The neglected Narok-Maasai Mara Road will be paved with bitumen at a cost of Sh1 billion in what is set to raise the profile of the premium wildlife reserve.
The parliamentary Budget committee allocated the funds for the fiscal year starting July. The venture is set to boost the image of the Maasai Mara National Reserve that is globally recognised for the epic migration of thousands of wildebeests from the Serengeti in Tanzania across the crocodile infested Mara River.
The peak of the natural phenomenon will run from this month to July.
Despite the Mara raking in about Sh3 billion per year, the 85km road to the park has been neglected for long. The poor state has affected the competitiveness of the Mara since a number of visitors are forced to fly to the area, an expensive option.
The Kenya Tourists Drivers and Guides Association vice chair Andrew Mungatana welcomed the planned construction.
“The move is long overdue and we hope the State will walk the talk this time round because they have been promising to repair the road for years,” he told the Business Daily.
This comes at a time when the tourism sector has taken a beating following the issuance of travel advisories by the UK, US and Australia due to terror attacks.
Last year, the Mara was classified as the best safari park in Africa by CNN Travel.
During a recent visit to the area, Deputy President William Ruto expressed commitment to working with Narok County to ensure completion of the road.
“We want to invest in the tourism sector by providing the funding and all the support to make it possible to access the park with ease,” he said.
Industry players say they have witnessed increased bookings ahead of the wildebeest migration.
“Between now and August, the bed occupancy in our hotels will be above 70 per cent,” said Steven Keriga, an assistant manager at a Mara hotel.
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