KWS dismisses claim Ritz-Carlton camp blocking key wildebeest migration corridor

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has dismissed allegations that a posh new hotel in the Maasai Mara National Reserve is impeding the famed wildebeest migration.

In a statement released on Thursday, November 27, the KWS described the claims as misleading, clarifying that the Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp, which has come under a lot of criticism in recent days, sits within a designated low-use tourism investment zone, as outlined in the Maasai Mara National Reserve Management Plan (2023–2032). 

"The Ritz-Carlton safari camp is situated within a designated tourism investment low-use zone, as provided for in the Maasai Mara National Reserve Management Plan, 2023 - 2032," KWS said in a statement.

The agency further reiterated that the wildebeest migration, being one of the most globally celebrated natural phenomena, was accorded the highest form of protection by the government.

"Our commitment is demonstrated through ongoing national initiatives, including the recent Cabinet approval to secure the Nairobi National Park - Athi-Kapiti wildlife corridor, among others. This policy direction highlights our firm resolve to safeguard all existing wildlife corridors, including those within the wider Masai Mara ecosystem," the statement went on. 

Between 1999 and 2002, the KWS says it used GPS tracking data from over 60 collared wildebeest, tracking their movements during that time. From the agency's data, the entire Maasai Mara reserve functions as a general disposal area.

To this effect, the migrating animals use the full 68-kilometre stretch of the Kenya-Tanzania border without any single preferred route.

With this in mind, the KWS reiterated that camps which have been established in different areas along the Mara, Sand and Talek rivers have negligible effects on the migration and have historically coexisted with wildlife movements without any obstructions. 

The statement added: "The Kenya Wildlife Service assures the public that all ecological, environmental, and regulatory requirements were thoroughly met and validated prior to approval of the Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp.

In addition, every tourism investment within parks, reserves and sanctuaries is subjected to a stringent environmental assessment to ensure alignment with conservation priorities and the integrity of Kenya's protected areas and ecosystems."

Along the Sand River alone, KWS revealed, there were several permanent and seasonal camps, none of which had previously attracted accusations similar to those directed at the Ritz-Carlton camp.

"Therefore, the long-term monitoring data conclusively indicates that the location of the Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp and the other five safari camps along the Sand River camps do not fall within, obstruct, or interfere with any wildebeest migration corridors," the State agency added.

On the videos of struggling wildebeest circulating online, the KWS described them as lacking proper context, attributing them to elements who stood to gain commercially by launching a campaign against some camps in the Maasai Mara.

"Therefore, we encourage the public to rely on verified and official information to ensure that the general public is not misguided," the agency reiterated.

The KWS statement came just hours after Lazizi Mara, the company behind the development of the Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara Safari Camp, also released a statement of their own, where they stated that there existed an ongoing legal challenge against the luxury hotel, asserting that they had provided the court with comprehensive evidence proving it followed all due process.

The company, which is developing and will operate the high-profile camp, issued a statement to counter public speculation and confirm that the matter is now in active litigation.

In a firm declaration, Lazizi Mara stated that it has already submitted a trove of documents to the court in response to the petition, officially filed as Environment and Land Petition No. E003 of 2025.

The evidence includes the complete lease application correspondence with Narok County dating to 2023, the official approval letter, the signed lease, and the full Environmental Impact Assessment report complete with proof of public participation.

The company also presented letters from both the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Narok County Government addressed to the petitioner, which confirm Lazizi Mara’s compliance with all regulatory requirements.

"We are allowing the court process to proceed without engaging in further public debate,” said Shivan Patel, Managing Director of Lazizi Mara Limited. “We remain fully confident in the judicial system.

The company clarified that The Ritz-Carlton is the brand partner, not the owner or operator of the facility.

“Lazizi Mara Limited remains confident in the judicial process and will continue to comply fully with all legal requirements,” Patel concluded.

Lazizi Mara Limited also stressed its commitment to due process and respect for the judicial system, stating it would refrain from engaging in public debate while the court proceedings continue.