays are caused by the recent rains. We are now several months behind schedule, and we will fall further behind if the rains continue.
We managed to burn two large blocks. These have already attracted lots of Topi, Thompson’s gazelle and zebra and should improve game viewing.
We repaired the concrete bridge at Purungat, after a hole appeared and then a large crack was found.
We have been working on the roads along the Tanzanian border and will move to Oloololo. Much will depend on the rains; these current rains have undone much of the work we had done in recent weeks.
We are constructing new uni-hut housing for the paramilitary police based at Oloololo, they have been using the Warden’s house there for the past 25 years and we want to renovate it for the Warden.

FOCUS FOR MAY 2026

Continue with road repairs;
Develop Annual Work Plan and Budget;
Hold Board meeting on the 29th ;
Complete GSU housing at Oloololo; and
Continue with foundation for Visitor Centre.

Work on Collaboration Agreement

Negotiate new Collaboration Agreement;
Collect fuel;
Work on Simba/Talek road;
Start on toilet at Simba;
Demolish one house at Sekenani;
Erect fence around Wardens’ offices; and
Continue to maintain County machinery.