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Responsible Guiding Workshop

Category: Lodges & Camps, Tourists | Date: Jun 07 2008 | By: Kimojino

Hallo everyone.

Sorry for the silence these last couple of days, but I am pleased to say that we have been doing a two day workshop with the resident tour drivers in and around the Mara Triangle. The workshop was organised by the UK Travel Foundation and was chaired by Dr Cheryl Mvula (read more about her excellent work here) and Manny Mvula.

We would also like to thank Olonana Camp for hosting the event on Friday, and thank you to Kichwa Tembo Camp for hosting the event today.

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Responsible Guiding Workshop at Olonana

We would also like to thank the following camps for sending their drivers to the workshop: Mara Balloon Safaris, Little Governors Camp, Main Governors Camp, Mpata Safari Camp, Transworld Balloons, Mara Siria and Kichwa Tembo (CCAfrica).

One of the main points to come out of the workshop was that guides should learn more about the wildlife inside the Mara, and not just focus on showing visitors the ‘Big Five’. This way their guests can have an interesting and entertaining game drive no matter what animals they see, which will also relieve some of the pressure from the main predators and stop tour drivers from crowding them.

Another main point that everyone agreed on was that drivers needed to be more confident when dealing with difficult guests, who try to insist that drivers break park rules by going too close to the animals.

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Responsible Guiding Workshop at Kichwa Tembo

We also collectively agreed that stricter rules needed to be applied to the river crossings during the great migration. Both the Mara Conservancy and resident tour drivers agreed that there needed to be a limited length of time that drivers are allowed to stay at the crossing (only for one crossing), and that the number of vehicles needed to be limited further (depending on the crossing site).

Resident drivers also asked the Mara Conservancy to be stricter with the park rules and to punish drivers who broke them. They said that if we were too lenient then drivers would only keep on breaking the rules.

9 Responses to “Responsible Guiding Workshop”

Dana-Phoenix Arizona, on 07 Jun 2008

Hallelulah Joseph! I am so, so happy to learn that this workshop was held. Seems like a good turnout of Drivers and I hope they will go back to their respective camps and conduct their own workshops. All the Visitors, Camps, and Drivers must respect the ‘rules’ when visiting the Mara. I hope to see some changes when I visit this Fall.

Thank you UK Travel Foundation and Dr. Cheryl and Manny for your time and efforts to help keep the Mara such a beautiful and magical place and thank you for helping the Villagers with setting up their sustainable income from tourists visits to their homes.

asuka, on 07 Jun 2008

I am glad to see that resident drivers are agreeing for better enforcement of park rules and that they will be strict on stubborn guest who insists on harassing animals.

I dont see Serena lodge on the list, did they not send their drivers to this workshop??

Daniel, on 07 Jun 2008

Good to see everyone coming together this way. It is important and necessary to have all parties on the same page. This is the best approach in solving any problem. By bringing all the stakeholders to sit on the same table shows the kind of commitment and dedication on the best way forward. After all, the Mara is a vibrant community by its own right and standard. Thank you all.

William, on 08 Jun 2008

Hey Asuka.

Negative.

They were informed many times about the workshop, and even the night before.

asuka, on 08 Jun 2008

No interest in responsible guiding huh…

Dana-Phoenix Arizona, on 08 Jun 2008

I kinda wondered the same thing Asuka. Come on, there were even two balloon companies there!!

Paula, on 08 Jun 2008

I think our guides have a lot to learn from other parts of Kenya and Africa. If you go to Arabuko Sokoke, they don’t have the big five and the guides are experts on birds, trees, insects and local culture. These guides underwent an intensive course over several months to gain this level of knowledge. I was in Botswana last year and the guide could read footprints, knew the history of specific animal packs (like wild dogs, lions, elephant families), he knew about animal behavior, he was an avid birder as well, and the nicest part, he came to every meal with us - I’ve noticed in Kenya that guides are sometimes treated as second class and rarely share the same privileges as the tourists. We have to teach them about dignity and respect as well. And for this to work the hotels and travel/tour companies also have to support the initiative by promoting the Mara as something with ‘more than just the Big Five’. A workshop is good, but there needs to be serious investment by the MT in longer term more professional training for these guides for this to really cause a real change in behavior and quality of guiding.

William, on 09 Jun 2008

Manny Mvula was recognised at the best tour guide in Zambia and during the workshop there was an exercise when the guides had to give a description of something they considered ordinary, like the Plains Zebra or a Sausage Tree. Their descriptions were extremely limited, and Manny was able to blow them all away with an interesting description of each that lasted for many many minutes.

I believe it is up to the lodges and camps to invest in their tour guides to improve their visitor experience. The UK Travel Foundation, with the Mara Conservancy, have started a competition that will recognise the best resident guide in the Triangle, with a prize of travelling to Zambia and exchanging ideas with the best guides there.

We hope that this will raise standards among the guides, and also encourage lodges to invest more in their guides. It is also up to visitors to speak out if they do not think that they are getting their moneys worth from their game drives.

kimojino, on 09 Jun 2008

Yes as William put it, the Camps and Lodges are charged with the responsibility of training their Guides, and improve visitor experience.
Mara Conservancy is here to improve security of all. We are improving the game viewing tracks network in the Triangle and many other areas to enhance greater tourist experience.

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