Kenya Drought – Impact on Tourism in Kenya
Kenya is an east African country that relies heavily on tourism to boost its economy. Currently suffering a severe drought, Kenya has to reconsider its tourism offering. We take a look at the wildlife, question the food production for export and peer into a murky world on the street
Kenya Drought
As the lack of rain crisis continues, Kenya becomes less appealing to travellers who quite rightly feel guilty that their fun is in no way helping the millions of people who are suffering the devastating effects of drought. By its very nature a drought means vast areas without water and an immediate effect of this is the loss of cattle and crops leading to desperate food shortages – reports of the plight of Elephants and other wildlife are the tip of the iceberg.
The quest for real experience draws curious travellers to see areas of severe drought. Some see the Kenya drought as an opportunity to see first hand what a rain free land means to the people and wildlife.
Support Charity and Aid Organisation
If you want to help fund the relief for those affected by Kenya drought you can make a charity donation to one of the many aid agencies or take a look at this page that offers a range of charity gifts from Oxfam. You can ask that the money you give should be used however the charity think best or specify that your gift is specific – for example giving a goat is very poplular however if the gift is intended to help thos at the mercy of drought in Kenya a goat is not appropriate at this time.
Trouble in paradise
Wildlife tourism – another pillar of Kenya’s economy – is wilting in the heat.
Lake Nakuru, the birdwatcher’s paradise, is disappearing. The rivers that feed it have run dry. They come from Mau.
And in the Masai Mara, the river which hosts the world famous “crossing of the wildebeest” has fallen to its lowest ever level.
Water scarcity has brought wild animals and farmers into conflict. Deaths, injuries and compensation claims are at record highs in Narok, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
Poverty Tourism
However we have heard disturbing reports of poverty tourism – in some cities it is now possible to take a guided tour through the slum areas whose main attraction is its open-sewer poverty – with residents on parade like animals in a zoo.
These tours are increasing in popularity – more operators offering a wider range of tours – many claiming that they are trying to humanise the situation and insist that they will plough profits back in to schemes that will help the communities that the tours visit.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 at 11:27 am and is filed under Kenya. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
