Somak puts controversial Mara lodge back on sale and withdraws from Tourism Association

Wildlifeextra.com
14/07/2010 

BBC Big Cat Diary presenter Jonathan Scott says the tourist camp jeopardises the future of the Masai Mara National Reserve. "I have no hesitation in putting my name to the ‘I will not safari with Somak,' campaign," he said. "A company of this standing should be prepared to play their part in halting the rash of development threatening the Mara." Somak ditch tourism organisation in favour of controversial Masai Mara lodge

In February we reported on the development of a new lodge that was built in a sensitive corner of the Masai Mara.

Conservationists started a facebook campaign urging a boycott tour of safari operator Somak after the company started taking bookings for the controversial camp. Various wildlife celebrities came out strongly against the lodge, and subsequently Somak and  AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators, who have a very strong sustainable tourism policy), which Somak was a member of, released the following statements.

AITO's Chairman, Derek Moore, says: "We are delighted that AITO and Somak Holidays have together agreed a way forward. We believe that Somak's collaboration with AITO's Sustainable Tourism Committee will prove of great benefit to the Masai Mara, and we applaud Somak for its positive and ongoing commitment to long-term support for Kenya."

Somak refutes rhino issues with new Ashnil Mara Lodge
Somak has published a letter from James Sindiyo, "Chief Game Warden" that repudiates a previous report from Samson Lenjirr, (previously the rhino warden, and now a senior warden), and goes as far as to accuse him of "Sabotaging rhino conservation efforts by releasing confidential rhino data to unauthorized persons"
"Rhino surveillance records are maliciously distorted"
"Mr Lenjirr has failed to declare his business interests in Masai Mara"
Additionally Somak has provided an extensive report that it had commissioned about the rhino situation on the Masai Mara.

Click Mara warden letter to read the letter from the Senior Warden of the Masai Mara.

Click Olkeju Mara report to read the full report
Ash Sofat, Director of Somak Holidays, says: "We appreciate the opportunity to work with AITO's Sustainable Tourism Committee on issues linked with the jewel in Kenya's crown, the Masai Mara. Somak has been linked with Kenya for many years now - in fact, since my father started the company, in 1968. We are a Kenyan family, and Kenya is a big part of our DNA. It makes good business sense for us to protect our most valuable asset - the wildlife for which Kenya is justly famous - and we are more than happy to work with AITO to this end."

Somak leave AITO and continue to sell controversial lodge
Wildlife Extra has discovered that Somak are no longer members of AITO, an association that they have been members of for many years. Somak claim that this was purely a commercial decision taken in order to save the £5,000 (estimated) cost of membership.

Somak-Not Responsible or Sustainable?
A quick check on Somak's new Kenya and Tanzania brochure reveals not a single
mention of the words 'sustainable' or 'responsible'. Furthermore 'responsible
tourism' nor 'sustainable' do not appear in their new Southern Africa brochure either.
It does seem that Somak have completely ditched any commitment that they had to sustainable tourism.

However Somak state that although they  do undertake many responsible practices 
and do work with very forward thinking lodges such as Porini, Somak choose not to
push their responsible practices as a sales tool.

Article at:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/somak-AITO.html#cr