Nairobi: Bead traders at the Maasai Mara National Reserve are smiling all the way to the bank as thousands of tourists flock to the park to witness the world-famous wildebeest migration.
According to Kenya News Agency, the women, mostly stationed at Talek trading centre, said business has boomed this season, with many attributing their fortunes to county government support in creating spaces for traders to sell their goods to the tourists.
Nooparangu Silantoi, a bead trader, reported that her sales have doubled since July when visitors began arriving for the migration spectacle. 'I sell beads, blankets, lessos and Maasai shukas. This season, I was selling a lesso at Sh1,000 and a shuka at Sh2,000. The money has enabled me to educate my children and live a decent life,' she said.
Another trader, Gladys Kudate, praised the county for allocating them trading areas, saying the profits made this season will help expand her business and support her family.
Joseph Kakonzo, Manager of Matila Bush Camp, confirmed that most camps recorded high profits this season. He applauded the county government's strategy to manage visitor flow smoothly without disrupting wildlife. 'During peak season, businesses have picked up well. The county government's measures ensured minimal interference with the wildebeest migration,' said Kakonzo.
He, however, condemned a recent incident where visitors alighted from vehicles at a crossing zone, disrupting animal movement, blaming it on unprofessional tour guides. 'Tour guides must act professionally. They are the image of the Mara to the world,' he cautioned.
Veteran tour guide Antony Tira, with 28 years' experience, also thanked the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) for cracking down on unlicensed operators. 'We cannot allow quacks to ruin our tourism sector. Only qualified, professional guides should handle visitors,' said Tira.
The wildebeest migration when the animals cross River Mara from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world, continues to draw global attention, with traders and camps reaping economic benefits from the influx of tourists.