General
We had some rain in early January, but for the most part the month was hot and dry. We are very fortunate, there is ample grass, there is more than a green tinge and grass is actually growing. Most of Kenya is undergoing a very severe drought, with massive livestock losses and in some parts significant wildlife deaths. There is no real prospect of rain until late March or April and millions of people will have lost their livelihood and will be reliant on external support.
Our visitor numbers for 2022 were down by an average of 23% on the peak in 2019 (121,471 against 157,591 in 2019). Overseas visitors were down by almost exactly the same proportion – 24%. The graph below clearly shows the trend, and the very significant improvement on 2020.
We met with senior management of & Beyond on the 10th to discuss our relationship and possible additional support for the Conservancy. It was a good meeting and cleared the air on a number of issues.
We attended the Greater Serengeti Society meeting in Ngorongoro on the 14th and 15th, it was well attended and we were most grateful to the Governor for his presence. The meeting discussed issues such as the Mara River, over-tourism and population expansion around protected areas. The Ngorongoro Conservation management explained their voluntary re-location of people within the Conservation area. This is a huge task with significant opposition and political implications but the Government seems determined.
We met with Mr N Havi to discuss contract details regarding our Management Agreement with Narok County.
Collaboration Agreement
We held a Planning meeting on the 8th attended by the CEC for Tourism Mr J Sipitiek, the Chief Officer for Tourism Mr S Leposo and the Chief Park Warden Mr S Minis and ourselves. It was a good meeting and we have planned for a very busy next quarter – with a focus on roads and improving ranger accommodation.
Work has been slow to start this quarter, our staff were completing projects in the Triangle and the road equipment has been out of action, jus as we repaired the grader it was taken away for a while, the tipper was also re-deployed. We have all the parts for the shovel and it will be in good working order in early February.
We surveyed a borehole site at Keekorok and have agreed to start drilling. This will alleviate the constant problem of water for County staff based there. We have also ordered a borehole pump for Talek and this should be in place in February.
We have started work at Osero Sopia and should complete work there my mid-February. We will then move to Mara Simba and build a ranger camp there.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) has agreed to grade the road between Sekenani and Sand River. This will help us greatly.
Dogs
We have received a new sniffer dog, SHIRO. She will be trained at Oloololo. We would like to thank Japanese NGO, Tears of the African Elephants for donating Shiro.
Tourism
January was reasonably busy and we expect February to be busy as well.
Staff
Our staff transfers went off without a hitch on the 14th and 15th. A few days later Warden Danile Kijabe was moved to Sekenani in a County reshuffle.
Wildlife
One of our cheetah cubs was killed by a crocodile as it crossed the Manji Machafu lugga on the 18th. Risasi, the mother crossed, and the cubs stopped to drink in the lugga, the cub was killed while drinking – the crocodile was about two meters long.
One zebra had a snare removed on the 22nd.
Our rangers found a dead elephant when patrolling in the Main Reserve near Ashnil on the 20th, the tusks were handed over to the Main Reserve.
Security
A total of nine people were arrested for poaching during the month. Six wire snares were found, six impala were killed, as were one buffalo and one hippo.
We are extremely grateful to Wildlife Protection Solutions (WPS) for their provision of equipment: remote cameras, robust phones, a motor for the Flir Camera, and equipment to help drive in the dark without headlights.
The figures above show the extent of our patrols in 2022, and also show where poachers were arrested.
We found where warthog were being dug out of their holes at the beginning of the month and set a series of ambushes. One of those ambushes at Konyoike was successful and on the 11th, three people were arrested as they came in to hunt – possibly buffalo. There may have been a second group hunting because the rangers came across two donkeys, used to carry buffalo meat.
One buffalo was found butchered between the Mara River and Nyakita Pembe on the 15th and on the 17th one person was arrested in a routine ambush near Miungu – all in the Lemai Wedge.
Some of our rangers received new firearms on the 21st, on the same day they joined a joint operation to deal with charcoal burning in the Nyakweri forest. A total of 13 people were arrested, seven of them were prosecuted. Four motor cycles were confiscated.
Six wire snares were found on the 23rd near Limana and then on the 24th our rangers crossed the river and set up ambushes from Kogatende to Ngira. Torches were soon seen operating near the Kogatende airstrip and the rangers regrouped and managed to arrest five people, three of them on the airstrip. The poachers were hunting with dogs and torches and had already managed to kill seven impala.
The rangers saw poachers on a hippo that they had killed along the Mara River on the 28th, the poachers were on the far side of the river and managed to escape.
Revenue and Accounts
Our six month management accounts continue to show significantly better than expected income, a summary of income and expenditure is presented in the Table below.
We have managed to replenish our reserves, but it should be noted that we are entering the low season, where we traditionally spend more than we receive in the months of March through May. However, the recovery has been remarkable, helped in part by the exchange rate gain – the US$ has appreciated by 20% in the past two years.
When we analyze the accounts we note that income exceed our rather conservative estimates by 69% but we managed to keep expenditure down to 7% above budget. Staff related costs continue to take up the bulk of our expenditure – 70%. They also accounted for 17% more than we had budgeted for. No real surprise, as we were able to relax on allowances and bonuses.
Repairs and Maintenance
We built a new toilet block at Ngiro-are;
We renovated the toilets at the Wardens’ offices at Iseiyaoilet Serena;
We managed to repair the gear system on the grader and then grade the main roads and the lower road to Mara Bridge. We still have a problem with one engine sensor and will replace it.
We resurfaced the road between Oloololo Gate and the Kichwa airstrip .
Report on focus for January
Focus for February 2023
· Hold Board meeting on the 17th;
· Continue with road works;
· Repair wall at Hippo Pools;
· Discuss support for possible visitor centre;
Work on Collaboration Agreement
· Complete work at Osero Sopia;
· Map out a new road network;
· Receive road equipment;
· Order radios to complete radio network;
· Start work at Mara Simba;
· Assist in finalising 10 year Management Plan for the Mara;
· Complete engine overhaul on shovel.