{"id":59605,"date":"2025-11-28T12:33:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T12:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/?p=59605"},"modified":"2025-11-28T12:33:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T12:33:15","slug":"the-ritz-carlton-luxury-lodge-threatening-maasai-livelihoods-the-great-migration-and-kenyan-pride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/blog\/59605\/the-ritz-carlton-luxury-lodge-threatening-maasai-livelihoods-the-great-migration-and-kenyan-pride\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ritz-Carlton luxury lodge threatening Maasai livelihoods, the Great Migration and Kenyan pride"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStop auctioning Maasai land to carbon traders and trophy hunters\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Demand the Tanzanian government protect the rights of the Maasai, stop these evictions and prioritise real solutions to the climate crisis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t \n SIGN NOW\n <\/a>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\n

Community members, wildlife experts and long-time guides in the Maasai Mara<\/strong> have been raising concerns<\/a> for months about the Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp<\/strong> being built along the Sand River<\/strong>. Their warnings, now supported by independent reporting<\/strong><\/a>, show a development that threatens the balance of the Mara ecosystem<\/strong> and sidelines the rights of the Maasai people<\/strong> whose identity and livelihoods are rooted in this land.<\/p>\n\n

The lodge, which charges around US $3,500 per night<\/strong>, has been constructed in one of the most sensitive parts of the reserve<\/strong><\/a>. The Sand River is a vital water source<\/strong> and a key route used by wildebeest, zebras and predators<\/strong> during the Great Migration. Building a large luxury facility<\/strong> on such an important stretch of river adds pressure to an ecosystem already strained by decades of increasing tourism development<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

The Kenya Wildlife Service<\/strong> has told the public<\/a> that the camp will not interfere with wildlife movement, citing historical GPS collar data. However, none of the evidence<\/strong> behind these claims has been shared. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, migration studies, zonation maps and permit documents remain inaccessible<\/strong>. Without transparency, it is impossible for Kenyans to verify the assurances being given. When the protection of a fragile ecosystem is at stake, the supporting information must be public, complete and independently reviewed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

For the Maasai community, the impact is not only environmental. Many community members say they were not meaningfully involved<\/strong><\/a> in the decision-making process and did not receive clear, accessible information about the project. This continues a long history<\/strong> of developments on<\/strong> Maasai land<\/strong> moving forward without genuine<\/strong> Free, Prior and Informed Consent<\/strong>. Their voices, the voices of the people who have protected the Mara for generations, should never be overlooked.<\/p>\n\n

Of particular concern is the reported treatment of Meitamei Olol Dapash<\/strong>, a respected elder and defender of Maasai rights. After questioning the legality and location of the project, he was allegedly pressured into signing a gag order<\/strong><\/a>. Silencing Indigenous leaders contradicts the principles of responsible conservation<\/strong> and fair decision-making<\/strong>. It undermines trust<\/strong> and raises serious questions about how the project was approved.<\/p>\n\n

This public outcry<\/strong> did not begin in the media. It began in the Mara itself<\/strong>, from the people who live with the consequences of environmental decisions every day and who understand the pressures facing the land and wildlife.<\/p>\n\n

Given the seriousness of the concerns raised, Greenpeace Africa is calling for the following<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n