Severe flooding has forced the emergency evacuation of least 90 tourists from several camps in the iconic Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, after a major river and several tributaries broke their banks on Tuesday.
The Talek River, which runs through the centre of the reserve and several adjoining conservancies, broke its banks following weeks of heavy rainfall, submerging camps and leaving tourists and staff stranded.
At least 188 people, mostly in central Kenya, have died as a result of flash floods and landslides since the start of Kenya’s long rainy season, running from March to May.
Patrick Ole Ntutu, Governor of Narok County – where the Maasai Mara is located – said in a statement on Wednesday that government had mobilised aerial resources for the evacuation of “dozens of tourists”.
“We have deployed two helicopters to evacuate people from affected areas upon receiving the distress calls. It is essential for individuals and communities to relocate to safer areas where needed and ensure access to emergency supplies,” said Ntutu.
Aiding the government’s emergency response, the Kenyan Red Cross said in an X post on Wednesday that it had rescued 90 people from the affected camps via boat, vehicle and aircraft.
A social media post issued by the Maasai Mara National Reserve on Thursday highlighted a list of 18 camps that had been most affected as a result of the flooding:
- Fig Tree Camp
- Julia’s River Camp
- Pride Inn Mara Camp and Cottages
- Mara Leisure Camp
- Ilkeliani Camp
- Tipilikwani Mara Camp
- Talek Bush Camp
- Elewana Sand River Mara River
- Sala’s Camp
- JW Marriott Maasai Mara Lodge
- Mara Acacia Camp
- Mara Simba Lodge
- Ol Sheki Camp
- Riverside Camp
- Crocodile Camp
- Mara Eden Camp
- Ishara
- Kandoni
Weather forecasts for the reserve show that rainfall will ease in the coming week, with approximately 40mm expected between Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 10.
