The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has dismissed social media allegations that the Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp is obstructing wildebeest migration routes in the Maasai Mara, describing the claims as “misleading, outdated, or presented without proper context.”
KWS said the migration was recently recognized by the World Book of Records (UK) and World Tourism Market (London) as the world’s greatest terrestrial wildlife migration remains intact.
KWS clarified that the mentioned safari camp is located in a designated low-use tourism zone under the Maasai Mara National Reserve Management Plan 2023–2032, developed through joint ecological and scientific assessments by national and county governments.
According to the agency, two decades of GPS collar data collected from migrating wildebeest between 1999 and 2022 show no evidence of blocked or diverted routes.
“Long-term monitoring data conclusively indicates that the location of the Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp does not fall within, obstruct, or interfere with any wildebeest migration corridors,” the statement said.
It added that the Maasai Mara has long accommodated established lodges along the Mara, Sand, and Talek rivers without disrupting wildlife movement.
KSW therefore dismissed images circulating online, reiterating that the incidents were resolved years ago and may reflect competing commercial interest surrounding tourism investments in Mara
“We remain dedicated to preserving the wildebeest migration for current and future generations,” KWS statement stated.
KWS further reaffirmed its conservation commitment, urging the public to not only rely on verified information, but also provide correct and accurate information regarding national issues.
