Kenya reaches crisis point as drought threatens reserves

Kenya’s tourism industry is once again under threat as a crippling drought causes long-standing tribal discord to flare up in a bitter conflict over water and grazing, writes Chris Haslam. Last week, 21 members of the Samburu tribe were killed when rustlers from the Pokot tribe raided their remote village in Laikipia, fleeing with cattle stolen to replenish their own devastated herds.

Now there are fears that the violence is spreading to the game reserves, as tribesmen armed with assault rifles make illegal incursions in search of water and fresh grass for their cattle.

Two weeks ago, illegal herders fired on a Tropic Air charter flight in Laikipia, and security concerns forced the temporary closure of Joy’s Camp, in the Shaba National Reserve.

“The reason we stopped taking bookings that week is that it was not possible to conduct a game drive, as we had thousands of cattle and herders carrying guns all over Shaba,” said the camp’s owner, Stefano Cheli. “Unfortunately, most herders now carry illegal arms, and this allows some with bad intentions to mix with the cattle-herders, then take advantage of vehicles moving around, be it a tourist car or a supply car.”

Troops have been deployed to the area, and Nairobi’s police chief, Mathew Itere, has vowed to bring an end to the violence. The Kenyan tourist board, however, says that tourists are unlikely to be affected by the conflict: “Although such tensions in limited areas of the country should not affect visitors, the tourism industry has met with the government of Kenya to ensure that an appropriate level of security is always provided.”

The drought has left reserves littered with the carcasses of tens of thousands of cattle, and has had a similarly devastating effect on wildlife.

Buffalo, waterbuck and hippopotamus are especially vulnerable, and the conservationist Iain Douglas-Hamilton reports that more than 100 elephants have already died.

Illegal herders are also encroaching on the Masai Mara, and have been reported as far south as the Serengeti, in Tanzania, but Rob Slater, of the specialist tour operator Safari Consultants, says travellers should not be put off by the crisis.

“A drop in visitor numbers to Kenya will have a devastating effect on many local communities,” he said.

“If travellers are concerned, they should seek reassurance from their tour operator that the specific places where they are staying are operating as normal. I would happily travel to Kenya with my family tomorrow.”

- Following the collapse of the ultra-posh ski company Descent, not one but two operators have rushed to take its place. First up is Consensio (0844 232 7296, consensioholidays.co.uk), founded by former Descent employees and offering some of the same properties. Does this mean that Descent clients who have lost hundreds of thousands in deposits — including Prince Andrew, who is down £30,000 — will get their money back? “Unfortunately not,” the operator says. “However, we have managed to safeguard the bookings of 70% of the Descent clients in the chalets in our portfolio.”

Also launching is The Chic Chalet Guide (chicchaletguide.co.uk), which, it seems, is banking on big bonuses. Its properties start at £13,000 a week and rise to at least £56,300 for Richard Branson’s place in Verbier.

The £680 name-change error

Airline customers should be granted a 24-hour cooling-off period after booking flights in order to amend errors or change booking details, says the Air Transport Users Council (AUC), a passenger watchdog. The day of grace would effectively end the airlines’ practice of charging sky-high fees to change tickets.

Virgin, BMI, EasyJet, Jet2 and Flybe already offer passengers a cooling-off period, but passengers travelling with other airlines — including Emirates, Monarch, Ryanair, Thomson and Thomas Cook — can expect punitive fees if they try to change bookings, even minutes after buying the ticket.

The AUC cites 415 complaints in 2008-09 from passengers forced to forfeit tickets without refund or pay exorbitant fees to redress booking errors. Cases include a cricket team member whose £152 ticket was booked under the name Harry — as he was known — rather than Henry, as shown in his passport. British Airways insisted he rebooked the ticket at a cost of £680. A Ryanair passenger who called the airline moments after making a booking error was charged £75 for a new ticket.

- There’s a nice chance to win a trip to Mexico courtesy of Journey Latin America and Montezuma chocolate — and you don’t even need to be able to play the guitar. The prize includes two tickets to the British Museum exhibition Moctezuma: Aztec Ruler, which runs from Thursday until January 24, and a seven-night holiday for two in Mexico City. All you have to do is register at www.montezumas.co.uk and answer a simple question.

If you don’t win, tickets to the much-heralded show cost £12 from the British Museum (020 7323 8181, britishmuseum.org)

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